Dean Urges New Pharmacy Student Executives To Be Accountable

Friday, the 1st of April would be unforgettable in the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students, OAU as it was the day for the swearing in ceremony of its newly elected executive and legislative officers.The ceremony started at about 11am was anchored by the electoral chairman Mr Okunlola Gbenga.  In the course of the programme, the success of the past administration was reviewed by the outgoing president Mr Okoya Funmbi and was lauded by all.

Some other major highlights of the ceremony were the Unveiling of the new set of jerseys donated to the association by May and Baker Pharmaceuticals, the unveiling of the reviewed constitution of the association and its magazine: Pharmatel.

In his address, the Dean faculty of pharmacy, Professor Adebajo, appreciated the outgoing administration for a job well done and also congratulated the new executives on the success of their various elections. He said that the work which lied before them was quite much and tasking and also urged them to be selfless in the discharge of their duties.

The Dean before moderating the taking of oath of the new officers emphasised the need for accountability in their administration as the entire faculty will be on a look out for them. After the swearing in, the new President, Mr Oluwagbade Emmanuel, delivered his first presidential speech. In his speech he appreciated pharmacy students for making him their choice and promised to work tirelessly to ensure that the association moves to greater heights.

The ceremony also had in attendance some important dignitaries in the Faculty: Professor Alebiowu, Dr Adeyemi the student officer of the faculty, Dr (Mrs) Omisore and a representative from May and baker Pharmaceuticals who advised and encouraged the new administration.

Credits- PANS PRO

Management And Accounting OAU Loses Lecturer

The department of Management and Accounting of the Obafemi Awolowo University ile - Ife lost a lecturer today, Wednesday the 6th of April 2016.

Dr Wasiu Olayiwola Akande, a lecturer in the department of accounting, who was fondly known as 'BORA', as a slogan for 'B' or 'A' grades, which he had throughout his undergraduate days reportedly passed on after brief illness.

Dr Akande died in his house earlier this morning after being discharged from the hospital yesterday, our correspondent learnt. He was said to be a jovial lecturer and was loved by a lot of students and colleagues.

 He died at the age 44years old and is survived by a wife and two kids.

 May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Source

"When Paper Leak..."- Pope Jay

First off, I would love to congratulate majority of the OAU student community on the successful completion of their exams. I wish us all good success “ Insha Allah, Insha Jesus”.  However, this article was majorly inspired by the Panama Papers Saga which has become the major headline of most news bodies in recent times. The incident simply involved the leakage of about 11.5 million files from the database of the world’s fourth biggest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonesca. It is claimed that the records were obtained from an anonymous source (Hmm Hmm) by a German Newspaper which then shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Those who have had the privilege to examine these documents claim that it exposes the various ways by which the rich exploit secretive offshore tax regimes. It is therefore not entirely surprising that some Nigerian names have been poping up since the begining of the saga. But then the issue is quite a very big one in the global view as a lot of big names have been mentioned as being involved in a number of illegal financial dealings from the Prime Minister of Iceland, who has consequentially retired, to Vladmir Putin, the President of Russsia and many other national leaders. In fact, according to the UK guardian, the leak is regarded as one of the biggest in history, bigger than even the popular Wikileaks incident in 2010.

Growing up on the streets of Lagos, one particular yoruba adage whose pidgin English adaptation I loved was; “ When breeze blow, fowl yansh go open”. Apart from the playful and moral touch to the adage, I particularly appreciate its almost perfect illustration of the fact that the truth would always be revealed, at least as long as “breeze dey blow”. Also, in as much as it is worthy to ensure the persons and parties involved in the scandal faces Lady Justice and her sword, this article is not merely to request that justice be served, it is also a warning. It is now obvious to the blind and audible to the deaf that the corrupt leaders too get breeze and one day e go blow. So if you are a leader in any capacity; whether it is the head of your fellowship or your indigenous association, the chairman of your hall or the President of your Union, the Head of your Department or Vice Chancellor, Whether you are the Local Councillor or the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, I advise you not to do those shady deals at all because “When paper leak, na oga yansh go open o”

Pope Jay

How The Deputy Vice Chancellors Will Be Appointed

Still on top of news stories in Obafemi Awolowo University campus is the ongoing jostling for the soon-to-be vacant seats of the Vice Chancellor and the Deputy Vice Chancellors 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 Deputy Vice Chancellors.

The principal law governing the selection and appointment of Deputy 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 Deputy Vice-Chancellors is summarized as follows.

DEPUTY VICE- CHANCELLORS
1.There shall be for the University such number of Deputy Vice Chancellors as the Council may, from time to time deem necessary for the proper administration of the University.

2. Where a vacancy occurs in the post of Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor shall forward to the Senate a list of two candidates for each post of Deputy Vice Chancellor that is vacant.

3. The Senate shall select for each vacant post one candidate from each list forwarded to it under subsection (2) of this section and forward his name to the Council for confirmation.

