The "Pit Theatre" is no stranger to majority of Great Ife students. It is the spacious auditorium present in the building housing the Dramatic Arts Department. The original purpose of the auditorium is to serve as a place where students of the department can engage in the practical aspects of their studies.
However, Pit Theatre has gone beyond being used just for studying. It has over the years served as a hotbed for several occasions. Events such as various department's freshers' party, dinners and even variety nights has been hosted there. Fellowships and churches on campus have also used the venue for various religious programs. Nevertheless, all these are not really the fundamental reasons why the auditorium was created.
Recently, voices have been raised over the continues abuse of the same auditorium by its users. Such alleged abuses include non-tidiness of the place after use, improper handling of the facilities present and usage at odd hours.
Pouring his mind, a concerned student of the Department of Dramatic Arts lamented, "I can't believe this is Pit Theatre. Although I'm not against renting it out to be used but it should be properly cleaned." Another member of the Department also complained of the incessant damages of facilities in the theatre, which has always forced the department to foot the bills for repairs from their own pocket.
Pit Theatre is a place known for expression of creativity, and a structure that serves as a practical venue, a laboratory for all the students of the department. These are its primary roles. It is worthy to note, however, that the secondary roles the theatre is serving shouldn't on the long run hinder its primary functioning.
We hope the concerned parties will look into this and make the necessary amendments before the prestigious Pit Theatre would be turned into a "Pit".
Tuesday, 30 August 2016
Monday, 29 August 2016
NASELS OAU Treats Freshmen To Warm Welcome
Miss NASELS 2016
NASELS Freshers Mountaineering
Tiamiyu Daniel, Mr NASELS 2016
The National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS), OAU chapter, welcomed her Freshmen last week.
The 2015/2016 executive council of the association called the Altruist team integrated the freshmen by organising a week-long activity.
The Freshers' week commenced on Monday, 22nd August with an interactive session with lecturers from the department. On Tuesday, a seminar was held on how to be a better student alongside Ladies' talk; where the female newbies met with a Senior lecturer of the department, Dr. Folashade Hunsu. A career talk with Mr Andy Akhigbe, a recipient of Wizard Academy Prize for change in Texas, USA in 2007 took place on Wednesday morning,24th August. In the evening, there was a football match between the male fresh students and the stalites. However, the stalites hit them hard with two goals to nothing. A Spelling Bee, Debate and Quiz Contest held on the fourth day of the programme and later that day, several other talents were showcased by the freshmen during the variety night.
In an interview with the NASELS' President, Mr. Afeez Gbadamosi aka Afeez Gba, stated at the variety night that creativity was the selling point of NASELS students and since they have beautiful talents embedded in them, a variety night had to be included in the programme.
On Saturday, 27th August, the final day, a mountaineering exercise took place in the morning. The day was perhaps the best for most of the students as the leadership of the association had organised what many still term as one of the best freshers' parties on campus. The party took place on Saturday evening. It featured performances from several artistes and the annual Mr and Miss NASELS Contest where Mr Tiamiyu Daniel and Miss Toluhi Oreoluwa emerged winners respectively. In an exclusive interview with our correspondents, the Director of Socials, Mr Samwise and the Public Relations Officer of the association, Mr Ogunlana Micheal, gave all thanks to God, the Altruist team and every member of the association that made the week a success.
Editorial: Truth Be Told, OAU Belongs To Nobody & Belongs To Everybody
The recent trend in Nigeria's foremost institution, Obafemi Awolowo University seems to portray the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) as monopolizing the institution's control in their hands. If this situation is not immediately checked, it could mean OAU taking one step forward and two steps backward. Most importantly, the silence of students who are the suffering grass should not be misconstrued for stupidity or gullibility.
Today, some members of NASU and SSANU reportedly stormed the Senate building to protest and demand for their unpaid allowances, a situation which allegedly deteriorated the security condition at the institution's administrative block. In fact, some reports even have it that the Universe's Registrar and Bursar did not have it all to be a rosy day. The reason for their protest has been the same reason given for the incarceration of students 3 months ago. That period remains an unforgettable moment where students were subjected to emotional and psychological trauma for about 100 days; a condition that was eventually prevailed upon by President Muhammadu's approval of Professor Anthony Elujoba as the varsity's acting Vice Chancellor last month, after a vigorous #ReOpenOAU campaign.
The students, who still await their promised meeting with Elujoba seem to have their wings currently clipped, since their right to associate as a Union was seized towards the unpopular end of the former Vice Chancellor, Bamitale Omole's administration. Or maybe, students prefer to watch from the sideline for the mean time; a well calculated grace period to trust the new administration of the university to restore its glory as promised. If the major victims of these untold academic fluctuations are giving the leadership of the varsity a benefit of doubt to act, should NASU and co now turn OAU to their secretariats where they can choose to close down whenever they deem fit?
Where is ASUU? Its silence at the moment is not unexpected though, considering the alleged role a section of the Union played in the botched selection process of a Vice Chancellor for the institution. Perhaps, the 'superior' Union is still taking time to recover from the shock that came with President Buhari's intervention. Whatever the case may be, it is very important that Odewunmi-led NASU and his counterpart in SSANU know that enough is enough, and at same time understand that the future of innocent OAU students is already bleeding in their hands. Elujoba's time as the head of the institution looks promising and that is why the students are keeping their cool. OAU is neither NASU's property nor SSANU's property because it belongs to nobody and it belongs to everybody.
It is definitely not time for stories that touch yet, nevertheless, it is imperative to note that if the University is shut down once again as a result of the manner in which these staff demand for their entitlements, it won't be surprising to see students mount a formidable resistance in self defence against the deliberate bastardisation of their future with unnecessary breaks. Remember, a law of motion says "for every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction." We are all watching!
