As the football world edges towards the end of June and by implication football season, we look forward to another tantalizing football tournament capable of setting the world ablaze.
As most of us know, different continents of the world, through their respective continental tournaments, usually choose the best out of the lot. The African continent seeks for a champion with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Asians through the Asian Cup, South Americans through the Copa America, North Americans through their CONCACAF Gold Cup; Oceanians through their Oceanian Nations Cup and Europeans too, through the European Championship to search for the best team that could represent them at the World level, that is the Intercontinental Football Tournament (Confederations Cup).
Europe and South America arguably have the best teams on the planet, a fact that has been backed up by their respective triumphs in various local tournaments and those involving the world as a whole. Their top positions on recent FIFA rankings, occupying the first ten positions (five from each continent) and their involvement in the world's biggest stages: 2014 World cup and 2013 Continental finals.
As Euro 2016 approaches, many bookmarkers and football pundits would see the German National Team as favourites to replicate the feat they achieved in the last World Cup Finals where they conquered the world. If they were able to conquer the world, what then is Europe?
Taking a distinct look at the German squad, one won't expect them to perform at the top level they did during the last World Cup finals due to the drop in form that has eclipsed the season of their stars. Even though players like Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels, Manuel Neuer and some few others still sustain the top form they took away from the World Cup. Many others have experienced a drop in form: from the injury that has hacked down Ikay Gundogan's season to the tactical indecision the wretched football played by the secretary of football's team that has been imposed on Bastian Schweinsteiger to the incapability of Mezut Ozil to repeat last season's assist success at Arsenal not to talk of the lack of playing time experienced by their top striker, Mario Gotze.
Other teams have also been tipped to excel in the competition, the experience of the Spanish team cannot be overlooked neither can the ability of the Oranje boys be underestimated, nor the poacher spirited English attack or the Belgians tactical excellence.
In as much as predictions has 40% chance in football, I see England as great underdogs for the competition. I wouldn't like to talk of their chances to avoid you seeing me as Nigeria’s T.B Joshua or the world's new Octopus but I would like to remind you, this is one of the most mysterious sport ever.
This is football, anything can happen.
Squire Readen
NB- Squire Readen is a freelance writer who writes critical sport commentaries and other related articles. He is an objective sports fan and is currently the Director of Sports for the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), OAU Chapter. You can reach him on Pharmsquire@yahoo.com
Saturday, 23 April 2016
Thursday, 21 April 2016
2015/2016 OAU Freshers' Registration: Procedure For Payment And Online Screening
PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT OF FEES(Acceptance, Main Fees & Accommodation)
All payments MUST be imitated from the University PORTAL by clicking on "PAYMENT OF FEES" from student's Home Page to download PAYMENT SLIP for each type of payments you want to make i.e. separate PAYMENT SLIP for Acceptance, Main Fees and Accommodation (optional). The University PORTAL will determine the type of payments available for you. For example, if you are granted a BEDSPACE, Accommodation fee will automatically appear. Please do not pay for accommodation until you have secured a BEDSPACE on the NET as such payment will not be refunded.
Present 2 copies of the printed PAYMENT SLIP to any branch of the Bank you select on the PORTAL for payment. It is expected that Bank will collect a copy while you keep a copy for yourself after stamping by Bank. PLEASE NO PAYMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED IN ANY BRANCH OF BANKS IN OAU CAMPUS.
PROCEDURE FOR ONLINE SCREENING
• Upload your digital passport photograph of dimension 360 X 400 Pixels (10cm X 11cm) in JPEG format with Skye Blue background. Maximum size of 50 KB.
• Upload your digital signature of dimension 110 X 44 Pixels (3cm X 1cm) in JPEG format with white background. Maximum size of 3 KB
• Verification of your Particulars. You will be required to correct any error discovered
• Load your certificates details online
• Scan your certificates including your Birth Certificate in JPEG format and upload them
• Upon successful completion of (i) - (v) above, the system will allow you to print your SCREENING CERTIFICATE if you meet the screening requirements. You will later submit it with the photocopies of your credentials including Birth Certificate to your Faculty Secretary in order to activate you for issuance of Matriculation Number. If your ONLINE Screening is NOT successful, report with your credentials to your Faculty Secretary for further screening.
• Download the following items for your use and complete the Medical forms for submission at the Health Centre for your medical registration. The items are:- OAU ROAD MAP, 2015/2016 HARMATTAN SEMESTER LECTURE TIME-TABLE, ENTRANCE MEDICAL EXAMINATION FORM, HEALTH QUESTIONARE, UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION REGULATIONS, LIBRARY INFORMATION and SPORTS REGULATION.
OAU Fresh Students To Begin Accommodation Request On April 24
This is to notify all the newly admitted students that the OAU e-portal will be activated for accommodation request on Sunday, April 24, 2016 by 8:00am. The bed space request is usually granted on a first come first served basis.Angola Hall and Mozambique Hall are halls where the first year students are always resident.
OAU School Fees: Remita Retrieval Reference Now Accessible
The RRR Remital payment mode on the school portal is now open for payment of school fees for both fresh students and returning students.
Freshmen are enjoined to pay acceptance fee first before paying their school fess. The new payment system now accepts the use of MasterCard or Verve card.
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
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
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
