Public Threats: The Wizkid-Ikeji Saga - Segabio

Some days ago, a social media clash came up between a Nigerian blogger: Linda Ikeji and a popular hip-hop artiste: Ayo Ibrahim Balogun popularly known as Wizkid.

Wizkid reacted to a news published online by the blogger about him being served a quit notice at his Lekki home via his social media page (Instagram) and this generated a lot of controversy.

Recently, Linda Ikeji stretched matters as she reported Wizkid to the police and brought to the public the reasons why she did so. According to Linda, she took Wizkid to the police not because she was afraid of him but because she doesn't take threats lightly. She expressed her mind about violence against women being a bad thing and also advised women to report case of threats from any man as the police force doesn't take such lightly.

My Opinion:
Wizkid is a musician that has so many fans, home and abroad, of which I am one.  I appreciate his songs, the likes of Ojulegba, Expensive Shit and also, his good voice. Nonetheless, the truth needs to be told.

I would say at this point that we should be very careful, our character and what we say publicly matters too.  As celebrities, many fans look up to these ones and will definitely want to practice what they do or say.  Remember the time of Olamide's "Back to Back" which went viral online. It is not until you become a Pastor or Imam before you act right.  I believe they are made celebrities by God for them to live an exemplary life for their followers, the so-called fans to learn.

I believe Linda Ikeji is doing her job as an online journalist (blogger) by informing the public on happenings (either good or bad news).  After all, a lot of Wizkid’s achievements and feats have been published by this same Linda Ikeji on her blog in the past.

Wizkid's public threat to the blogger is quite bad. What would become of him if some days after the threat, Linda was beaten up by an entirely different party or if anything bad happens to Linda? Wizkid would definitely be the prime suspect. There are lots of lessons to learn from this issue, more reason why I came online to express my opinion. Issuing threats, especially public threats, is very bad as it can be very implicating.

Furthermore, women are to be respected and not because you are in any higher position place infringement on their rights.

I believe there should be gender equality irrespective of differences.

Segabio

NYSC 2016 Batch "A" Printing Of Call-up Letters Has Commenced

This is to inform all Prospective Batch A Corp Members for 2016 National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) that the printing of their NYSC Call-up letter has started today 20th April, 2016 and will last till April 27th, 2016.

Prospective Batch A Corp Members who made payment online for the printing of their call-up letters during online registration can print their call up letters via any of these links; http://www.nysc.org.ng or http://portal.nysc.gov.ng

Note: You are to login with your registered e-mail address and password and click the 'Print Call-Up Letter' link.

For Prospective Batch A Corp Members who made payment online for the printing of their call-up letters during online registration, you are to collect your call-up letters from your respective institutions.

OAU Lecturers Accuse School Management Of Administering N3.5 billion Without Due Process

The Budget Monitoring Committee of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Obafemi Awolowo University, has accused the management of the institution of expending N3. 5billion meant for hostel renovation and construction of new lecture theaters in breach of due process and transparency.

The funds were part of the N100billion released by the Federal Government in 2013 for all universities in response to the long drawn agitations of ASUU against the government.

The implementation monitoring committee had spelt out guidelines for accessing the intervention fund for Nigerian Public Universities, but the school failed to abide by the guidelines.

According the report of the committee addressed to ASUU members, and which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the management failed to follow due process in contract awarding as well as failing to utilize needs assessment phase 1 funds made available to the institution in August 2013 as required by the guidelines.

The report which was signed by the committee’s chairman, A.O, Aderibigbe, on 4th of January 2016, also noted that the approval for the release of the funds was done in writing by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education addressed to the Vice Chancellor of OAU on 23rd of August 2013.

The report indicated that the letter from the Ministry of Education conveyed the approval of NI3.5billion needs Assessment phase 1, funds to OAU under the Special university revitalization programme based on the needs Assessment report.

The monitoring committee reported that the following projects, namely Rehabilitation/Renovation of hostels for N200million; Rehabilitation/Renovation of lecture theaters and lecture rooms for N250million; Construction of new facilities-Hostels, N 2billion; Construction of new facility -Lecture Theaters and lecture rooms, N300million and Construction of new facility -Laboratories and Library, N300million, all totaling N3.5billion, were to be carried out as approved.

The committee noted that the second tranche of the funds totaling N2.833billion was transferred from the Central Bank of Nigeria to two commercial bank accounts operated by the institution.

