OAU VC Race: Governing Council Shortlists 6, Obiyan Heads ASUU Screening Committee

In a bid to ensure that the best emerges Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, the institution’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has finalised plans to screen candidates for the position.

It was learnt that the action was to facilitate and organize interaction with the shortlisted aspirants.

The tenure of the current occupant, Professor Bamitale Omole, who became VC almost five years ago, expires on June 24th, 2016.

About 12 professors had applied for the position following an advertorial in the newspapers in December 2015 but the Governing Council has shortlisted 6.

With the setting up of a committee to interact with the shortlisted candidates for the position, the union has endorsed the decisions of the University Governing Council.

It was gathered that the union, after its congress meeting which took place on March 15, 2016, received reports from some of its members in the Governing Council, and concluded that the University Council acted within its powers in shortlisting candidates for the post of Vice-chancellor of the university.

The union afterward appointed Professor Sat Obiyan, who heads the institution’s Department of Political Science, to head the 5-man screening committee to organize and drive the interaction process.

Confirming the development, Obiyan explained that it was true that a committee was set up by ASUU-OAU, adding that the committee was already finalizing arrangements for the event which is likely to hold in early April.

Credit: The Nation

''English Department Is A Deviation From A Real Department'' - Emeritus

A student of the Department of English and Literary Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University has blasted his department, describing it as a deviation from real department.

In an article obtained by our correspondent, Emeritus agreed with the position of his colleague popularly called FM who is of the opinion that the department is a den if empty barrel filled with ignorance.

Read the full article below:

"English department: A den of empty barrels filled  with ignorance." - FM, Part 4

"We are conscious of the fact that the emissaries of the devils above dwell and dine with us, however, the truth must be said, despite the sayer and hearer. This is to enhance the perfect reign of justice and the dethronement of oppression." EMERITUS

A Critical Discourse Analysis of the above witty and factual quote by FM, a part 4 student, paying attention to ideology, identity and power.

This CDA might be a deviation from the norm, this is because English department is a deviation from a real department.

POWER
The voice in the text above is filled with power. This may be as a result of the writer's tremendous knowledge of the department cum his experiences in the department. Going from the writer's voice to the social context of the piece, one will discover that in this social setting, some "powerful and unquestionable people" deal with students' destinies anyhow, as if students worth no existence. These persons are oblivious of the fact that posterity exists. They tend to forget that we can still come for them in the future to also enhance the reign of justice. They are ignorant of the fact that they can only do their worst to all, but cannot kill the never-die greatness in some of us. In fact, aside their "fields"most of them are starved and bereft of intellect and knowledge of  other fields and history. Even in our midst we have abusers of power. Those who forget their manifestoes after been sworn in. They forget those sweet-sounding manifestoes, and use the office to fix well their pockets, utilize their offices to worship the mighty element of man between their legs. Of course, I am not a moralist but the use of office positions to satisfy these endless desires of human at the expense of selfless service is my "palava."

IDEOLOGY
The prevailing ideology in this department is that of "you must belong to a caucus, we are of higher standard, we cannot associate with all." With this malignant ideology in the above and within, disunity, false self impression and academic suicide, collectively and freely reign. Oppressors above release deadly bombs of academic failure, yet most of these persons below will never want to revolt/ interrogate, just to avoid unity. They easily accept unnecessary fates that they have the right to turn to their favour. Their ignorance manifested in their actions portray that some of them leave tomorrow to think for them. How suicidal it is!

Another ideology is the celebration of frivolities and apathy for reality. Once you do well in frivolities, you are a celebrity. However, they fail to participate in real and progressive actions and movements. In fact, they hate anyone that attempts progressiveness. It is a situational irony that the largest department in West Africa and one of the largest in the continent cannot produce good number of student leaders. I am not preaching political oppression with numbers but the numerical strength is an advantage. You cannot tell me that in class of 450 we cannot see good leaders! We are in Arts, we engage humanity. Consequently, we should do better than those in technology, science, edm and so on. People celebrate failure in this den.

Statements like "Over 30 years we have not seen any first class in my department. Out of over 400 graduating students, we do not always produce above 10 second-class  upper awards." These words are empirical,but they are proudly said as if they symbolize achievement.
Most of them from the above get feared , respected and worshipped by deliberately failing students, but not by what they know.
Identity.

Many People give themselves unnecessary and illusionary "hyping" or status. By this very fact, ignorance is proudly portrayed.

