Happy 56th Birthday To Me

My name is Nigeria
I am not a nation
I am not a person
I am a people

My masters used to tell me that it was one-man-one-wife but they left me with many wives. My wives are so many I do not know how many there are, neither are my children concerned about that. Before you call me an irresponsible man, I must let you know that I was not born the natural way. A woman named Flora Shaw was playing tease strip with her boyfriend in the Niger when she suddenly had an epiphany: that I should come to be.

My children proclaim to serve many gods; some might throw tantrums for not saying ‘God’. But I knew only one god, omniscience, omnipresent and omnipotent. He is the triune god of the west. From him, all my blessings and painful lessons flow. While he spoke on the need for personal liberty and freedom, I was dutifully licking at his feet because there is nothing personal about me; everything in my life has been borrowed. Wait! Was I kneeing at the feet of a ‘he’ or that of a queen? These things are messed up.

Today is my 56th birthday; I expect that one of my sins, sorry I mean sons, will make a profound speech – either at the Vulture Circle or the castle bullet-proofed from the sufferings of my other children – on how I have survived throughout the decades. He would pride himself on what he believes to have achieved ever since they began hailing his Dauraic name. However, I am not too old to tell my story. (In fact I am younger than him; out of respect, I feel I should be the one telling his story).
Yes, I have come through a lot; I even survived Uncle Sam’s prediction that I would die by 2015. I am not sure if I am alive though. Everyone admits that I am sick. There is this cancer flowing through my veins. My children have over the time claimed to be concerned. In fact, I have been receiving reports of how several injections worth billions is expected to come my way. Maybe this sickness has dulled my senses and frayed my nervous system, because I do not feel like I have been injected.

However, my children are of a unique species. I heard that when people are extremely sick, everyone comes together, pulls funds and takes that person to the hospital. In my extremely severe case of cancer, chemotherapy is carried out, grey hairs are scrapped off, tumour cells are laser-cut and a crop is allowed to grow.

It is not so among my children. The first thing on their agenda is often who is responsible for my sickness. Actually, this is a good thing. Every father should be proud that his children ensure that they are all responsible for their actions. They do not stop there. They then chase those responsible up and down the streets using EFiCiCi, a brutal bulldog that had its teeth replaced with toothpicks a while ago. By the time they are through with the chase for the day, some of those being chased would have called on the dauraic name with humility. And whosoever calls on the duaric name shall be saved. Of course, you cannot expect my tired children who have, for my sake, chased down those responsible to tend to me. Everything is pushed to the morrow. And so it would be until…

Across the street, I can hear noise that worsens the headache I have been bearing for decades. They say they are praying to a god. I wonder if the god is hard of hearing such that large horde of deceived, sorry discipled, individuals must shout and cry. Maybe it makes sense; after all they were praying to that same god when he gave them a fellow with an acute ear disease. Like god, like result…

These same individuals have accused me of being the prodigal son; they claim I have wandered far from the father. Maybe they refer to the homosexual Rev Father Jack and his brother, Uncle Sam; if that is true, I never want to go back. My bumbum is still sore. However, I cannot shake off this feeling that I am the father and my sons are the prodigals. The prodigal in their own story went away with his wealth and greed. At least, the father was able to recuperate and set the family estate in order. These prodigal sons of mine live in my own house, always confessing their sins so that they may have grace to commit more.

Less they call me a chauvinist, allow me to talk about my daughters. My daughters are very popular creatures. In fact, some of them have trodden where even angels do not dare. My son, the one whom the partially deaf god gave to us, took some of my daughters across the waters less they wither from lack of international exposure. That is because those girls behaved themselves. I have some other daughters, somewhere around the North Pole, who have committed the hideous crime of being poor and hapless. These ones are also enjoying exposure of some kind. And they will remain there.

There is a North Pole in my estate, one in which every moralist must come from. Even the partially deaf god acknowledges this place as my dauraic son was from that region. From this region too are several sons of mine, or so I am told, who do not serve a partially deaf god. In fact, their god is a different god in wisdom, glory and power. Unlike the partially deaf god who sits down awaiting prayers and tithes from the unrighteous and the deceived (for there is no one righteous), this god is a god of hot piss. Yes, hot piss!

You should go to the North Pole; there are several sprays of hot piss there. However, because you are not spiritual, I know you are not, what you will see are displaced individuals who were foolish to stay in that area, condoms to spite contraceptive pills from the west, bodies sacrificed in hot piss to appease the god and other things you should see for yourself.

