Public Service Announcement

This is to announce to all Faculty and Departmental Executives for the 2016/2017 Academic Session to send in reachable contact numbers of their association executives ( P.R.O's preferably ) to assist freshers in the registration process.

Contacts can be sent via sms or WhatsApp in the format;

"Contact's Name: Phone Number ( Duplicate for multiple contacts)"

Contacts can be sent to
'Joba on 08063429623 or
Tolu on 08175207202

Announcer: OAU Peeps News Agency

Chemical Engineering Students Hold Second Annual Lecture In Honour Of Professor Layokun

Second Ife Chemical Annual lecture in honour of Late Prof. SK Layokun at Ajose LT. organised by Nigeria Society of Chemical Engineers OAU students' chapter {NSChe OAU}


The program, which was held on Saturday, 10th March 2017 featured the presence of several eminent professors and lecturers as well as a representative of the Acting Vice Chancellor.

The speaker of the day, a Professor of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Prof. Benjamin Ewa Ubi, spoke on the potentials ofy Biotechnology in industrial development.
The learned professor took a long stretch in discussing the wrongs in the society that have been branded as right, thus, causing an increased rate of death and laying foundation for disease.

YHe continued by shedding light on those fuels that are favourable and those that are detrimental to our health, the fossil fuels that have negative effects and consequence on humans, affecting people in subtle ways. While analysing the importance of biofuel industry, he also stated that it is the only way to have sustainable energy in Nigeria.

Prof. Benjamin further stressed on the alarming rate of population increase at the expense of decrease in food production. He said, "by 2050, a 70% increase in food production is needed to solve the rampant famine. Fermented food which has greater impact and effect on humans are being left out, just as balance diet is equally being laid off out of human life."

He noted the unhygienic food that Nigerians eat and believe are nutritional which were detrimental to our health.

Noting Nigerian-made products, the department made a clear recognition of Godwin Oguta, an indigenous student of the department who majors in the production of hand washing and liquid soaps.

Prof. Ubi when answering questions on local food stated that the local foods were available, but people, out of civilization, had deviated from taking them and this shift to more 'modern' foods had caused untold risks such as reducing or impairing man's sight and other functional organs - risks that an adequate supply of some of these local foods like locust beans can help prevent.

The Ag. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anthony Elujoba, was ably represented by Professor Fademileyin from Basic Medical Sciences who presented an award of meritorious service to awardees like Prof. B.O Solomon.

The wife of the late honoree, Mrs. Layokun, thanked the whole gathering in the name of the Layokun family. While making her speech, she acknowledged the love, passion and prowess her husband had for the department.

FASA Elections: A Case Of Incompetence, Fear, Or Agenda To Manipulate?

By Gracious Egedegbe

On the 13 of March 2017, news began to make rounds that ongoing elections into executive offices in the Faculty of Arts Student Association had been cancelled. Although there is yet to be another date, this will be the third time the election will be scheduled to hold and yet with no results. While the electoral commission is yet to give a cogent explanation at the time of compiling this report, there are certain issues this article seeks to examine.

To start with, frequent postponements, generally speaking, are an indication that the electoral commission had come upon challenges that could not be resolved at the moment – hence the postponement. If it had happened once, one could excuse it as normal occurrence. However, for such to occur thrice speaks loudly of how prepared the electoral body is.

There is no gainsaying that it reeks of unpreparedness and, if one may stretch it further, incompetence. It is disheartening that an election should take this long to conduct and conclude. One question that demands an answer is “Is the electoral commission willing and able to conduct a free and fair election?” to all appearances, the electoral body is not conscious of the sensitivity of the elections and the gravity of their constant vacillation (to put it mildly). In fact, in some quarters, there has to be an underlying influence around the elections.

