OAU: Apply To Attend 2016 Computing & Intelligent System Research Group Symposium

The Computing and Intelligent System Research Group (CISRG), Obafemi Awolowo University holds a symposium on Human Language Technology. The programme for the event is scheduled below:

Venue: ICT Centre Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Date: Monday, 7th November, 2016

Time: 10:00am

Organizers: Computing and Intelligent System Research Group

Speaker: Dr. Tunde Adegbola (Africa Language Technology Initiatives)

Click here to register in order to attend the event

ASUU OAU Congress Suspends Executive

By ThisDay Newspaper

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife branch has suspended the executives of the union led by Dr. Caleb Aborisade, while a three-man caretaker committee has been constituted to run the affairs of the union.

The decision to suspend the Aborisade-led executive was reached during the union’s meeting of October 20, where in a resolution supported by 217 members, received approval to suspend the ASUU-OAU branch executive.

In the resolution signed by the chairman, caretaker committee, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, the congress had in its October 20 meeting observed that the executive committee has lost the confidence of members in the branch and that it has also failed to represent the union at every critical juncture within and outside the university in the recent months. Subsequently, the congress demanded that the members of the executive step down as officers of the branch until the allegations levelled against them are investigated and determined.

In his reaction, the suspended ASUU-OAU chairman, Dr. Caleb Aborisade said that though he summoned the October 20 congress, he however alleged that the congress was hijacked. And Describing the October 27 congress reaffirming the suspension of the executive led by him as illegal, said “it is not possible to suspend the executives because suspension is not in ASUU’s constitution’’.

Addressing journalists on the issue, the chairman, caretaker committee said the suspended executives misinformed the public on the decision of ASUU National Executive Council (NEC). And clarifying the decision of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, as it affects the union, Sunmonu, said Justice M.A. Onyetenu, transferred the case between two staff unions of the institution to the National Industrial Court (NNC), Ibadan for hearing and determination.

Presenting the signed ruling of Justice Onyetenu dated October 19 to journalists to verify, said the case was not dismissed as claimed in a publication allegedly sponsored by the suspended executive. He further explained that Justice Onyetenu did not dismiss the case instituted by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian (SSANU) and Non Academic Staff Union both of OAU branch challenging the selection process of a new VC.

Also faulting the claim by the suspended executives that ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) at its recent meeting condemned the Federal Government for dissolving OAU Governing Council and suspended the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor, Sunmonu said that the national body has not taken any decision on the two issues.

Stating that the decision to suspend the Caleb Aborisade led-executive was reaffirmed at another congress held Thursday, October 27 also said that the congress at the same meeting rejected the report submitted to NEC by the panel sent to OAU and appointed a five-man committee to study the report and prepare the branch’s position.

However, the court paper made available to newsmen showed that the judge had ordered that the case be transferred to NNC Ibadan for hearing and determination as it lack the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Lecture Free Week And Tips For Examinations – Akinfenwa Olaitan

Unavoidably, we are coming face to face with exams. Also, lecture-free week starts next week. We all know how this seems to be the fastest week of all but here are a few tips you should know as you study for exams during the lecture free week.

1) Set goals: As obvious as this may seem, many of us fail to set achievable goals for studying. Don't just rush head-on into the week without setting specific time for studies, resting, eating and all. Make a to-do list as this would help you stay committed to each task.

2) Make a study timetable: This would help you know what exactly you need to study per day. If you don't do that, your enormous workload might overwhelm you. A personal timetable will ensure you study one course at a time.

3) Designate a 'sacred' place for studying: We all know that there are so many jacking places here on campus. So, find a place that suits you most- whether the library, or ODLT, or any other lecture theatre, or even our own amphitheatre (one of my favorite places actually, lol). Studies have shown that this will automatically prime your brain and rev it into study mode.

4) Find out more about the exam: Try to find out about the exam you're preparing for, and what format it will take. It could be an essay test, multiple choice questions or short answer questions. Find out about the lecturer's grading system and how he or she likes the questions answered. Not all lecturers are interested in a display of intelligence. Some want only what they gave in class. Know your lecturers.

5) Turn off the phone: Replying chats, emails and all forms of social media are distractions! So turn off your phone to avoid distractions. Your chats can wait till you're done studying.

6) Take regular study breaks: Studying for twelve hours at a stretch is not the smartest way to go. Take breaks, take a walk and take a snack. This will help you study better with less stress.

7) Join a study group: Studying with friends will boost your ability to retain information. You tend to remember what you discussed with your friends. It will go a long way to help you in the exam hall.

8) Teach what you have learnt:  Explaining what you have studied to others is a very good way of committing it to memory. You verify if you really understand when you learnt when you say it out loud instead of simply reading.

9) Treat past questions: For us here in OAU, we know how important this is. Some lecturers repeat questions. Besides, you get familiar with how questions come when you practice past questions.

