Friday, 8 July 2016
Antagonism Trails #ReopenOAU
As a result, Great Ife students have been resigned to sitting and watching back home, with the capability to do little or nothing to help themselves or the university community swim out of the troubled waters, while hoping and praying that the crisis be resolved quickly and totally, so they can go back to learning; their primary assignment on campus.
All hopefulness and prayers without actions might eventually yield little or no result. However, in light of this, the Association Of Campus Journalists(ACJ), Obafemi Awolowo University chapter brought aboard the idea of an online sensitization of the general populace through the social media. The campaign was also targeted as an avenue to reach concerned stakeholders on the crisis as well as well-meaning Nigerians who might be willing to take up the course and fight for the reopening of the institution. The campaign with the theme “#ReOpenOAU” was eventually kick-started some days ago on major social media platforms, especially twitter. Using this medium, Great Ife students have continued to voice out their displeasure with such pieces being targeted at major stakeholders involved in the crisis.
The purpose of the campaign can be easily deciphered from its title - reopening of the school. On its third day, the campaign has recorded huge success with various organizations and individuals joining their voices with great Ife students.
Surprisingly, some set of great Ife students have recently come out to kick against the campaign, citing various reasons for taking such stance. Such reasons include the conviction of these sets of people that the campaign doesn’t properly represent the interest of great Ife students. Some have also argued that the campaign should have been centered on more specific requests like appointment of an acting VC or reconstitution of the governing council.
Some others even believe it should be an avenue to ask for the reinstatement of the students union activities of the institution. These were accompanied by several criticisms of ACJ OAU, accusing the association especially, its president, of pursuing his personal interest against the interest of the generality of great Ife students– the same students that have taken over the social media with the #ReOpenOAU campaign in the last 48 hours.
Some of these ideologists have even gone as far as threatening to start a counter-trend against the campaign, whilst some have started to spread false messages on the social media impersonating some of the leadership of the ACJ.
With the trend of things, several questions are being asked; what do these ideologists really want? Do they not want the school to resume? Do they even understand what the theme of the campaign is all about? Are they aware that if OAU is eventually reopened, then an acting VC and/or a governing council must definitely be appointed/constituted? Do they know that student Unionism cannot operate well without the school being in full operation?
However, even with this, more students and bodies continue to join the #ReopenOAU campaign by the day.
#ReopenOAU
NANS Rejects N2,500 Post-UTME Screening Fee
Mr Gbenga Ayenuro, the NANS Vice President, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure on Friday.
“NANS, which has been, and will always be, at the forefront of any and every kind of exploitation of Nigerian students in any guise was relieved by the recent ban on post-UTME.
“As it was a long overdue decision to end the exploitation of prospectively- Nigerian students seeking admission.
“And it was a policy that endeared the Federal Government to the hearts of Nigerian masses; it was widely jubilated and welcomed by all concerned stakeholders in the Nigerian education sector,” he said.
According to him, it is surprising, appalling, anti-masses and unethical, for the federal government to submit to pressure from the heads of tertiary institutions by introducing the post-UTME screening fee.
He noted that the policy somersault was tantamount to the government being insensitive to the growing economic meltdown being experienced by parents and guardians of prospective students all over the country.
Ayenuro said that NANS viewed the introduction of the post-UTME screening fee as another way of extorting and exploiting potential students.
He alleged that it was another avenue of enriching management of various tertiary institutions across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
“Nigerian students can no longer keep mute in the face of the general hardship confronting the Nigerian masses.
“Our parents and guardians have become incapable of sending us stipends for our upkeep let alone of paying for our tuition fees.
“The food and provision stores in all our various campuses are undergoing abysmally low patronage from students due to the ever increasing high price tag of virtually all commodities.
“We cannot continue to keep mute while our future is being mortgaged and short changed by this present administration,’’ he alleged.
Ayenuro therefore issued a three-working day ultimatum to the ministry to reverse its decision on imposition of post-UTME screening fee as the most important stakeholder in the Nigerian education sector.
He said that failure to reverse the new policy would result in a peaceful protest at the Ministry of Education, Abuja, at a date to be announced.
(NAN)
LSS Officially Joins #ReopenOAU
The Law Students Society of the Obafemi Awolowo University has officially declared their joining the ongoing online campaign to hasten the resumption process of the School. The Association made this official with a release signed by its President, Ekpa Stanley. Find the release below
IT IS TRAIT TO RESUME HOPE TO THE STUDENTS: #REOPENOAU; THE LEGAL STANDPOINT...
It is with the same degree of deep seated pain in the heart of other students of OAU that we the entire learned populace of Ifelaw, rise to declare in absolute & firm stand, our unwavering support for the campaign for the immediate reopening of Obafemi Awolowo University for the 2015/2016 academic session.
We at OAU did the 2014 academic session in 2016, following the current crises, we are likely do do 2015 session in 2017, & we the students see this as an act of sabotage on our purported "bright" future.
We therefore, guided by the law of conscience, humbly express our articles of plea to all relevant parties involved in this crises to look up to posterity & open up doors of your heart for a peaceful resolution & sustained dialogue for better system.
We invite the Federal Government to put the interest of the students above any other reason in resolving this issue because primarily the institution exist because of the students.
All parties, the students inclusive must pursue restoring the university as a hub of innovation, a centre of excellence & a web of civility & hope for the advancement of humanity.
We enjoin students to resume writing not only on social media alone but constructive articles & letters to the editors of newspapers.
