Gully Erosion: Ibore Community Begs For Urgent Intervention

By: Adetula David

The dwellers of the Ibore community in Esan Central Local Government, Edo State have raised their voices begging the Nigerian governments at all levels and the international community to come to their rescue over the continued dilapidations of the town owning to gully erosion hitting it.

In an exclusive visit by the OAU Peeps News Agency alongside students from the Department of Botany, Obafemi Awolowo University who embarked on a field trip to the gully erosion sites, the deep gully sites were seen and the inhabitants of the community expressed the daily fear of extinction they live with.

The state of Ibore community which has over 10,000 residents is a pitiful and painful one as most parts of town now sit on a time-bomb of been cut out from the rest of the state. The rate at which the soil is been washed away and the continuing deepening of the gully erosion sites present there is quite alarming and deadly. Some parts of the community rely on a wooden dangling bridge to cross over deep gullies to the other sides of the town.

According to a resident of the community who spoke with our correspondents, Iyile Nigeria, he said all the pleas and cries of the residents over time for intervention in the town have fallen to the deaf ears of the governments and that has left the situation to worsen. He went further to say the gully sites were not as deep as they are now some years back but because nothing was done about them, they are getting worse day after day. As a result of the state of the community, many persons have been displaced and rendered homeless and some have even been carried away by erosion in the gully during rainy season, a resident told OAU Peeps News Agency.

The dwellers of this community having been failed by their governments several times despite their outcry continue to plead for urgent and practical intervention from all over the world.

See pictures of some portions of the community below:

To Newly Admitted Students & MTH 201 Students: Prepare For Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics With Lecturers During This Break

• Seasoned Lecturers Proffer Solutions To White & Yellow House Courses’ Failure

Do you know that the most failed courses on Obafemi Awolowo University are arguably courses from White House and Yellow House; Departments of Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics?

Do you know these courses are foundational courses taken by newly admitted students? Courses include MTH 101, PHY 101, CHM 101, MTH 105, PHY 105, SSC 105, ZOO 101, BOT 101.

It is a known fact among the students that white house and yellow house courses are the most dreaded courses on OAU campus. Why?

Speaking with Dr Fadodun Ayo a.k.a AY and Mr Olokuntoye Bola a.k.a Uncle Bola who are lecturers in the Department of Mathematics, they are strongly of the opinion that students fail these courses due to lack of basic concepts on which the topics in these courses are built.

OAU Peeps can confirm to you that these lecturers are willing to use this break to furnish you with these concepts so as to overcome the challenges these courses pose. To this effect, there will be a six (6) weeks comprehensive summer classes on MTH 201, MTH 101, MTH 105, PHY 101, PHY 105, CHM 101 and SSC 105.

Lecture commences Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016
Venue: MBB 209 and MBB 210 (Yellow House).

Charges:
Newly Admitted Students (MTH 101, PHY 101, CHM 101, MTH 105, PHY 105 & SSC 105) - 6 Weeks - N10,000
Returning Students (MTH 201) - 6 Weeks - N5,000

There are limited slots available for this offer. Interested persons should call the lecturers below to reserve their slot.

This is also to inform students who are yet to do their online screening that they can get it done during the summer classes with the tutors.

Fadodun (AY MATHS) – 08034060158
Olokuntoye (Bola MATHS) – 08032073336

From World 3rd Fastest Growing Economy, Nigeria Drops Out Of Top 15 In Africa

Having enjoyed blissful growth over the past decade, Nigeria was one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but it is not one of the 15 fastest growing economies in Africa for 2016.

In 2014 and early 2015, Nigeria was named the third fastest growing economy in the world by CNNMoney, with China and Qatar, taking the lead at 7.3 percent, 7.1 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

For 2016, however, the coast is cloudy, and Nigeria is nowhere near the fastest growing economies in Africa.

According to the International Monetary Funds (IMF) World Economic Outlook for 2016, as revised in April, the fastest growing economy in Africa for 2016 is Cote d’Ivoire and the slowest is Chad, which is expected to record negative growth.

Cote d’Ivoire is expected to experience an 8.5 percent rise in GDP, while Nigeria’s neighbour, Chad, would see a -0.4 percent growth.

Cote D’Ivoire (8.5%), Tanzania (6.9%), Senegal (6.6%), Djibouti (6.5%), Rwanda (6.3%), Kenya (6.0%), Mozambique (6.0%), Central African Republic (5.7%), Sierra Leone (5.3%) Uganda (5.3%).

Madagascar, Zambia and Chad are expected to see a growth of 4.1 percent, 3.4 percent, 3.2 percent respectively.

The fastest growing economies in Africa by GDP growth rate, as projected by IMF for 2016, are: Cote D’Ivoire (8.5%), Tanzania (6.9%), Senegal (6.6%), Djibouti (6.5%), Rwanda (6.3%), Kenya (6.0%), Mozambique (6.0%), Central African Republic (5.7%), Sierra Leone (5.3%) and Uganda (5.3%).

DR Congo expects a GDP growth of 4.9 percent, Cameroon; 4.9 percent, Ethiopia; 4.5 percent, Ghana; 4.5 percent and Republic of Congo; 4.4 percent.

Madagascar, Zambia and Chad are expected to see a growth of 4.1 percent, 3.4 percent, 3.2 percent respectively.

Major oil exporters, Angola and Nigeria, hard hit by the slump in crude oil prices, are projected to see a growth 2.5 and 2.3 percent.

At 2.3 percent, Nigeria is expected to see its poorest GDP growth since the return of Democracy in 1999.

This development has become a point of concern for the IMF, and the World Economic Forum (WEF), which would be having its meeting on Africa later in May.

According to the World Economic Forum, Africa’s positive economic outlook is under pressure with the growth rate expected to remain just under 5 per cent. Foreign direct investment flows are expected to continue to grow, although at a slower pace.

Rwanda has transformed dramatically since the 1994 genocide and is now placed 5th in the fastest growing African economies. The country is one of the continent’s most competitive economies and a top reformer in improving the business environment.

Ahead of the World Economic Forum on Africa in May, it is important to recognise the major challenges that many African economies face. Some of the major threats include commodities slump, currency devaluations and geo-security risks.

“It is important to recognize the challenges that many African economies face – the commodities slump, currency devaluations and geo-security risks all threaten growth,” WEF explained.

The Forum says its May meeting will highlight the need for diversification in order to ensure inclusive economic growth, tapping into the fourth industrial revolution’s potential to create new industries and help reduce inequality across the continent.

The World Economic Forum on Africa 2016 will take place in Kigali, Rwanda from 11-13 May.

Source: Vanguard

Breaking News: UI Shutdown Over NANS Protest

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.

OAU Freshmen Commence Online Registration In Anticipation Of Resumption

The newly admitted students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife have commenced online registration for the 2015/2016 academic session. Most of the online registration which is exclusive for freshers commenced following the commencement of payment of the respective fees. However, whilst the freshmen still await the activation of the Online Accommodation Request Platform which is said to begin on Wednesday, 27th April, 2016, some other registration processes like the filling of the certificate form and uploading of credentials have begun.

Also, in a bid to further assist the Freshmen  in their registration process. OAU Peeps News Agency has set up some ad-hoc interactive platforms for these freshmen. To join these platforms, contact Jesujoba - 08063429623, Ridwan-07061554555, Seun- 08064189480

Frank Edwards "FRANKINCENSE" Tops Itunes

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”

Students’ Union Movement: Threats and Oppression by University Managements

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.