Faculty of Law Holds Lecture In Honour Of Dean, Hosts Atiku Abubakar.

In honor of the Dean, faculty of Law, Prof. Ademola Popoola, the maiden edition of the annual dean's lecture was used to launch the annual law week of the Law Students Society, with the theme -“Exploring the constitutional framework for restructuring Nigeria for sustained economic growth and National Unity.”

     This annual public lecture was graced by the presence of prestigious personalities in Nigeria. Among which are the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, Emeritus Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, Dean of Student Affairs and a former vice president of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar GCON among others.

     The event was opened with the recitation of the national anthem and school anthem. This was followed by the recognition and introduction of guests. The Vice Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Anthony Elujoba gave the opening remark by welcoming everyone and commended the guest of honor for his graceful presence and he also spoke about the great future of OAU. After this was taking of the citation of the Honouree, Prof. Ademola Popoola and former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON).

Afterwards, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the guest speaker of the event, began his presentation. He spoke on the simple topic, "Restructuring Nigeria's federation". He began with stating the myths surrounding the call for a restructuring.  According to him, one of such myths was the fact that 'true federalism' is a myth as all federal systems are works-in-progress and vary from one according to their specific history, socioeconomic and political conditions. He also stated that the current constitution concentrates too much power and resources at the center which has impeded national development, security, peace and stability.

     He went on to give reasons why a restructure was necessary, mentioning that the federation should be restructured because it makes the country economically unproductive, indolent, unstable, disunited and politically weak. He regarded the present federation as that of a "unitary federalism". He concluded by mentioning the situation that led to the country's present stage i.e. their over-dependence on oil as a source of revenue and he listed panaceas for a better Nigerian federation.
  
  After he delivered his speech, there was a brief question and answer session that was followed by presentation of awards to honorable and deserving persons - Prof. Sola Eyinderun, Prof. Ademola Popoola, Prof. Anthony Elujoba and His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Portrait drawings of Prof. Ademola Popoola and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar were presented to them as gifts from the Law Students’ society.
  
  The Faculty of Law Journal was launched and the Guest of Honour launched it with five million naira in cash and this marked the end of the event, this was after an earlier donation of a 25-seater bus to the Faculty.

Photo Credits- Adejumo Kabir

Dòbálè: The Thing About Lying Lizards- Pope Jay

“All Lizards lie on their belly, we don’t know which suffers a stomach ache”- Yoruba Proverb

In my school, there is a funny tradition, I do not know how and when it started but I can assure you that it has been around for a while. Before you can successfully address a crowd, you must prostrate before the crowd. The nomenclature of the unusual tradition is unsurprisingly the Yoruba translation of the act; “Dòbálè”. This tradition is so entrenched in the Obafemi Awolowo University that as a performing artiste or Public speaker, your chances of succeeding with the audience drops exponentially if you do not perform this act before a Great Ife Students gathering and in contrast, performing this act can greatly improve the your chances of winning the audience when rightly done.

You might probably think that there are some people that are exempted from our funny tradition and indeed, this is the truth. Certain people, especially in the higher political class, who have managed to gain some “mouth” for themselves can be exempted from this tradition. However, most of the other classes are not. Star musicians who have come to perform on the soil of the Obafemi Awolowo University have willingly undergone the sacred tradition and have of course enjoyed the benefits thereof. Burnaboy, Sean Tizzle, Orezi, Olamide… are some names that come to mind in recent times.

The irony that often arises in the practice of this tradition can be quite comical. The ‘Ìdòbálè” is a way by which the Yoruba show respect; especially from the younger to the elderly. And as much I am uncertain of the circumstances of the creation of the tradition, I want to believe that it was about wanting to show the audience some reverence, and what better way is there to do this than in the most cultural way possible. But then again, persons who try to use the “Dòbálè” are not always the most morally justified; a fact acknowledged in the proverb; “The Ìdòbálè is not a measure of character”. This explains why a musician, drunk to stupor, would come to tender his idobale before performing or why men in starched shirts who have come to make vague promises would annoyingly spend half the time being a “well-trained Yoruba boy”.

But then again, all lizards are lying, we just don't know which ones are actually lying...

Pope Jay

LSS Hosts Atiku Abubakar, To Host More Dignitaries Tomorrow

Sequel to today's visit by His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, the LSS is set to host other dignitaries in celebration of their annual Law week.