Pure lexico- semantics
"A den of empty barrels," FM was painstaking in his selection of words. A den is a place for lions. These are the implications. Lions are know to be "quintessentials" in strength. Ironically, the social setting of this piece portrays that of a place that is known for the perfect examples of the manifestations of ignorance.
A den is avoided by many because of what the "greatness" therein can "catastrophize." It is factual that many people avoid the place setting portrayed by the writer. Unfortunately, people by ill fate or the deliberate, corrupt and normal actions of the  "Proppresors" in Abuja and the University Sin-net (senate as they falsely call it) find themselves here. Of course, some persons voluntarily find themselves here, maybe as a result of passion. However, before the end of the day this burning passion is  frozen by the prevailing realities in that place.

Conclusively, I am quite sure that oppressive missiles of oppression and envy shall be triggered towards me, but the "odieshi" or bullet proof of truth will never allow them to kill the desire, vigor and in fact the passion to fearlessly and "favourlessly" assert the truth when necessary. If you are not a servant of justice, you are surely on your own as the end will always leave you with "had I know tears." Hence, as a Critical discourse analyst, I sing of an English department where unity; fair grading of marks; celebration of progressiveness reign. I sing of that department where people will always thirst to dwell in. Most importantly, the song of a department where interrogative/ critical  and versatile minds and brains reign. The status quo must be changed!

EMERITUS.
Member of the Parliament representing the faculty of Arts & a Comrade of PSA

Constitutional Provisions For The Selection Of Vice Chancellor

One of the hottest gists on the soil of Obafemi Awolowo University campus is the ongoing jostling for the soon-to-be vacant seat of the Vice Chancellor of the institution. Professor Bamitale Omole is expected to bow out of office on June 23, 2016.

In a bid to educate the OAU community especially the student population, OAU Peeps News Agency finds it imperative to state the position of the constitution as regards selection of the Vice Chancellor.

The principal law governing the selection and appointment of Vice Chancellors in Nigerian Universities is the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, No 11 of 1993. This Law was amended by the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act, 2003. The cumulative effect of these laws on the appointment of Vice-Chancellors is summarized as follows.

VICE CHANCELLORS
1. There shall be a Vice- Chancellor of a University who shall be appointed by the President in accordance with the provisions of this section.

2. Where a Vacancy occurs in the post of a Vice- Chancellor, the Council shall –
(a) advertise the vacancy in a reputable journal or a widely read newspaper in Nigeria, specifying –
(i) the qualities of the persons who may apply for the post; and
(H) the terms and conditions of service applicable to the post, thereafter drawn up a short list of suitable candidates for the post for consideration;

(b) constitute a Search Team consisting of –
(ii) a member of the Council, who is not a member of the Senate, as chairman:
(ii) two members of the Senate who are not members of the Council, one of whom shall be a professor;
(iii) two members of Congregation who are not members of the Council, one of whom shall be a professor.

To identify and nominate for consideration, suitable persons who are not likely to apply for the post of their own volition because they feel that it is not proper to do so.

(3) A joint Council and Senate selection board consisting of –
(a) the Pro-Chancellor as chairman;
(b) two members of the Council, not being members of the Senate;
(c) two members of the Senate who are professors, but who were not members of the Search Team, shall consider the candidates and persons on the short list drawn up under section (2) of this section through an examination of their curriculum vitae and interaction with them; and recommend to the Council suitable candidates for further consideration.

(4) The Council shall select one candidate from among the three candidates recommended to it under sub section (3) of this section and forward the name to the President. (This section has now been amended. See below)

Prior to 1993, the appointment of Vice- Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, with particular reference to Federal Universities, was done by the Federal government without recourse to the Councils and Senates of the Universities.

The Present law is a complete departure from the previous arbitrary manner of appointing Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities. The present law allows for participation by all segments of the University community, i.e Council, Senate and Congregation.

The present law has circumscribed and curtailed the wide powers which the Federal government previously had in appointing Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.

Under section 4(b) of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 2003.

“The Council shall select and appoint as Vice Chancellor one candidate from among the three candidates recommended to it ... and thereafter inform the visitor.

The appointment of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities is now within the powers of University Councils. It is now an internal matter in, which members of the University community participate either directly or indirectly. This development must be welcomed. It allows for participatory democracy by all segments of the University Community.

Despite the enormous powers which Councils of Universities now have in appointing Vice Chancellors, they are not laws unto themselves. They are subject to control by the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who has the power to remove any member or dissolve the Council.

They are also subject to the control of Courts of Law in the exercise of their powers. Let us assume that a selection board has recommended three candidates (A, B, and C) to a Council. The candidates are listed in order of performance and preference, with candidate ‘A’ as the first and candidate ‘C’ as the third. Council has now chosen candidate C and has informed the president as required by Law.

