Things Great Ife Students Would Miss This Break

By Adeyeye Eyitayo

There is no doubt about the uniqueness of Great Ife and part of this uniqueness is that there are some conventional happenings peculiar to Great Ife students which one may not come across in other varsities.
The university is in her fifth week of academic standstill owing to the annual sabbatical leave embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union amid the sessional break.
It is just certain that Great Ife students who have been on recess for over a month now would have missed a couple of happenings they experience on daily basis while on campus.
Below are some of those happenings:
1.BUS DRIVER PALAVA
"WOLE PELU CHANGE EMI O NI #20 CHANGE O" i. e., “enter with your N20 note I don't have change”.
For those who stay off campus, I believe they would have missed this daily chant by shuttle bus drivers on campus.  Great Ife students would bear me witness on how frustrating it can be when you are already late for a morning class and on getting to the car park you encountered your "Sodom and Gomorrah" who says you will not go for that class unless you have a #20 note.
As much as you try to meet up with the class by trying other buses if the driver would have "change”, you get ejected and disqualified for not having #20 with you in the other buses too.
Trust me it can be so annoying!
Also, after having a long and busy day in class and all that you could think of is to get to your apartment and retire for the day. You get to the car park again just to discover that you have N20 war to fight again.  This time around it may be so brutal because you might be under the unfriendly sun for couple of minutes trying to figure out a way out.
Those who stay off campus would agree with me that N20 note is a must-have else, one would be grounded at the park irrespective of the thousands you have with you.

2.PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPHERS
As if that's all about the struggle, on getting to campus, the struggle continues again.  Most people who usually alight at the first bus stop will testify to the fact that passing through the “motion ground area” can be disturbing, be it in the morning or any hour of the day.
Here at the “motion ground”, there are hordes of passport photographers who take the job as their means of survival.  Probably, this is why the competition is so stiff such that, mere sighting you from afar, the photographers will start shouting "bros passport"; "passport bros"; "sister passport wa o" (all meaning – “take ur passports here”). 
Even when you are in your worst attire, they will still beckon on to you, then you will begin to ask within you, if I'm to take passport, will it be with what I'm putting on?
These mobile photographers are known for the habit of seeing you off as you journey through motion ground.

3.  PHOTOCOPY MERCHANTS

You thought the struggle is over?
Smiles, the struggle still continues.
Just immediately you traverse from motion ground, climbing the stairs, before you is a swarm of photocopy merchantmen rendering their business chants at you as if you are all they have got for that day. Your case becomes complicated perhaps you hold an A4 paper.
Their "business incantation" goes like this:  "bros shey photocopy ni" "sister photocopy" (meaning – “do you want to make photocopies, sister, is that paper for photocopying?”)
This set of people are so unique because you get to see them all over the academics area and halls of residence inclusive. You may not escape them in a day.

4.  WHEN TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED

A non-OAU student would imply that when two or three are gathered, God is there.
Well, in the case of Great Ife students especially those who stay in halls of residence it may mean another thing to them.
Whenever you see two or three people gathered, just know that an intellectual argument has engulfed.

5.THE FEAR OF PASSING THROUGH AWO HALL

The fear of passing through Obafemi Awolowo Hall (Awo Hall) is the beginning of wisdom for the female folks.
Most female students usually get scared of entering or passing through Awo Hall as a shortcut that links to other strategic places such as Fajuyi Hall and New market.  This is not because carnivorous animals are there to eat them up but because of "Aro" which they may fall a victim of.   "ARO" is simply an act of making someone a laughingstock.
To see a lady pass through Awo hall, most especially during evening time, is usually the best time for Awo hall guys and a time for comic relief after a busy day.
I'm sure after that evening, such a lady would make an eternal vow not to pass through Awo Hall again.  The aroic Awo guys would have missed this wonderful experience.

6.SPORT COMPLEXISM
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places"
I’m very sure this has been the driving force behind so many Christian brothers and sisters on OAU campus.
Non OAU student must be very careful if their friends tell them they went to the sport complex because it doesn't mean they went to do sport.
As against its natural usage, the sport complex has been turned to a spiritual battle field.  You dare not go there and "do rubbish" else, the fire of the Holy Ghost might roast you.
Most students that patronizes of the complex do not even go there for sport but for spiritual warfare.  On a typical Friday afternoon, you will notice thousands of Muslim brothers and sisters journeying through the sport complex to religious ground to have their Jumat at the University's mosque.
Then you would wonder if those who claimed OAU is the most religious varsity in Nigeria made no mistake at all.