“On 30/09/2014 I was reliably informed that the sum of N2,833,703,703.61 was transferred from the CBN into the OAU account with the bank and in this regard the university administration directed an officer to issue receipts as follows (a) First Bank, account no: 2023659287 Account name:OAU Special revitalization programmer Account , Amount N1,308,703,703.61billion and Zenith Bank, Account number:1013549122 Account name: OAU Presidential Implementation of Needs Assessment Account, Amount :N1,525,000,000billion and the officer complied, the truth will surely prevail sooner than later,” Mr. Aderibigbe stated in the report.

“The letter informing the university of the transfer of N3.5billion directed that there should be strict compliance with the procurement act 2007 in the implementing of the projects.”

The ASUU monitoring committee stated that while the approval letter quoted an allocation of the sum of 3.5billion, the university claimed it received only N2.833billon.

The committee wondered how an allocation of N3.5billion naira meant to execute projects worth the same sum, would turn out to become N2.833billion.

The committee further alleged that the university had unilaterally identified, prioritized and awarded contracts for some of the projects with total exclusion and sidelining of university budget monitoring committee,

ASUU BMC said that in compliance with the IMC Guidelines the projects should be awarded with the knowledge of ASUU’s monitoring committee, adding that the management was in violation of stipulated guidelines and due process.

The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Abiodun Olanrewaju, told PREMIUM TIMES that ASUU’s allegation was false, as all funds received by the institution from the Federal Government had been judiciously used.

He said the management of OAU had also been transparent in the handling of the funds and the execution of projects in line due process of procurement.

“To the best of my knowledge we always advertise all the infrastructural projects in two national newspapers and the tenders journal in Abuja,” Mr. Olanrewaju said.

“Fortunately, my office is in charge of placing the adverts for interested persons to be aware.

“If there is agreement between the management and ASUU regarding the administration of the funds, I am not aware.”



Source: Premium Times

Omole Tasks Research Institutes On Food Import Substitution

Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Bamitale Omole yesterday in Ibadan tasked the various research institutes in Nigeria to urgently work out enduring import substitution for all the strategic commodities, particularly food items, affected by the Federal Government's importation ban, with a view to ensuring food security and boosting employment opportunities across the country.

Making the call while addressing the 2016 Annual In-House review Exercise of the Institute of Agricultural research and training (IAR&T), Moore Plantation, Ibadan, Professor Omole also enjoined the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria to sustain the initiatives under the West African Agricultural Productivity Project (WAAPP) for greater access to improved technologies and infrastructures by farming households.

Professor Omole, who doubles as the Governing Chairman of IAR&T, declared: "The recent intention of the federal Government to ban the importation of certain strategic commodities is laudable as this would assist in protecting and growing investment in domestic production. Agricultural Research Institutes in the country should therefore be prepared to provide the required technical support for such domestic productions."



Source: Daily Trust

OAU Pre-Degree First Contact Results Released

The Management of the Centre of Distance Learning of the Obafemi Awolowo University Centre for distance learning has released the first contact results of its Pre-degree students.

The result which was released on the evening of Sunday, 17th April 2016 came as a surprise to most students as it was released barely two days after the completion of their exams. The management has however asked the students to check their results on the notice board as soon as possible.

OAU Peeps News Agency wishes all the Pre-degree students the best as they check their results.

Fresh Students To Resume May 28, Stalites; June 27

Proposed Academic Calendar for 2015/2016 Session

According to a new proposed academic calendar which was found in the University Senate building and has been circulating the OAU cyberspace, the proposed resumption date for the fresh students is May 28, while returning students are to resume on the 27th June 2016.

This is following the approval of the 56 days leave of the Academic Staff by the school management. Also following the opening of the University's ePortal, fresh students are expected to start changing their passwords of their Portal accounts as the payment of the 20,000 naira acceptance fee is expected to commence on Wednesday, the 20th of April, 2015.

We would also like to advise fresh students to be careful when changing their passwords as any mistake during the process may stall their registration process and attract  an earlier trip to the University for appropriate corrections.

OAU Management Approves ASUU 56-Day Leave, New Resumption Day Proposed

The Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Bamitale Omole has finally approved the request of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU OAU) to proceed on an annual leave of 56 working days for the 2014/2015 session.

This development was contained in a letter to the chairman of ASUU OAU, Dr Caleb Aborisade and signed by the Registrar, D. O. Awoyemi. The leave has taken effect from 6th April, 2016 and will end on June 24, 2016.

Owning to this new development, OAU Peeps News Agency has been able to gather that a new date for resumption of the 2015/2016 academic session has been proposed. Fresh students are expected to resume in their halls of residence on May 28, 2016 and the returning students will resume June 27, 2016. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, lectures for the new session are expected to begin on Monday, June 28, 2016.