Campus Journalists Uphold Decision To Avoid Department, Faculty Politics
Journalists of the Obafemi Awolowo University under the auspices of the Association Campus of Campus Journalists (ACJ), OAU, reaffirmed an earlier decision by the association disallowing its members from contesting in Departmental and Faculty elections. The decision, which had raised some dust both within and outside the association, was passed last session and was called for review by the Guild of Editors of the Association. The law was then brought up for review at the Association's general meeting on Saturday, 27th August 2016.
However, despite arguments from some parties that, considering current realities, especially on the OAU campus, Campus Journalists should not be totally barred from contesting at Departmental and Faculty levels but some modalities be set in place to guide instances like this thus helping to retain some sanity to the fourth estate.
After several arguments, the topic was then put to vote and majority of the campus journalists voted that Journalists not be allowed to contest in Departmental and Faculty elections, upholding the resolution reached last session.
The release of Association's Public Relations Officer;
RESOLUTION OF ASSOCIATION OF CAMPUS JOURNALISTS OAU GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 27TH DAY OF AUGUST 2016
The Association of campus Journalists OAU at her general meeting held at BOOC on the above stated date made the following Resolutions
👉�No Journalist on OAU campus should contest for leadership position at the Departmental,Faculty and Students Union level in the University
👉�Induction would hold on September 9th & 10th,2016
👉�Registration Deadline for News Agencies /Journalists has been extended till September 7,2016
👉�All Journalists would work with more unity and ensure that information dissemination is efficient on campus
👉�Committees were formed and heads were appointed for each committee
The General meeting had in attendance Journalists cut across various news agencies and was presided over by the President of the Association.
It was agreed that all Politicians who are journalists be asked to resign their political position and all resolutions takes effect immediately.
Signed
Abegunde Cephas
ACJOAU, PRO
Sunday, 28 August 2016
UJCM OAU Holds Thanksgiving Service, Pastor Warns Alleged Cultists
The University Joint Christian Mission (UJCM) of the Obafemi Awolowo University, the joint body of Christian fellowships on OAU campus, today held a Thanksgiving service to round up her week long programme; New Beginning which was tagged 'IN THE BEGINNING'. The event which was held at the Afrika Amphi Theatre witnessed a huge turnout from students from the different member fellowships on campus.
In his ministration, Engr Olumide spoke on the Christian student; academics plus spirituality. He admonished the congregation to pursue spiritual excellence in line with academics and advised them to do things to glorify God. Adding in his own words, the C.O.P coordinator of UJCM, Pastor Tunde Ayilola said "OAU is a sacred land, and it not a land where social vices will thrive". He thence warned any member of any secret or occultic group to repent from the evil deeds.
He said this in light of the rumour going round on campus that some cult members have been moving around. He also prayed for all students and the OAU community at large.
Hezekiah Olusanmi's Monument: Beyond The Structure
"It is chiefly through books that we enjoy intercourse with superior minds. In the best books great men pour their souls into ours. God be thanked for books. They are the voices of the distant and dead, and make us heirs of spiritual life of past ages. Books are revelers, they give to all who will faithfully use them - the society, the spiritual presence of the best and of the greatest of our race"
A fruitful generation is considered to be a reading generation. Pivotal functions of books and library in any institution of learning can never be underestimated and neither can wholesome attention concentrated on enriching library with new books with newer editions can be considered to be too much.
A mind is not a vessel to be filled with junks, but a fire to be ignited. The future of any country or nation depends greatly on its youth, and the ability of the youth to significantly influence the level of development depends on how well they are moulded. If a fruitful future of a country is to be obtainable, then, so much is required on the level of education and knowledge given to its citizens. The same should also be made affordable for all and sundry, even to the vulnerable ones that this seems to be out of their reach.
Obafemi Awolowo University's library popularly known as "Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library", is as ancient as the school itself with a magnificent structure. Unarguably, one of the best libraries in Nigerian universities, with a well structured and effective Administrative system. Well managed, which most importantly makes it an envy of many higher institutional libraries on the shore of Nigerian universities. But despite its huge mountainous structure,so much still needed to be done, to place it in an enviable position in the league of others, to an elevated position, zenith and a world class library. what amazes one most is probably the calibre of books on the shelves. These ones seem like a forgotten island in the desert of knowledge and imagination. A pace setting library as Hezekiah Oluwasanmi library,deserves more attention from the university management.The only thing that seems to be in order in the library is the structure. Books are old and void of new or latest edition that can benefit students in their quest and search for knowledge.
Undoubtedly, the library borrowers' cards is one of the library's achievements, which enable students to borrow books for their intellectuals' consumption. But nowadays, Borrowers' cards are given out at the beginning of every session as usual but students do not know the cards worth anymore,one then wonders its usefulness when there are no books or new books for students to borrow with their cards. It seems the library has forgotten its ancient landmarks.
With the view of raising the standards of Obafemi Awolowo University to one of the best in Africa and the world at large, so much needs to be done on her Library, with the long time aim of enriching students' minds and putting them on the same pace with their counterparts in other world's renowned universities.
This library needs to be critically scrutinized by the university management, such scrutiny is expected to bring about proper stocking and equipping the Library well to standards. Funds for these projects can be derived from either internal revenue or from funds allocated to the university from the federal government.
Since books in various shelves are old and cannot aid any student embarking on project, what then is the usefulness of the library other than serving as a stunning structure beautifying the university environment?
Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library requires urgent and undivided attention of the university management. Oluwasanmi should be made a monument for knowledge acquisition. This will put the university at par with what is obtainable in other top universities of the world.
Great Ife will be great again! God bless OAU, God bless Nigeria.
Edache Mathew is a Student of the Obafemi Awolowo University and a member of the OAU Peeps Team