This god claims to be opposed to the triune god of the west but is at the same time smarter than the west. Remember what they say, a house fighting against itself cannot stand. This god encourages his terrorists, er moralists, to employ weapons from the west. Do not tell me they are being used by other individuals, the gods my children serve work in mysterious ways. That you do not understand them does not give you room to call them names.

I am sick so I should not stress myself, besides my son must have done a lot of talking on my behalf. I am not going to die yet, although some of my sons want to end me very soon – I think they are the brazier fetish. However, help me tell my children that I do not need divine help; I do not need it. They do not need to make EFiCiCi run up and down, especially when I am writhing in pains and slowly dying. I also do not need international exposure or too many conferences. A simple drive-in into a good hospital theatre with qualified surgeons, nurses and doctors will cure my illness.

Happy birthday to me!

(The author, Gracious Egbedegbe is a student of the Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife and a member of the OAU Peeps Team)

KSA Birthday Celebration: "Leadership Is Stewardship" - Ooni Of Ife Tells Students

Oduduwa Hall was certainly the place to be on Wednesday, 28th September 2016 as popular Nigerian music prodigy, King Sunny Ade was celebrated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The programme, which was organised by Apreel 1, was done in commemoration of the 70th birthday of King Sunny Ade. The first part of the programme held in Oduduwa Hall and featured a public lecture from Professor Vidal, a Professor of Music at the Mountain Top University Lagos, who spoke on the topic, "Nigerian Music Industry: A way forward...".

However, a mild frenzy emanated upon the arrival of the Ile-ife Monarch as students, staff and other members of the University trooped out to see the recently coronated ruler of Ile-Ife. In his address to the audience, the Oonirisha emphasised the need for the youth of the present day to further seek the mentorship of the elders as the gap between the elders and the youth increased by the day, which according to the monarch, is causing a rapid moral decadence in the society. Also whilst celebrating the Nigerian music legend, King Sunny Ade, the Ooni engaged the youth present at event in singing some of the songs of KSA whilst the birthday "boy" in response delighted the audience with his popular dance steps.

In response, King Sunny Ade, appreciated God for keeping him, his band and the Ooni for according him such honour. Citing his past relationships with the two previous kings of Ile-Ife and the Obafemi Awolowo University, KSA stated that he was the privileged prophet who was celebrated even in his own town. The programme was rounded off later in the day with a dinner.

Federal Government Declares October 3 Public Holiday

The Federal Government has announced that Monday, October 3 will be work free day, in celebration of Nigeria's 56th Independence Anniversary.

This was contained in a statement released by the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen (rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau and signed by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido.

The Minister congratulates Nigerians at home and abroad on the commemoration of this year’s independence anniversary and assures that the government is putting measures in place to ameliorate the current economic challenges.

Tehillah Concert 2016 Storms Ife Tomorrow

A night thousands of people are waiting for, a Night of signs and wonders, a crusade hidden in a concert.

Happening live in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife

Theme: GRACE
Date: 30th September, 2016
Time: 10pm

Ministering :
1. Tee-music (an anointed, powerful music minister and the privileged president of Tehillah vision)

2. DAVID B (a mobo award nominee gospel artiste from the United Kingdom)

3. Odunayo Aboderin (an anointed minstrel who released the hit single 'elewi elese' which still blesses lives)

4. Philipage ( the composer of the hit single 'akodaiye asedaaye' and former choir leader at God's Love Tabernacle, Ile-Ife)

5. Ademola Olabinjo (an anointed music minister who also ministered at the 73 and 74 hrs marathon praise)

6. Tehillah vision minstrels and Psalmists.

7.Tehillah rising stars.

You don't want to miss this Euphonious crusade. Come and be saved,
come and experience the extraordinary!

Come To The Tehillah Concert 2016!

Announcer : TEHILLAH Board of Directors.

Proudly supported by OAU Peeps

Pelumi Ponmile, Other OAU Students Make "Life In My City" Art Contest Shortlist

Life in my City art festival is an annual art festival which commenced in 2007. It is a festival used to showcase young artists and encourage creative awareness. The festival also comes with a competition.

For this year, quite a number of participants from various tertiary institutions enrolled for the competition and in a show of greatness, several OAU students, present and past, were shortlisted among the finalists from the Ibadan zone in Nigeria. These lucky ones would be showcasing more of their talent at the grand finale of the festival in Enugu state later in October.

About 10 of the 12 finalists shortlisted from the Ibadan zone for the finals are said to be students of OAU with some names on the list being the popular painter of Fajuyi Hall Water Place; Pelumi Ponmile, Badru Taofeek, Ibrahim Rashidat amongst others. The festival is used to promote culture and creativity in Africa as a whole. The grand finale of the colourful event will be on the 27th of October, 2016 which is also the award night.

