Celebrating Matriculation At Home: The Tale Of OAU Freshmen

Like every other student who has just gained admission into a University; the joy of the newly admitted freshmen of the Obafemi Awolowo University knew no bounds as they eventually resumed on the 28th of May, 2016.

It was all smiles as they trooped into the campus, with their parents and guardians, with a view to having a ‘smooth’ stay on the Great Ife campus for the next four, five or six years depending on their respective course of study. Only a few of them could have predicted the current situation – an indefinite shutdown of their dream University, perhaps those who are familiar with the OAU stories. With less than a month in school, the freshmen were told to take a chill pill, only after some registration processes completed. So sad!

If we are to follow the original academic Calendar of the University, today – July 21, 2016 – is supposed to be the Matriculation Day for the freshmen. However, as it stands now, instead of the conventional Amphi Theatre ceremony, where they take the matriculation oaths, the freshmen are currently spending the day at various places, other than the spacious auditorium. Only if many knew “unofficial breaks” are not unusual, the shading of today in their calendar, notepad and dairies may not have been necessary.

The current situation continues to generate mixed reactions from the freshmen; while some believe it is their fate to have their first year spent this way, others believed it was a fault on the part of the University management. Whichever way, establishing the guilt on someone remains a difficult one for those OAU Peeps News Agency has spoken with so far.

In her own words, Elizabeth, a freshman, said “… I have kept myself busy that I hardly think about the break. I didn’t even know today was supposed to be our matriculation day.”

John, another freshman, was of a different opinion as he confessed the negative effects the break has had on him. “I keep thinking about it every day. Even when I tried not to, my immediate environment will not let me. Most of my friends are in school, even my siblings leaving only me at home doing nothing.” John opined.

“This could have been avoided, but the University chose not to. They are toying with our future, and it is really sad”, another heartbroken freshman poured.

However, the generality of Great Ife students are hopeful of an imminent reopening of the school, judging from some huge improvements made in recent days on the situation.

Ridwan A. Oyetunji

Who Will Emerge As OAU's Acting Vice Chancellor Today?

Among relevant stakeholders, the question of who emerges as the next top man of Obafemi Awolowo University may be the most popular question lately, and perhaps, a very difficult one for anyone to accurately answer. However, there is no doubt that a Professor will be recommended by the University Senate today to the Education Minister to become the university acting Vice Chancellor.

The University Senate comprises of Professors in the institution. Today's Senate will be chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor O. Ajayi. So many names have been coming up in several media as to who may be the favourable candidate, which ever way, the President has warned that consideration should be restricted from those who initially vied for the Vice Chancellor position of the institution.

In the mean time, OAU Peeps News Agency has been able to gather reports of uneasy calm amidst several camps within the university stakeholders, as to will emerge as the acting Vice Chancellor. After the meeting today, the name and profile of the person chosen will be forwarded to the Minister of Education for onward transfer to President Buhari for approval and consequent announcement to the public.

#ReOpenOAU: Here Is What The Senate Was Briefed With Today

Today, the Upper Chamber of the Nigerian National Assembly finally discussed the continued closure of Obafemi Awolowo University.

Raising a Point of Order on the matter, Senator Babajide Omoworare representing Osun East Senatorial District intimated his colleagues that the institution has been shut for over a 100 days now.

In the lawmaker's submission, he noted that the shut down was owning to three major concerns including:

1. NASU and SSANU strike due to welfare related issues

2. School closed due to issues of hygiene and sanitation caused by workers union.

3. The process of selection of the Vice-Chancellor and the dissolution of the Governing Council

Prior to today's sitting, Omoworare said he had engaged the Senate leadership and Minister of Education to seek for a solution to the crisis.

However, the Senate of the University is expected to sit tomorrow, Thursday, from where the appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor will be decided, as earlier directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

OAU Screening Application Deadline Extended To July 30

The deadline for the ongoing online Screening exercise for both UTME and Direct Entry Candidates of the Obafemi Awolowo University has been extended till July, 30th 2016. This announcement was made on the University's e-portal a few moments ago.

ERC Condemns OAU Exorbitant Admission Screening Charges

The 'Education Rights Campaign', Obafemi Awolowo University chapter has condemned the fees charged by the management of the institution for the 2016 admission screening.

In a Press Statement issued and signed by its Coordinator, Olamide Adabale and the Secretary, Omole Ibukun, the group described the charges as exploitative and does not reflect the FG's essence of scrapping Post-UTME. It however urged the students to reject the fee scheme.