4. A Deputy Vice Chancellor shall –
(a) assist the Vice Chancellor in the performance of his functions:
(b) act in the place of the Vice Chancellor when the post of Vice Chancellor is vacant or if the Vice Chancellor is, for any reason, absent or unable to perform his functions as Vice Chancellor and
(c) Perform such other functions as the Vice Chancellor or the Council may, from time to time, assign to him.

5. A Deputy Vice Chancellor –
(a) shall hold office for a period of two years beginning from the effective date of his appointment and on such terms and conditions as may be specified in his letter of appointment; and
(b) may be re-appointed for one further period of two years and no more.

The above provision of the law gives no room for the appointment of Acting Deputy Vice Chancellors, or Special Assistants to Vice Chancellors. The sole responsibility for the appointment of Deputy Vice Chancellors lies with the Senate of University. A Vice Chancellor who appoints Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellors, or Special Assistants will be acting in contravention of the (Universities Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993.

University senates should live up to their responsibilities in ensuring that Vice Chancellors do not exceed powers given to them by law or usurp powers given to other organs in their Universities. Should University Senates fail to ensure that Vice Chancellors act within the powers given to them, they would be creating imperial Vice Chancellors.

Like in the provision for the appointment of Vice Chancellors, the law of the appointment of Deputy Vice Chancellors, allows for participation by members of the University Community, through its Senate.

OAU May Resume A New Session In July

A renewed agitation by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Obafemi Awolowo University chapter for her annual leave may shift the widely circulated resumption date for the 2016/2017 academic session by three (3) months.

A congress of ASUU OAU members which held yesterday amidst many other issues deliberated on her members’ insistence on embarking on a 56-working day leave. Speaking to a lecturer about the development, he opined that the students may be going for a 3 month break.

“ASUU members have been given two weeks to mark the scripts of students starting from April 5 and this will end by April 19th. After this the university community will proceed on the normal sessional break which should be at least a month. It is now after this that we will now start our leave.” The lecturer revealed.

If this is anything to go by, all these break periods amount to 3 months leaving a new session to commence mid-July.

Varsities, Polytechnics Get Cut-off Marks In June

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has disclosed that the cut-off marks for universities and polytechnics will be made public in June, 2016.

Its Public Relations Officer, Dr Fabian Benjamin in a telephone conversation with Vanguard said: “JAMB will officially publish the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), cut-off marks for universities and polytechnics in June.”

Matriculation Examination (UTME), cut-off marks for universities and polytechnics in June.” He urged candidates of the 2016 UTME to ignore the cut-off marks from some websites and social media, stating that those cut-off marks were just the imagination of people. You would recall that many websites over the past weeks had published that JAMB’s cut-off marks for university and polytechnic are 180 and 150 respectively.



Source: Vanguard

OAU Students Advocate Participation In Appointment Of Vice Chancellor

Some students of Obafemi Awolowo University under the aegis of a platform called OAU Wikileak have advocated that students be allowed to participate in the ongoing selection process of the Vice Chancellor.

In a social media discussion monitored by Oye Ola Oladimeji, majority of the contributors feel the students be afforded a voice in the very crucial process since they will be affected by the decision of whoever emerges at the end of the day.

Leading the debate, Moshood Odunayo Olajide, the Convener of OAU Wikileaks frown at the way students are completely excluded in the choosing of the university's Vice Chancellor. He argued that students exclusion from such prominent appointment is part of the reason why the university authority takes students for granted. He however urged students to rise up and change this trend.

In his own opinion, Honourable Epitome, a parliamentarian from the faculty of EDM stated that students must participate in providing criteria for the appointment of Vice Chancellor. Hear him, in a typical democratic setting,  students can participate in form of public debate whereby every sapient will be allowed to ask questions.

Contributing, Honourable Omole Ibukun from the faculty of Tech advocated a thoroughly transparent public  debate that will simultaneously feature the outgoing Vice Chancellor coming to give account of his regime while students are allowed to question both the outgoing and the incoming freely.

Also speaking, Fatoyinbo Gafar, a social critic, aver that students have always constitute the major stakeholder in the education sector. He further stated that students should be allowed to partake in the decision making process as the appointment of a new vice-chancellor will either make or mar students, hence the need to have the input of the students. He further asserted that the imposition of anointed candidate on the university by powerful forces may be too hazardous for Great Ife students to bear. Speaking in the same vein, Matthew Edache urged the university authority and the National University Commission (NUC) to provide a platform for students to air their views on the appointment of VC's. He also condemned the increment of tuition fees which has not led to improved welfarism on campus.

In his own contribution, Bamidele Williams, suggested that a Congress of Great Ife students be convened by the Security committee of the students union to dispassionately discuss the modalties of the appointment of Vice Chancellor while a seven man committee should be set up to meet with ASUU, and SSANU while the committee should also spearhead media campaign tagging it #OAUSAYSNOTOANNOINTEDVC. Aligning with the position of Williams, Solomon Abiodun popularly known as Spiritdrunk suggested that the Security committee should convene a Congress and make students' demands known to the university management.

Opposing the debate, Emeka Mbah, a student from the faculty of medicine however feels that students stand no chance in participating in the appointment of the Vice Chancellor stating that the race is purely political and beyond the participation of students.