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.

Buhari Warns Nigerians Against Drug Self Administration

A medical expert, Professor Femi Williams, categorically said yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari, was anaemic.

This, the certified physician in Anatomic Pathology from London and Ireland, told The Nation in an interview, could only have been responsible for the blood transfusion which the president got during his medical vacation in the United Kingdom.
Buhari admitted on his return home on Friday that he had transfusion in London.
“We now have a pretty good idea of diagnosis, which is now comprehensive or good enough to say that the diagnosis of President Buhari’s illness is anaemia,” Williams said.
“You cannot be transfused if you don’t have anaemia,” he explained.
He had, in a previous diagnosis based on the president’s photograph published in the newspapers, ruled out anaemia.
He also said that the anaemia could have been triggered by self –medication.

Buhari at a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, members of the federal executive council and governors shortly on his arrival in Abuja spoke on self medication.
He called it “one of our terrible things.”
“We have to trust our doctors more and trust ourselves more because over there they only take drugs when it is absolutely necessary. They don’t just swallow everything,” he said.
In a separate analysis of the president’s health status yesterday, Professor Williams said it is imperative to know the possible causes of the anaemia.
He listed these as anaemia caused by self medication, anaemia associated with cancer or anaemia due to blood loss from self medication that “may affect the stomach and intestines as in aspirin toxicity.”
His words: “the negative clinical findings on the president that was published in The Nation on Feb 26, 2017 has been confirmed by the disclosure that the President was transfused with whole blood.
“In a previous photo of his hands prior to transfusion his nail beds were very pale indicative of clinical anaemia. The subsequent photograph of his hands that was analyzed showed that he was no longer clinically anaemic.
“The clinical history given by Mr. President that for the past 18 months he had been lethargic and feeling tired prior to his vacation is consistent with tiredness due to anaemia.
“Regaining his strength after transfusions that facilitated his return home suggests that the anaemia had been corrected successfully.
“There is therefore a preliminary diagnosis of anaemia meaning insufficient blood in the circulation.
“When this happens many organs including the brain, heart, liver, kidneys and lungs are starved of oxygen that is carried by blood to all parts of the body for efficient functioning of the person. “Sudden loss of blood as in road traffic accidents could be fatal. In this case the anaemia has been insidious and gradual over time.”
Continuing, Prof Williams said: “The question that arises in the absence of information, which is understandable, is the cause of the anaemia.
“The only information that can be gleaned from the Presidents history on arrival is his admonition against self medication. By so doing is he giving us some more relevant information that he had been told in London?
“This is the first time that a President advises that all citizens should trust their doctors and refrain from self medication. Is it possible that his anaemia is drug induced or drug related and that investigations in London revealed this? We do not know. If this is true common pain relieving drugs like Panadol may cause kidney damage and give rise to anaemia for which he received transfusions.
“Alternatively certain drugs also cause liver damage and anaemia but this is unlikely in his case since he was not jaundiced.”
But he also admitted that “there are so many other causes of anaemia that cannot be dealt with here.”
“Of relevance to our last observation is the possibility that this may be anaemia related to some type of cancer that must be ruled out. Looking at the photos on arrival there is one suspicious positive finding and that his loss of muscle mass on the face in the area of the zygomatic arch below the ears.
“This is either due to some cancer somewhere or due to aging.”
He said that the little snippets of information from the President’s history and disclosure on his health status may help millions of Nigerians damaging their vital organs from unbridled ingestion of over the counter (OTC) pain relieving and other drugs.”
He urged adequate publicity on the adverse effects of self medication and described the President’s view on the issue as a big public service to the health sector.
“Assuming this is the correct scenario the nation owes the president a debt of gratitude and if this is not correct the president has done a great service by highlighting the adverse events and dangers of self medication that is so rampant in the nation,” he said.

It is not surprising that end stage renal disease is relatively common in the country and these patients require dialysis.
But he also pointed out that the President has a constitutional right to privacy regarding his medical records and diagnosis of any ailment just like any other citizen in the world.

“Protection of privacy is an extremely important feature in a democracy,” he said, adding: “however we, the people, have elected the President and are paying his salary and upkeep.

“We are therefore entitled to be concerned and to know that he has a sound mind in a sound body to govern us appropriately and effectively.

“There is really no need for secrecy because we are all mortals destined for the departure lounge en route to the other side called Heaven.

“The unfortunate aspect of the Nigerian life and society is that any health challenge can be exploited for political reasons, and may be used and abused by aspirants to high office. This is an unhealthy trend that must be discouraged in our national polity.”
Buhari at a meeting with members of his cabinet and state governors shortly on his return home on Friday said he could not recollect being this ill in his 74 years on earth.

He had originally planned to be away for 18 days but ended up spending 36 days more, undergoing tests, receiving treatment and resting.

“I couldn’t recall being so sick since I was a young man, including the military with its ups and downs,” Buhari said.
He did not reveal the ailment he was treated for, but confirmed that he got blood transfusion during the vacation.
He hinted that he would be returning abroad in a few weeks for further medical attention.
“I couldn’t recall when last I had blood transfusion; I couldn’t recall honestly I can say in my 70 years. I couldn’t remember this drug that Nigerians take so much, very common.
“I think one of our terrible things is self drug administration. We have to trust our doctors more and trust ourselves more because over there they only take drugs when it is absolutely necessary. They don’t just swallow everything.”

Source: The Nation