This has led to suspicions in various quarters. Following disproportionate sizes in boxes between various aspirants on the ballot papers on Friday and the cancellation of the election on Monday, many are strongly of the opinion that the leadership of the electoral commission is inordinately biased to certain aspirants. As the story goes, a lot has been invested in a particular candidate from as far back as the beginning of the semester.

If the above is true, it will be that the electoral commission is only stalling until they can conduct an election in which the odds are in their best interests. This should not be so.

Furthermore, it is also alleged that there is an agenda to ‘clip’ the wings of a constituent department that is accused of always trying to be domineering over other departments in the faculty due to sheer number. This, as the story goes, is based on the fear that if the department in question were allowed to have its way, it would be a case of a faction ruling a majority.

To start with, the way to win elections, as far as free and fair elections are concerned, is by popular votes. If a candidate has the charisma and popularity to garner so much votes for himself, that should not be an impediment to conducting the elections. Rather, other candidates should see it as a challenge and try to rise up to the challenge through lawful means.

As regards fears that a certain department aspires to rule it all, it is obvious that those who express this fear are actually revealing what they would do in similar situations. This writer does not subscribe to one department fielding multiple candidates but if the law allows it, then the law must rule. The only way to prevent such is to put relevant legislation in place.

Furthermore, it is evident that aspirants have not been able to present a more unified appearance. If the base of each candidate’s success is on the strength of individual departments, then there will be problems of trust and cooperation regardless of who wins. This can only be solved if candidates and voters alike drop their departmental divides and see themselves as a whole.

This article will not end well if it does not hit on the indictment of the electoral body with emphasis on the electoral commissioner. It is disheartening that the commissioner will allow his personal integrity to be question thereby jeopardising the entire electoral process. From a lay’s man view, the electoral commissioner is gradually losing credibility with recent actions and inactions. As far as some people are concerned, that is enough reason to call for his resignation.

As Lecture-Free Week Begins...

As the Lecture-free week begins, we wish all students of the Obafemi Awolowo University a blissful and fruitful study session and sound health throughout the examination period and even beyond.

Students are advised to endeavour to maintain healthy practices, even in the course of studying.

OAU Admissions: Freshers Commence Payment Of Acceptance Fee

Following several weeks of waiting, newly admitted students of the Obafemi Awolowo University are set to commence the payment of acceptance fees today, Monday 13th March 2017.

This is in tandem with the earlier released calendar of events by the school management.

 Click Here To See Fee Structures 

Faculty of Law, Arts To Hold Elections Today

Students of the Faculty of Law of the Obafemi Awolowo University, are set to hold their elections today, Monday 13th March 2016. This is coming after a severe campaigns on the social media from different quarters. The Students whom were known for their extravagance in campaigns in times past are alleged to have been compelled to step it down a notch consequential to a ban on the use of banners and posters in the Elections.
 
In a similar vein, the Faculty of Arts Students Association would also be going through the process of democratically selecting new leaders today after the postponement of her elections last week.

FASA Election To Hold Tomorrow, 13th March

The election that was slated to hold at the level of the Faculty of Arts Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife on the 10th of March was postponed after a few minutes of its commencement. This was due to the provision for 1 ballot box by the electoral commission for the whole of the department in the stead of 8 ballot boxes for each department in the faculty as recognised in its constitution. The names of candidates were misspelt and their pseudonyms were also not tagged alongside the ballot papers. There were also irregular sizes of boxes for voters to mark their choices on the provided ballot papers presented at the polling unit. Finally, there were no pictures of candidates on the ballot papers which would help identification when voters want to exercise their franchise.

An interview with one of the presidential candidates, Mr Afiz Gbadamosi on his reaction to the postponement of the election. He said
"Well I have no negative reaction to the postponement since it was done to ensure a credible election, just that I think the electoral commission should have perfected plans before the election day."
Miss Tofunmi, who is also vying for the post of the vice president of the faculty stated that it was the best decision to make.

The electoral commission has however promised to make necessary amendment as it has been rescheduled to 13th of March 2017.