10) Be prepared: Finally, be prepared in every way before the exam. Be well rested and do not skip your meals. Don't stay up all night and don't be so anxious before the exam. Be prayerful and be confident. Enjoy the lecture-free week as much as you can. Success is attainable, even in OAU. I wish you all the very best.


(Akinfenwa Olaitan is a student of the Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University and a member of the OAU Peeps Team)

Young Entrepreneurs To Get Capital At The Meet Up Today

Several entrepreneurs will be going home with funds for investment today as StartUp Nation Africa is set to pitch business and investors at The Meet Up.

The Meet Up, which is the first of its kind, began weeks ago with the application of interested businesses and shortlisting. The shortlisted businesses would however be presenting their businesses to prospective investors today. The businesses stand a chance to win between N100,000 and N5 million in capital.

OAU Reinstates Student's Union Activities

Today, the management of Obafemi Awolowo University announced the reinstatement of the Student's Union activities, barely 11 months it was suspended.

In a statement signed by Mr S. O. Adeyefa on behalf of the University Registrar and obtained by OAU Peeps News Agency, the management informed "the generality of the students of the University and the entire University Community that the order of suspension of the activities of the Student's Union by the University Authorities via a Release Ref. Ro. 2/Vol. Vi./180 dated 3rd December 2015 has been lifted."

"Consequently, the process of elections of new Student's Union Officials can now commence. All students are reminded that their conduct individually and as an organized group must be in compliance with the rules and regulations of the University, the Students Matriculation Oath, Code of Conduct for the University Community, and the Laws of the Country before, during and after elections," the statement read further.

It will be recalled that the Student's Union was suspended towards the end of the tenure of the former Vice Chancellor, Bamitale Omole. Subsequently, three officers, including the President, Secretary General and Public Relations Officer of the Union were rusticated for up to semesters.

The emergence of the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Anthony Elujoba came with the VC's promises to look into the circumstances surrounding the Union officers' suspension and the Union activities' suspension.

Some weeks later, the suspended officers of the Union were reinstated.

History Students Visit Ooni's Palace, Oranmiyan's Staff

The 200 level students of the Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University, on Tuesday, 25th October 2016, embarked on a historical visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife and the Oke Oran mountain, Ife where it is believed that the founder of Yoruba race, Oduduwa, descended upon His arrival to this world.

The tour was arranged to enable students offering History of Nigeria comprehend and grasp some intricacies of the course. According to some of the students who participated in the trip, the journey to Ooni's palace was a historical one. To aid comprehension of the creationist stories and mysteries that surround the evolution of Yoruba race, the lecture handling the course Dr. Amusa arranged a visit to the palace of his imperial Majesty, Oba Ogunwusi Ojaja.

At the end of the visit to palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oke Oran Ife mountain, Oranmiyan Staff and other historical places that have relevance to the course, many more students expressed their satisfaction and commended the organizer of the trip.

JAMB To Scrap Uniform Cut-off Points For Universities

By Punch Newspaper

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has hinted that it may cancel the use of uniform cut-off points for admitting candidates that took the Universities Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The issue of cut-off marks as currently being used for admission, it said, should be subjected to national debate by stakeholders.

The Spokesperson of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, gave the indication in a statement he issued on behalf of its Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, on Sunday evening in Abuja.

He said a situation where universities, polytechnics and colleges of education were subjected to the same cut-off marks was no longer tenable because it prevented the institutions from admitting candidates of their choice.

Tertiary institutions, he sated, should be allowed to determine the kind of candidates they want to admit.

He added that there was an urgent need to reconsider the current cut-off point of 180 for admission in order to strengthen access to education, particularly for the less-privileged.

Benjamin said, “The uniformity of cut-off marks doesn’t make any sense when colleges (of education) and polytechnics admit for national certificate of education and diplomas, while universities admit for degrees.

Yet, we subject them to the same cut-off marks, thereby starving these tiers of institutions from admitting candidates who, if not engaged, may likely become easy prey to social vices.

“This means that if a University wants 250 as minimum cut-off marks, why not? And if another wants less so be it. If a Polytechnic like YABATECH (Yaba College of Technology) wants 250 as cut-off marks, let them admit and if Gboko Polytechnic in Benue State where I come from wants less than 200, let them admit.

“Institutions should be known for their individual quality and not collective standards. This will foster positive competition for the overall good of our tertiary institutions. It is critical for all notable stakeholders to rethink the issue of cut-off marks.

“I am calling for a national debate on the propriety of cut off marks; institutions should be allowed to determine the kind of candidates they want.”
JAMB also expressed worry over the class opportunities as it affects the distribution of admission resources.

The organisation said, “The rich have multiple opportunities which include going abroad for studies while the poor only have the opportunity of struggling for the scarce spaces here.

“They come back and they are integrated while the poor can’t afford it and are forever denied the opportunity of education. Let institutions admit what they want according to their needs.”

JAMB urged Nigerians to look at the decision critically for it to take action that would be for the good of the education sector.