We wish everyone on the #TeamOAU good success at the event.

Myths And Facts About Coffee

A study claims that coffee can increase stamina and help weight loss but most health experts warn against drinking it. So what is the truth about coffee? Here is a separsation of myths from facts by Amy Anderson

1. Coffee is fat-free - MYTH
After brewing, espresso coffee contains 2.5% fat. Filter coffee contains 0.6%. It's mainly the milk or cream taken with the coffee that adds fat.

2. Coffee makes you more physically active - FACT
Caffeine -- the main active ingredient in coffee -- acts as a mild stimulant on the central nervous system. This, in turn, is responsible for boosting alertness when individuals are tired -- during night-shift work, on a long journey, or after lunch when the body's circadian rhythm is at its lowest.

3. Coffee is just a quick stimulant - MYTH
The stimulant effect of coffee peaks in the blood 15 to 45 minutes after drinking -- but may persist for hours. How fast your body deals with caffeine depends on your metabolic rate, but its expulsion is slowed by pregnancy, medications such antacids and the Pill.

4. It's always hard to give up coffee - MYTH
A tiny percentage of the population, who may be sensitive to the mild stimulant effects of caffeine, may experience withdrawal symptoms, such as headache and lethargy, if they suddenly stop drinking coffee. These symptoms can be avoided by cutting down gradually over a few days. Most people just feel slightly less alert in the mornings when they stop drinking coffee.

5. Drinking coffee is an aid to weight loss - FACT
Caffeine has been shown to lead to a temporary increase in the metabolic rate and the rate of fat breakdown. Although increases in energy expenditure caused by caffeine are small, they may be of benefit in some weight-loss programs.

6. Coffee can make you more mentally alert - FACT
Caffeine can boost the speed of rapid information processing by 10%, and a cup of coffee after lunch helps to counteract the "post-lunch dip" in ability to sustain concentration. It can also make you less drowsy when you have a cold, and can stimulate sensory nerves.

7. Coffee is certain to make it hard to sleep - MYTH
The effect of caffeine on the ability to fall asleep differs hugely between individuals. Some people who drink coffee in the evening find they have no problems sleeping; others find its stimulant effect means it takes them much longer to fall asleep.

8. The darker the roast, the stronger the coffee - MYTH
The darkness of a coffee roast depends on how long it has been left to roast for, and lighter roasts often have a stronger flavor. Darker roasts are more acidic, which can make the taste better or worse, depending on your personal preference.

9. Coffee is a diuretic - MYTH
With normal consumption of three or four cups a day, studies have found the diuretic effects of coffee to be negligible. It's only when there's a high intake that appears to have a diuretic effect.

10. Drinking coffee causes cancer - MYTH
Thousands of research projects have been carried out to investigate any links between coffee consumption and the development of cancer. In 1997, the World Cancer Research Fund published a comprehensive review of diet and cancer. It stated: "Most evidence suggests that regular consumption of coffee and/or tea has no risk of cancer at any site."


Source 

Faculty of Pharmacy OAU Inducts 99 Fresh Pharmacists

Inductees in their Colourful gowns

The atmosphere of the Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University was certainly a joyful one on Tuesday, 27th September 2016 as students who had completed their five-year undergraduate degree programme in the Faculty of Pharmacy were inducted as Pharmacists.

The induction which began at about 10am had in attendance several dignitaries, parents and friends of the inductees, who glowed effortlessly in their induction gowns.

Addressing the inductees in his address, the keynote speaker of the event, Pharmacist Tayo, advised the new pharmacists to continue to develop themselves especially by acquiring several other skills which would give them an edge in the outside world. The programme also featured a brief presentation by Mr Reuben Tamarau Tenna, who had the best final year project and was also the class representative of the graduating class.

Upon the administration of the Pharmacist's oath by the registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Pharmacist Muhammad, who was duly represented, the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy OAU, Professor Adebajo, presented the best graduating student of the Faculty for the 2015/2016 class in person of Miss Olaoye Tosin. Miss Tosin, who graduated with a cumulative grade index of 4.81, was well celebrated at the event as several prizes were awarded her.

Also at the event, Several practicing pharmacists and dignitaries were recognised for their tremendous contributions to the development of the profession. Amongst them are Professor C. Onyeji, former Vice-Chancellor of Enugu State University, Princess Ojo, Pharm Siji Olamiju of Akol Groups, HRM Oba Olatunde Falabi, the Akire of Ikire land, Dr Raymond Zard of the Zard Groups etc. Several other Pharmacists and other dignitaries were also present at the event.