The passage of the National Biosafety Agency Bill into law in 2005 by the Goodluck Jonathan administration had paved another way for diversification in the legal field. The Biosafety law Act is a domestication of the cartagena protocol (2003) which Nigeria is a signatory.The Biosafety Act has been fashioned to provide the legal framework to check the activities of modern biotechnology in the Nigeria, as well as the importation of genetically modified (GM) crops in Nigeria, including the provision of an avenue to engage Nigerian scientists/experts from different fields to identify and pursue solutions to  local challenges.

Globally, it has long been recognised that bioterrorism and accidental or uncontrolled release of harmful chemicals or genetically modified organisms into the environment are critical issues. Consequently, Nigeria has also deemed it appropriate to finally put in place regulatory framework.

On this note, the Law Students Society is inviting the general public to her; "NATIONAL BIOSAFETY LAW ROUNDTABLE"

The event is scheduled to hold at the New Mock and Moot Court of the Faculty of Law tomorrow, Tuesday, 7th March 2017.

Some of the guest speakers are;
Dr RUFUS EBEGBA (Director General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) ABUJA,

Barr. Gbemi  Popoola(Legal Adviser to NABDA)

Professor Ademola Popoola (Dean Faculty of Law OAU)

Prof. B.O Solomon (Faculty of Technology)





Supported by
Commonwealth Law Students Association

OAU: Admitted Students Can Now Check Status On OAU Portal

The newly admitted students of the Obafemi Awolowo University can now check their admission status on the University's eportal.

Click  here to check

ACJ OAU New Leaders Sworn In

The Newly elected leadership of the Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife officially received the mantle in the evening of Saturday, 4th March 2017 at the Pit Theatre.
The outgone Chairman Guild of Editors, Adeyeye Ifeoluwa, in his charge encouraged the new executives to remain United at all times as challenges would come.
The immediate past President in his handing over speech also appreciated the Association and her members for the support given him throughout the tenure and he further challenged the incoming administration to do more.
Find below his handing over speech.
The Electoral Commission led by Mr Lukmon Fasasi then administered the oath of office to the new executives and the new President, Mr Okeowo Olasunkanmi then gave his address, claiming that the occasion for him was a fulfilled dream and he was going to do what he could to elevate the Association in his tenure.

"Handing Over Speech of Olanrewaju Oyedeji Larrysam (Former  ACJOAU President 2015/16 session)

There is a time to everything , a time to start and a time to end , a time to be sworn-in and a time to handover .

I started as the chairman Guild of Editors and have handed as the President of ACJOAU, it has been the toughest 1year of my career and it has been that with lots of lessons , it has come with successes and disappointments but above all it has come with lessons meant for a lifetime.


It is with sincere Joy that I write this having spent the last few months as the President of Association of Campus Journalists,OAU. No doubt, when we came in, alot of expectations were awaiting and we had to build  on the already laid down foundation by Mr Benjamin Adebayo led administration.
In the last few months, we have faced several challenges, sometimes we almost give up but we have surmounted them all with your support and our collectivism as one big family.

Since we came in till now we have had some successes,some of which I would list below
.
👉� We spearheaded a Social Media Campaign called #ReopenOAU, to demand for the reopening of Obafemi Awolowo University, the campaign went as far as drawing attentions of personalities from out of the country and is the biggest successful social media protest in Nigerian Universities

👉�We were also able to renovate the Association Secretariat upon coming in

👉�We have been able to ensure more participation of the Association at the National level in Campus Journalism and also have been able to forge unity with top institutions in Nigeria.

👉�We were able to Launch the 1st correspondents' chapel on any Nigerian Campus (ACJOAU Correspondents Chapel)

👉�We were also able to float an E-Library for easy access of books

👉�We also were able to hold the Great Ife Students Summit which saw in Presence Mr Edmond Obilo

👉�We were able to hold an induction ceremony as stipulated by the Constitution

👉�We were able rebrand the Association with more social media presence on Facebook,Twitter ,Instagram and even WhatsApp

👉�We were able to give the Students Union Elections the biggest coverage any Union Election can get with massive social media presence

👉�We were able to organize the biggest ever and most coordinated Debate in the OAU Students Union Elections

👉�We were able to build a relationship with Nigerian Union of Journalists and Nigerian Guild of Editor's

👉�We were able to host the International Campus Journalism Conference that had a massive success of persons from wide and near with a success of over 8schools physically Present


👉�We were able to train over 20 Journalists to become Certified in Conflict Reporting and Public Relations,hereby becoming the first varsity to have her members trained in the act .

👉�We were able to ensure a brand new Amended Constitution before leaving the Association.


We have more successes to paint but the biggest success is leaving a mark in your mind.