Full Text: May Day Speech By President Muhammadu Buhari

Great Nigerian Workers!

Great Nigerian Workers!

I bring you greetings.

It is with great pleasure that I honour the invitation by the two Federations of Trade Unions, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to attend the 2016 National May Day celebrations. As you all know, this is my first outing in this forum which has a long and historical tradition that are noble and progressive. The efforts of all the heroes past who had fought for the workers of all nations to have a ‘voice’ in determining the course and direction of both national and international issues affecting the state of their being, are commemorated today, the first day of May all over the world. Labour remains unarguably an important element in any policy, programme and project propagated for national development.

This year’s celebration is significant in a number of ways. First, it marks the first May Day celebration under the All Progressive Congress (APC) Administration which brought an end to the sixteen (16) years of national squander, bad governance, unbridled corruption and economic woes by the previous administration. Second, it is coming at a time when the whole world is experiencing some form of economic crisis or the other.

For us whose main foreign exchange comes from oil, the global decline in the price of oil has further exacerbated our economic crisis. The resultant effects of this are noticeable in government dwindling resources, reduction in operational capacities of most companies especially in the Oil and Gas Sector, threats of workforce reduction by multinationals and the escalations of volatility amongst others. These developments no doubts, have socio-economic implications for the economy as well as the working class. I therefore appreciate the theme you have chosen for this year’s National May Day celebration – The Working Class and the Quest for Socio – Economic Revival. A quest it is, and the realization of the revival is not farfetched. It only requires reasonable time to remedy the maladministration and put forth a change so desired by all of us.

I make no excuses as this Government of the APC is determined to tackle headlong all socio – economic ills that have troubled our nation and we shall evolve solutions to emerging threats to our well being and the realization of sustainable development as well as growth anchored on equity and social justice.

Development must be sustainable for it to benefit society in general. It is therefore the responsibility of those in the citadels of power to align themselves with the working class who make development possible by generating and sustaining the momentum of positive change. That is why the present Administration has sought and will continue to seek the hands of Labour so that together we can attain the enviable heights of progress in our beloved country.

It is for this very reason that I aspired to become President which the Nigerian people have now made a reality. This Administration shall effect positive Change in the lives of average Nigerians, to ensure that the downtrodden are elevated and most importantly to fight the intense pain of corruption which has enriched the very few to the detriment of the majority of Nigerians who groan under the overwhelming weight of poverty and all the superstructural and infrastructural maladies resulting from corruption.

In this fight against corruption, I need you all to be very willing partners. Fighting corruption in the Public Service in particular, requires the workers to play major roles by cooperating with the Government.

I have listened to the speeches made by both the Presidents of the TUC and NLC. By the speeches, you have without any equivocation affirmed  your faith in the greatness of Nigeria as a nation. The challenges facing Nigeria have been highlighted and I assure you that they shall be accorded due consideration. It is worthy to note that solution to some of those issues and requests are already been considered and would be made public in the near future. The times may be tough, but we Nigerians are by nature resilient and strong and it is that nature that propels us to overcome adversities and still thrive as a nation.

Let us use this National May Day to celebrate the workers and Nigeria as a Nation. There will always be challenges in the life of a man and what defines greatness is the way and manner such challenges are tackled and overcome. I assure you, great Nigerian workers that this Administration is able and willing to constructively handle the challenges.

In so doing, I request your cooperation and understanding, as partners in progress. The need to ensure a conducive atmosphere devoid of incessant industrial actions becomes paramount to ensure no loss of man – days and accordingly promote high productivity which is perquisite for sustainable development based on increased investments, creation of jobs as well as protection of jobs. I further assure you that working together, this Administration protect workers rights and shall promote incentives for great productivity and hence greater prosperity.

Thank you and I wish you all happy May Day celebrations.

God Bless.

Tiwa-Teebillz Saga: Transcript Of Tiwa Savage's Interview With ThisDay Editor (Plus Video)

In an exclusive interview with Azuka Ogujiuba, ThisDay Editor, which was obtained exclusively by Pulse TV, Tiwa Savage addressed the allegations, and made emotional revelations about her husband.