"It is also necessary to note that this exorbitant amount defeats the essence of the scrapping of the exploitative Post-UTME exercise, for which OAU charged about N7,700 last year on aspirants. Aside the exploitation shielded with a mysterious ICT development fee and screening exercise fee, the short time frame given for the payment is an outright victimization on the Nigerian working masses. In fact, we could have recommended that students should boycott the payment of such illegal fee, but the economic state of the country already prescribed it for the parents and guardians who happen to be majorly the unpaid, underpaid Nigerian working masses.

"It is on this basis that the Education Rights Campaign is conscientizing conscious students, especially aspirants, to reject this mortgage of a future they have been patiently waiting for. All illegal fees collected must be refunded. We believe that Education is not a business, but a right of every Nigerian and therefore admission for Tertiary Education should not be commercialized." the group stated.

It will be recalled that Obafemi Awolowo University commenced its screening registration for candidates seeking admission into the citadel last Friday. The charges levied on applicants amounted to a total fee of N6,850, which seems to be the highest screening charges by institutions seen so far. Most schools that have announced their Screening exercise, charge between N2,000 - N2,500. According to the information from the Management of OAU, the screening charges include N1,500 for the Screening, N5,000 'e-Portal charges' and bank charges of N350.

OAU Senate To Decide Acting VC On Thursday

Following the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that the Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University recommend an acting Vice-Chancellor for the Institution, the Senate has called for a meeting on Thursday, 21st July 2016 to this end. The meeting, which was announced on the University's website is to be chaired by the Vice-Chancellor Administration, Professor O. A Ajayi. Find the release below;

"This is to give Notice of a Special Meeting of Senate scheduled as follows:

Date: Thursday 21st July 2016
Venue: Conference Hall, Conference Centre and Guest Houses
Time: 10.00 am

Agendum
1.“To recommend a qualified member of Senate to the Honorable Minister of Education for appointment as Acting Vice-Chancellor” as directed by the Visitor to the University.

Kindly note that this meeting has been called and will be chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. O. A. Ajayi, pursuant to the following provisions of the Standing Orders of Senate:

“1b. The Senate shall also meet to transact urgent business at such other times as the Vice-
Chancellor, or in his absence, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor shall require.” and
“4(2)In the absence of the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor shall preside at meetings of Senate"

2016 OAU Admissions (DE & UTME): How To Calculate Your Merged Screening Score

There has been much controversy before now, as to how the O'level results will come into play in the screening of candidates for 2016 admission into Obafemi Awolowo University. As reported by OAU Peeps News Agency, the school portal was activated on Friday, signalling the commencement of the admission screening exercise. Following this development, here is what we now know.

For UTME Candidates
1. Both the UTME score and your O'level results' grades are computed to assess you.
2. For the screening, UTME result weighs 70% of your total score and the remaining 30% from your O'level results.
3. Your best 8 subjects are computed; With A1 = 8, B2 = 7, B3 = 6, C4 = 5, C5 = 4, C6 = 3, and so on.
4. Maximum points from your best 8 O'level subjects is 64 ( A1 = 8 X 8 subjects).
5. Your O'level points is then converted to 30% (Assuming y is your O'level points, then, it will now be calculated thus: y/64 X 30).
6. For your UTME points, it will be calculated thus: Your UTME score/400 X 70.
7. Your final merged score, which will be used for admission now = UTME points (maximum of 70) + O' level points (maximum of 30) = 100.
8. You will be allowed to select two courses during the screening registration.
9. OAU charged a huge total of N6,850 for the screening.
10. For UTME candidates, Screening ends 20th July (today).

For Direct Entry(DE) Candidates
1. Only your O'level results' grades will be computed to assess you. (According to the data available to us, there is no preference of Distinction candidates to Upper Credit candidates.)
2. For the screening, UTME result weighs 0% while your O'level results weigh 100%
3. Your best 8 subjects are computed; With A1 = 8, B2 = 7, B3 = 6, C4 = 5, C5 = 4, C6 = 3, and so on.
4. Maximum points from your best 8 O'level subjects is 64 ( A1 = 8 X 8 subjects).
5. Your O'level points is then converted to 100% (Assuming y is your O'level points, then, it will now be calculated thus: y/64 X 100).
6. Your final merged score, which will be used for admission now = UTME points (0%) + O' level points (maximum of 100%) = 100.
7. You will be allowed to select two courses during the screening registration
8. OAU charges a huge total of N6,850 for the screening.
9. For Direct Entry candidates, Screening ends 30th July.

For further enquires, comment below.

Goodluck!