No war has ever ended without peace & dialogue, ergo, it is expedient to accept the truism that peace is superior to war but war precedes peace. We have gone to war; its time for lasting solution for resolving this crises.
Yours-in- Service for a Better Humanity,
Ekpa, Stanley Ekpa
President, IFELAW
Olagunju Aanuoluwapo
Secretary to the Society
Ogunleye Tosin
PRO
for the LAW STUDENTS' SOCIETY, OAU.
Thursday, 7 July 2016
#ReOpenOAU: See What OAU Students Are Saying
Find below what OAU students are saying on Twitter. You can also make your own voice heard by following @OAUpeeps and tagging us in your tweets.
I join in the #ReopenOAU campaign. We can't afford to take forever to resolve this crisis. Our students' lives & their education matter.— Remi Sonaiya (@oluremisonaiya) July 7, 2016
Constitute a Governing Council. Appoint an acting VC. #ReopenOAU. That's all@MBuhari@NGRSenate@ProfOsinbajo@Omojuwa@OAUpeeps@BBCAfrica— Okeke Emeka (@Emeka_O2) July 7, 2016
We have a future to pursue, we av amazing career...we are the hope of the country.. So why the delay??? #ILOVeGreatIfe #ReOpennOau @OAUpeeps— Korede M. Sanyaolu (@Kay_Sanyaolu) July 7, 2016
how am I suppose to be the leader of tomorrow when am watching soundcity while I should be in school studying @acjoau @oaupeeps #reopenoau— Adeusi Gbolagade (@Gbonso) July 7, 2016
I remember running 08/09 session from 2008-2010, I can feel your pain guys and pls remain resilient #ReopenOAU cc @OAU_gossipz @OAUpeeps— Peter O. ELUDINI (@PetfemSpeaks) July 7, 2016
#ReOpenOau,@MBuhari,@dino_melaye ,@FemAdesina, 91days at home out of 356 days. 2015/2016 started yet in July.@OAUpeeps,@OAUpeeps.— Igbalaye (@adeyemiolayink) July 7, 2016
Our parents don dey do for us since day 1,when we go do for them #reopenOAU #WeWantToResumeOAU @NigeriaStudent1 @OAU_gossipz @OAUpeeps— Adeniran Anjola (@niran1098) July 7, 2016
1. NASU members that went on rampage will still get paid, ASUU members would have written enough papers... #reopenOAU@OAUpeeps @OAU_gossipz— Oluwadamilola (@Dammhie) July 7, 2016
2. ...to secure their next promotion, what do we get as students? 90+ days of being out of school #ReopenOAU @OAU_gossipz @OAUpeeps— Oluwadamilola (@Dammhie) July 7, 2016
We have goals to achieve in life rather than spend 6yrs in d OAU. @WE WANT TO RESUME @MBuhari @OAU_gossipz @OAUpeeps— olajide (@olajidepeter04) July 7, 2016
Like play like play,August go soon reach,registrar isn't even sure of resumptn date @MBuhari help us#ReOpenOAU #WeWantToResumeOAU @OAUpeeps— Tolulope Taiwo (@tennytext) July 7, 2016
The abnormality of OAU's calendar is so irritating..can't even have an uninterrupted semester,we are tired #ReopenOAU.@toluogunlesi@oaupeeps— ((SoundHouse)) (@Bankole_Ocean) July 7, 2016
@sarah_omijie kilode!!! RESOUNDING slap? Lol— #ReOpenOAU (@OAUpeeps) July 7, 2016
President @MBuhari I know you are a loving Father...pls over 30,000 youth are crying #ReOpenOau #WeWantToResume @OAUpeeps we av a future— Korede M. Sanyaolu (@Kay_Sanyaolu) July 7, 2016
We have resolved to keep demanding that they #ReopenOAU till they hear our voice and Reopen OAU, even tomorrow! we will clamor for that!— ACJ OAU (@acjoau) July 6, 2016
Wednesday, 6 July 2016
OAU Students Storm Cyberspace With Resumption Plea
Several posts and hastags have started coming in over the last few hours pleading with the appropriate authorities to intervene in the restoration of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife to normalcy. The posts which are mostly from students of the institution have come majorly with the hashtags; #WewanttoresumeOAU and more recently #ReopenOAU.
It is worthy to note that students of the institution have been at home since April, 2016 when the Academic Staff of the institution demanded an overdue 56-day leave. However, following the protests and controversy that have trailed the process of the selection of a new Vice-Chancellor for the Institution which eventually led to the dissolution of the Governing Council of the University by Federal Government, the school was shut down indefinitely and thus students have continued to remain at home.
However, it appears that the students are tired of the too incessant and unnecessary holidays as they have started taking to the social media to vent their frustrations...
#ReopenOAU
FG, Vice Chancellors Peg Admission Screening Fee At N2,500
Faborode said the agreement was reached after a deliberation of officials of the ministry, federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. The secretary-general said while it was agreed that the post-UTME screening should be sustained following the scrapping of the Computer Based Test (CBT).
“From the statement made by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan at the meeting, there is no objection to screening by universities as long as it is not another CBT. “She agreed that universities should advertise and the maximum fee that should be charged for the screening should be N2,500 – bank charges inclusive.’’
According to the statement, the association will formally convey its stance to the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu. NAN reports that Adamu’s recent announcement of the ban on post-UTME had raised a lot anxiety among stakeholders.
Source