Tiwa Savage has addressed the shocking accusations levelled against her by (ex) husband Tunji ‘Teebillz’ Balogun.

Yesterday, Teebillz had taken to social media to level allegations of infidelity, neglect and passive torture from Tiwa Savage in their marriage. He was later reported to have attempted suicide by jumping off the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge in Lagos.

The allegations brought on a lot of heat and discussions on social media, with many polarizing opinions being offered.

But in an exclusive interview with Azuka Ogujiuba, ThisDay Editor, which was obtained exclusively by Pulse TV, Tiwa Savage addressed the allegations, and made emotional revelations about her husband.

Read the edited quotes of her interview below.

When I woke up, I thought they found him dead. My first thought was that we need to find him, he is suicidal, and we need to make sure he is alive. I didn’t even know what he had said. Someone took my phone from me, they don’t want me to see what was said online. I was just sacred for his life.

At around 10 and 11, Banky W’s Mum and his family were praying, and we got the call that he was found in Lekki, and that he has been taken to Banky’s House.

For the past two months, TJ and I have not been together, it was something we were working through, but I knew this marriage would not work.

I haven’t spoke to TJ in about a week, and we were supposed to get some passports for my son. He was reading the messages and he wasn’t responding. I begged him to be friends, and let’s be good parents to Jamil. He didn’t respond.

I covered up for a lot of hurt in our relationship. Just before I went to Jamaica, I found out that I was pregnant. We were just trying to find out how we were going to manage another baby so soon. I got to London, on a 10-hour flight to shoot a video with Busy Signal (Reggae Artiste). While doing my makeup,  I found out I was bleeding and I passed out. I was rushed to the hospital, and we were trying to call TJ to tell him what happened. While we were sleeping at two AM a number called him saved as Edible Catering….I checked his phone, and the number was asking him if she can come to his hotel. She responded that He (TJ) knocked her out last night, that he was a great night. I confronted him, and he said he took another woman to the hotel and said they were just chilling. This happened the period I was in Jamaica, and I was in the hospital. I sent TJ pictures, and he was busy with another woman. I was in a hospital and you couldn’t be bothered find out what happened to me. I packed my stuff, took my son and went to my friends house, her name is Tiwa also. I stayed the night, and she asked me for the next step, I told her I was done.

I covered up for so long because I wanted people to believe that TJ is the one that takes care of me, TJ is the head of the house…I wanted him to be the head of the house. I covered up so much.

TJ has not spent one Naira, I paid for hospital bills, his flight, his accommodation, we also went shopping for TJ so that he will have new things. His excuse was that Í don’t have money’. I had to pay for everything so that he can go out and hustle, and get the contracts. He didn’t have money for diapers, but he had money to have a bi-weekly haircut, had money to pay for his laundry, had money to take a woman to the hotel.

His cooking allegations is a lie. I am not going to say because of my career that I am not going to cook. I work long hours to put money in the house, I work to make sure that we have a roof over our house. I come back home really late, and when I make something for myself, I make some for TJ. I had to hire a cook to cook for me, him and the other people that live in the house, I don’t think that is wrong…Even if it is true, the things he puts me through will not even encourage me to ask him if he is hungry. He goes out and you come home at 7 in the morning, sometime 2pm. He comes back drunk, he comes back angry, and we don’t know what sort of mood he is in. Sometimes TJ will go out and he will not call, and he will not tell him. I am just sacred for his safety, I will be calling him frantically, to find out that he didn’t go and drink. I am even praying that he is with another woman, so that at least I know that he is alive. That’s not the person that I will ask if he has eaten.

When I sacked him as my manager – I will never discredit or take away that TJ worked hard, hustled and believed in me. But what I will say is that at one point….he is booking events and he will book shows. The first time I found out that there was foul play was when he booked me for a wedding in London. I have to be paid before I perform. I called one of the organisers, and said I have not been paid. He said that the show has been paid four months ago, he showed me the account were they paid him. TJ declared that the show was for 3M but they really paid 4.5M, out of the 3M he was still receiving the management fee 40%. He took money already, and collected his percentage, and he didn’t feel anything. He was stealing from his wife. I had to perform at the wedding for free. I do get to perform for free when he takes my money.