I must say that whatever success we have achieved during the just concluded tenure was due to your support and believe in the Administration, we did not achieve anything alone but achieved little that we did due to the unity of purpose of all News Agencies and Journalists on Campus.

Let me state that the Association is bigger than a single man and the Association survives on our oneness and unity by the pen, we had shortcomings but we hope the new tenure will learn from our own mistakes and won't make same mistakes we made.

Let me charge all News Agencies to keep supporting the Association, as the ACJOAU isn't the Secretariat but rather people that make it up , I also admonish all members to continue to offer support to the New Executives.
I look forward to an ACJOAU where we would continue on the National Pedestal, an ACJOAU that would rule the world in Journalism , an ACJOAU that would surmount all Challenges, an ACJOAU that would be known the More for integrity and progress.
My charge to the New President is that he must make ACJOAU the hallmark of integrity it is known for, the Association must not be taken over by politicians, we must continue to retain our values.

I want to sincerely thank all Institutions around Nigeria that I enjoyed their support and advice, I cannot thank you enough for always been there, from University of Ibadan,UCJ,  LAUTECH, UNILAG, UNILORIN and all Institutions that supported my tenure .

I have lots to write but sometimes words may not be fully written but rather they will be written in hearts of men.

My special thanks to my Executive council , I must appreciate my team, we had our fair share of challenges but we remained strong, thank you family from Akinremi Rebecca, to Adebayo Faith to Adeyeye Ifeoluwa, Fadipe Olamide,Areo Fikayo, Kayode Emmanuel, Abegunde Cephas, Okeowo Olasunkanmi and Mr Abubakar Seun. I will continue to remember you all day and all time long.

My special thanks to Lukmon Fasasi led Electoral commission for holding an Election despite the issues that almost hindered it , posterity will never forget the issues and the players of them.

My special thanks to Sodiq Oyeleke , I much appreciate you boss.
My special thanks to the ICJC Local Organizing committee led by Ojelabi Jesujoba, thank you!

Adejumo Kabir is one young man I would not forget in a hurry, I much appreciate your support , much love bro.
I also appreciate the ACJOAU Press team members, you cant ask for more committed press team members, I would continue to appreciate the big family, they have been wonderful.

The New Executives must not allow disunity to colorate the Association, we must continue to uphold sanctity of the Constitution and must not use the pen for purposes other hand developmental for the Association.

To all my critics,thank you, you made me better, even though sometimes I have been at the centre of wrong accusations ,they are sacrifices I have paid during my tenure, I however believe there is a place for reward for all our acts either good or bad and nemesis will definitely catch up.

I am handing over today and will say that , we have not been perfect but rather we have strived, i would correct some mistakes if hands of clock Can be drawn back but I leave the continuation of ACJOAU to the new Exco.


God bless ACJOAU
God bless OAU

Olanrewaju Oyedeji (Larrysam)
Former President,ACJOAU(2015/16 Session)"

ACJ Hosts Fisayo Soyombo, Others At ICJC 2017

The Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University, held her annual International Campus Journalism Conference on Saturday, 4th March 2016.

The event had in attendance, several schools several other students from other schools and other distinguished personalities. Delivering his Keynote address on the theme of the event, the award winning journalist, Mr Fisayo Soyombo, enlightened the audience on the latest developments in the world of journalism and why journalists needed to keep up as they would always be needed in the society.

Mr Dapo Oladipo, publisher of the Eagle Online, whilst commenting on the topic, also encouraged the students to be careful with the things they did with the social media, stating that there were a number of opportunities untapped by young journalists from the new media. He also spoke on the need to get facts right before any publication as news stories often went a long way.

The programme also featured a presentation from Mr Ogunjobi, a representative of the African Students for Liberty and he spoke on the need for Students to engage in volunteerism.

OAU Peeps News Agency Bags Best News Agency Award At ACJ Awards Night

OAU Peeps News Agency bagged on Saturday 4th March, the Best News Agency at the Dinner and Awards Night of the Association of Campus Journalists.

This was after some of her members had also clinched some awards in some other categories.

The management of the OAU Peeps News Agency hereby uses this medium to appreciate everyone who nominated and voted the agency.

Here is a list of some of the other winners:
Best Agency in Sport Comments-
Campusvilla News Agency
Best Article Writer- Ojelabi Jesujoba
Best Editor-In-Chief- Sobowale Ifeoluwa
Best Graduating Student Journalist- Fasasi Lukmon
Outstanding Newcomer's Award- Adejumo Kabir