Is the decision by the Council absolute and unquestionable? I do not think so. Their decision can be called into question in a Court of Law. A University Council cannot by its own decision finally determine or decide on the question of the exercise of its powers. Such question is always subject to review by the Courts.

A University Council that allows itself to be guided by political and ethnic considerations in the appointment of a Vice Chancellors, can be challenged in a Court of Law




Credit: Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993 Imperial Vice Chancellors
By PROF. LAWRENCE ATSEGBUA

NAOSS OAU Decides: Ondo Students Head To Poll Today

Ondo state students in Obafemi Awolowo University will today head to the poll to vote for their choice persons as the next set of Executives of her association - National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS).

The election holds today at the Anglo-Moz car park. In order for the Ondo students to exercise their franchise, they are expected to come with;
1. School Identity Card (or anything that will convince the Electoral Commission that you are a GREAT IFE student).
2. Your Certificate of Origin (or any means of state identification that that will enable you to vote).

"Remember, you cannot chase out darkness with darkness, come today and light the voting list with your preferred candidates" the commission persuades.

12 Professors Jostle For OAU’s VC Job

No fewer than 12 professors are currently jostling for the position of vice-chancellorship of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

Investigation conducted revealed that the struggle for the number one position in the university began in earnest involving underground moves and persuasions for the contestants of their choice.

Ten of the contestants are from within the university while only two are eyeing the position from outside the university.

As at the time of filling this report, details of the contestants are yet to be made public but investigation revealed that secret meetings were held by various unions, both academic and non-academic, in the university.

Some unions were said to have raised a committee to shop for credible candidates within the university to replace Professor Bamitale Omole whose five-year single tenure would end on June 23, 2016.

It was gathered that the committee would feed the unions back on their findings within two weeks during which it would have assessed the candidates before making its choice public.

It will be recalled that some days ago, some staff unions including Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) in OAU have accused the incumbent governing council of the university of imposing a candidate to fill the most prestigious seat on them. These unions have prayed the president to dissolve the institution's governing council.

The student population as at this time who are obviously not in the scheme of choice have been left to watch development with no obvious position from the student union so far, though the student union's activities have been recently suspended by the university authorities.



Source

2015/2016 OAU Freshers Registration: List Of Documents Needed

This is to inform all newly admitted students of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife that OAU Freshers Registration exercise is about to start. The following are list of documents needed for a successful screening and registration as a Fresher.

List of Documents
Original and four (4) photocopies of the following documents:-

(1) WAEC/NECO/GCE O’level result(s)
(2) Birth Certificate/Sworn Declaration of Age
(3) Admission letter (printed with N1,000 JAMB E-facility card)
(4) UTME Original result slip (also be printed with
another N1,000 JAMB E-facility card)
(5) Post UTME result/Pre-degree final result

Upon successful access to the E-portal with your JAMB reg. no. Print out the following documents and also provide the original and 4 photocopies of each:-

(6) Notification of Admission
(7) Bio-data form (Course registration form
(9) Hostel Slip (optional)
(10) State of Origin/Local Government Area Certificate

All new students of the Obafemi Awolowo University are to get these documents ready as the registration exercise is set to start anytime soon.

AFCON Qualifier: CAF Deducts 3 Points From Nigeria

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has deducted points from Nigeria, Egypt and Tanzania, all members of Group G, following the withdrawal of Chad from the ongoing qualification race for the 31st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, Gabon 2017.

Chad were due to travel to Tanzania for the fourth match in the group, but instead made the announcement of a shocking withdrawal, citing financial constraints.

CAF swiftly applied its rules in conformity with Article 61 of the regulations of the competition which states: “If a team withdraws from the qualifying phase organised in groups, all its results shall be annulled (points, scored and conceded goals)”.
”Consequently, the three matches of Chad of Group G are cancelled and the results will not be taken into consideration”, CAF said.

Egypt still lead the group with four points,, while Nigeria have two. Tanzania have a point.
CAF further said that in accordance, with the rule set by CAF Executive Committee on 15 January 2015, any group reduced to three teams following the withdrawal of a team will have only the group winner qualifying for the final tournament.

Furthermore, the Chadian Football Federation has been fined 20,000 US Dollars and also barred from participating in the next edition of the AFCON in conformity with Article 59 of the regulations of the Competition which states “any association declaring forfeit after the start of the matches is liable to a fine of twenty thousand (20,000) U.S. dollars. It will also not be allowed to participate in the next edition of the AFCON”.

Meanwhile, Egypt will face Nigeria on Tuesday, 29 March 2016 in Alexandria.



Source: Vanguard