My mum is based in the UK, and when I had Jamil she moved back to Nigeria with us. My mother is not like that (witchcraft), she is a sweet lady, and she’s very British, she doesn’t judge, she is not hung up like that. A lot of times, my mom would say ‘Tiwa you are the wife, be patient, don’t curse don’t shout, build the home.’ She has been nothing but a great support for me. I would love for him to tell me if there is something my mother has done.

I have never cheated on my husband. Not with Don Jazzy, Dr Sid, 2face Idibia or anybody. I have never cheated on my husband, and Tunji knows this. He knows that in his heart. (She breaks down in tears) Sometimes in the studio, one of the things that Don Jazzy and some of my other label mates say is that I am really good with interviews, with being diplomatic and knowing how to carry myself with difficult situations. This hurts. I have seen comments of what people are saying about me. It is not true.

I know that for every human being when your father’s ways are not straight, it will bother you. Since I sacked him from my management, he has been struggling financially. He was stealing from me, so I had to save my marriage and separate business from family. TJ wants to keep up with the Joneses, he wants to live a life that is not true. He went to buy a car, a Mercedes that he knew that he didn’t have the money for it. The person kept up calling that he wants the balance. I ended up paying the balance of over 3M. When it was time to pay, I put the money in his account, so they don’t know I was the person paying for it. He also bought a Rolex, and didn’t pay the balance. They threaten to go to the press, and to protect my name, I will have to pay for it. He goes to clubs and leaves the tabs for me, and I have to pay for him. He is putting us in debt.

What set off all off this was that he went to borrow 45 million Naira from someone and he lost it. I just found out that EFCC was investigating a case against him, and my brother called me from London and confirmed it that TJ is in deep trouble, and that some people might hurt him, that I should be careful. In my frantic mode to try and suppress this situation I went to one of my big bros who can help. A week ago I told TJ that we were running out of Jamil’s food, but he didn’t do nothing. He complains, but cuts his hair twice a week. I have been searching for N45M so that they don’t kill him, so that they EFCC does not carry him. What kind of man does that, and says I am the one taking away his manhood.

I walked in on TJ taking cocaine in my house in 1004 (Victoria Island, Lagos). I didn’t even know he takes cocaine. I walked into the kitchen, and I saw him taking cocaine, so I screamed, and asked if that is cocaine. HE started screaming that ‘What am I doing down here, where is the cocaine?’ How can someone without money take cocaine? I called his parents and complained that I can deal with weed, but cocaine, no. So I am dealing with his alcohol problem, you come home late, infidelity, cocaine, bad debt, jealousy over my success.

Before marriage, I didn’t know of his third child in Nigeria. A lot of people warned me about him, but I am going to say I made a mistake. At the beginning everyone says you can’t leave the marriage because our culture frowns on it. I made a mistake, do I have to wait ten years, 15 years? If I am not happy. And I was scared that if I ever find somebody else to marry me? That’s the misconceptions of our society. I don’t care if I ever get married again. I care about being happy for Jamil, I care about not walking on eggshells. I do want a man that works, that will help me with my financial burden. He doesn’t have to be a millionaire or billionaire, but at least someone that helps, and won’t put me in more debt.

Everyday all I hear from TJ is that ‘I created you, I took you from nothing, look at you now.

The marriage is finally over, it’s been over for a while, and I have covered up for a while. What happened was God-sent, and he made it easier for me to walk away with what he did on social media. He got so many people angrier, he pulled so many innocent people into this. Even his family. He made it easy for me to finally up and walk away.

I will never stop hum from seeing Jamil, never. Even today, Jamil is still saying ‘dadada’, and I was saying it with him as well, that’s his first word. I want to bring him up to be a good man.

Even till now I don’t wish anything bad on him. As we are doing this interview, I am worried that if he sees it, it might trigger him to do something bad. I don’t want my son to grow up and know, God forbid, that his father committed suicide. Tonight, I am still gonna pray for him.

