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| Official Release of Management |
Following the protest of the National Association of Nigerian Students (South-West Zone) against the one semester rustication of a student activist at the University of Ibadan, the management of the institution has hereby declared an indefinite vacation for it students. In a release of the management, the students were advised to vacate the Halls of Residence before 4pm today, Tuesday, 26th April 2016.
Multiple awards winning Gospel singer and CEO of Rocktown Records, Frank Edwards has finally released his album; ‘FRANKINCENSE’ in a matter of hours, the album is already topping the charts on iTunes against Beyonce's Lemonade and Rihanna's ANTI albums. The artist, who also made this known on his instagram page with an excited post saying,
"And Ladies and Gentlemen..We are Number 1! Booooooooom Now do you respect JESUS or nah?!! #frankincense2016 #JESUSPOWER"
The 21 track album features Don Moen, Micah Stampley and Nathaniel Bassey. Announcing the release of the album, Mr. Anthony Chukwudi, the CEO of Honesty Music Entertainment through an interview with THE NATION in his words stated that,
It is a very wonderful album. I have marketed a lot of gospel albums but this particular one is a very special one. It is even more special because people from the outside world are beginning to take a liking to Nigerian music and there is a huge reflection of this in this album. I heard his music for the first time and it agreed with our vision,” he said.
Describing Frankincense as a tool for reaching out, Frank Edwards said that it is his desire to use it to touch lives. In his words,
“Music is a tool for me to reach out to my generation. Frankincense is more than an album. It is a gift to God. It goes from one worship song to another. We have ballad and reggae, and what I call afro-ballad and so many other genres in it. It is a beautiful piece of work. I’m excited. I can’t wait for you to hear it”
By Durodola Abiola EPORTAH
Nigerian tertiary institutions’ students’ union have continued to witness oppressions from their respective university managements and this has put the vibrancy of students’ union movement into test, as the tough time for students’ unionism on most campuses continue. Students’ movement continue to witness attacks from the university managements, suspension of students’ leaders and union activists has become the order of the day. They continue to instill fear in the mind of Nigerian students, and they seem to derive special joy in the continuous oppression of students.
On the 2nd and 3rd days of April 2016, the University of Lagos was shut down by the dictators who used their shenanigan power on the basis of students’ protests on poor welfare conditions. It will be recalled that this was the same reason the Obafemi Awolowo University was shut down in December 2015 and the subsequent suspension of all Union activities. Also students of the Premier University - University of Ibadan, recently staged a peaceful march to show their discontent over the welfare condition in their various halls of residence and this lead to suspension of a student union activist named MOTE. A similar event happened in UNIPORT where students protested to show their displeasure over the University management’s students-unfriendly policies and the result was the shutting down of the university by the toffs that occupy the university’s glass house. In the UNIPORT scenario, a student was even shot in the course of the protest by the seemingly careless policemen deployed to the scene of the protest.
Have we done any bad by voicing out our discontents? Have we done badly by informing the public what we are going through? I believe it is no wrong, maybe the leaders we have are not ready to understand the plight of students.
It is sardonic that Nigerian students now attend classes in place not meant for academic activities (like sport centres), or should we not talk about the poor state of our laboratories and the dilapidated blocks of classrooms some of us students take classes in? Is it a sin for me to tell the whole word that the hostel I inhabit is not conducive for living because there is erratic supply of water and light? Our leaders should know that it is not the wish of the students to stage protests or carry placards, and this is seen as a very last resort to inform them of the things that are needed to be put in place.
Students have a role to play in ensuring that the constant threats and oppression by university dons do not stay in our system, by making collective efforts and providing unequivocal support for our union leaders who are ready to fight for our cause.
Also, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the national level needs to start championing the campaign for better welfare condition and stop playing to the hands of politicians. NANS leadership at the national is now a shadow of itself and cannot even pull a string. Hopefully, the next NANS convention will provide new crop of leaders who would really tackle the problem of oppression by dons who occupy the building a radical writer once called 'SIN-NATE'.
Abiola Durodola, a Part four student of Obafemi Awolowo University.
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| Decisions of Unilag Senate |
Following the shut down of the University of Lagos, Akoka consequential to the protest by its students due to poor welfare conditions, the senate of the University of Lagos has hereby suspended the Student Union of the University Of Lagos. The release which carried the resolution of the senate also motioned for a Constitution review of the Union; the review was to include several conflict resolution mechanisms in the constitution.
Also, following the suspension of the Union, the Executives and Student Representative Council of Union have hereby been dissolved and the Institution is to resume Academic activities on the 2nd of May 2016 while exams of the first semester of the 2015/2016 commence on the 9th of May, 2016
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