He was getting help at one point when the whole cocaine thing came out. This has been happening for a long time. We get him help and he goes to see a doctor or a pastor, or a counsellor and he uses his own hands to ruin things again. If I didn’t care about him, I wouldn’t be covering up for a lot of things. I wouldn’t be searching for help for him. Even now I am still searching for a way to help him out of his debt, so that if he is out of this,

If there is anything that maybe I overlooked, or didn’t love him enough, or made him less of a man, then I am sorry. I am absolutely sorry…Tunji I am sorry. But you know I tried everything, you know I love you so much, and I am sorry, I never wanted to divorce, and I never wanted it to get to this. I want you to get better…and I would always pray for you.

Watch the video by clicking here



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FG Declares Monday May 2nd A Public Holiday

The Federal Government has declared Monday, May 2, 2016 as public holiday to commemorate the 2016 Workers’ Day Celebration.

This was announced by the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahaman Dambazau (retd.), in a statement on Thursday.

He called on Nigerian workers to continue supporting the president on his fight against corruption and ensuring the security of lives and property, stabilize the economy through creation of jobs as well as the diversification of the economy.

While wishing them a joyful and peaceful celebration he equally urged them to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the nation and remain productive for the growth and development of the country.

Growing Old In First Bank - Pope Jay

Do you live in Ikorodu, Lagos? If you ever have to withdraw money from First Bank and deposit it in Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), I would advise you go to the bank with your three square meal.

I have often heard from many different people that First Bank is a bank for old people and the reason for this is not far-fetched; the name First Bank clearly gives an insight into this. And it is obvious, even to the blind, that they have a very large customer base. Perhaps this is why the halls of FirstBank are almost always crowded. GTB however is not as old as First Bank but it is indubitable that they too enjoy a massive customer base making thus making their halls never scanty. As is expected, the consequence of a large customer base with unmatching human and capital resources to attend to them can be quite "unhealthy": Yes... Unending and Annoying Long Queues!


In as much have authored this article with a little frustration and it may affect my cohesiveness a bit, I don't believe it has influenced my objectivity. I understand that commercial banks and even the Central Bank from time to time continue to profer new ways and methods to improve their services but then again there is obviously still a lot of work to be done; especially considering the fact that most of these commercial banks still continue to send their rather desperate marketers into the streets to bring in more customers. Certainly, if the number of customers continue to increase and the number of cashiers and ATM machines remain constant, the queues in the banks would only get longer and more legs would ache at the end of the day. I once saw a man want to go back to the wooden safe box " kolo" method of saving money all from the frustration of standing in one spot for hours. In his words; "At least I can take my money from the Kolo when I need it". Obviously, things need to get better.

But then again, like First Bank, perhaps the banks just want us to grow old in their halls.

Pope Jay

Team OAU Wins Microsoft Imagine Cup Final

The students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile- Ife have emerged winners of this year’s edition of Microsoft Nigeria Imagine Cup competition.

They defeated students from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomosho and Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, who was first and second runners-up respectively. And by the achievement, the students would represent Nigeria in the Middle East and Africa semi-finals to produce a champion for the world finals scheduled to hold in Seattle, Washington in July this year. The competition however is one of the youth development initiatives of Microsoft Nigeria to give student technologists, developers and aspiring entrepreneurs from academic circle opportunity to collaborate and develop a technology-based applications for future development .

Held in Lagos, this year’s event has 11 teams from various campuses nationwide. In the champion Humane Team were Otaru Babatunde, Oyatope Blessing, Shoaga Victor and Ayodele Obasegun. The team designed project that enable the visually impaired persons to interact and navigate freely among themselves on their mobile phones. The project according to the team comes with a hardware labeled humane handle and interacts with applications installed on a device using Bluetooth.

The leader of the team, Ayodele Obasegun disclosed that they embarked on the project to impact lives of the visually impaired in the society.

While expressing happiness that the team took the first position, he pointed out that it took them great commitment and dedication to come top after appearing in the 2014 edition. Speaking at the event, Director, Developer Evangelism, Microsoft Nigeria, Shina Oyetosho explained that the competition was designed to empower students to become the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and developers.



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Public Service Announcement

This is to inform the general Public that Mr Abioye Segun who uses the pen name Segabio is no longer a member of OAU Peeps News Agency.

Mr Abioye's exit however is not birthed from any precedential discord or reprimanding dismissal and is fully consented by the Leadership of the Agency. We hereby use this medium to wish him the best in his future endeavours.

Farombi Oluwaseun
Public Relations Officer/Social Media Manager
OAU Peeps News Agency.