Faculties, Students And Reputations- Akinfenwa Olaitan

By Akinfenwa Olaitan
There's this popular notion that majority of OAU students have about some departments and Faculties. It's quite funny actually. Have you ever wondered why some departments and Faculties in OAU, for example, the Department of English and by implication, the Faculty of Arts, and probably the Faculty of Law, have a reputation for being quite socially loud and quite morally indecent, compared to other departments? Surely, there must be a reason why these departments are highly rated as the home of party goers and 'baddest guys'. Actually it's no news to most of us that when we want to talk about the most interesting parties and events on campus, such departments are usually in charge. Of course, having a reputation for being socially popular is not bad, but when it crosses the line to indecency, that can be quite demeaning.

Despite being a proud student of the Faculty of Arts, I cannot totally deny the allegations, because there is actually some truth in them. I can say without any bias that indeed, the Faculty of Arts, being a very large and outgoing Faculty, has a wide variety of intriguing stories at every point in time. I, personally, have seen quite a lot of ridiculously dressed students in my beloved department that left me aghast. I suppose I can safely say that many students like to make loud statements in their fashion by simply going out of the norm. As a result, many tend to go overboard by dressing outrightly indecently. We see girls wear unbelievably skimpy clothes to attend lectures, and we are hardly surprised, because it's so common. Eccentric hairstyles and makeup are very common. I once saw a lady in my department with bright red hair, and I could see that she enjoyed the attention it brought her. All these contribute to the sizzling stories that endlessly trail the departments I stated earlier.

There is also this notion that students of the above named faculties and departments are mostly unserious and lackadaisical towards academic activities. Other students in the seemingly 'tedious' departments have the opinion that students in the Arts are usually lazy and unserious. I vividly remember when an older friend once asked me what course I was studying. On hearing my response, he looked at me with surprise and asked why I chose such an irresponsible department. I tried to defend my department but my concerned friend couldn't see any value in my chosen course, because of the stories he had heard . I began to wonder why the stigma of recklessness stuck to my Faculty like flies around ripe mangoes.

As a result, I feel the need to say that it is wrong to assume that all students in the department of English or other departments in the Faculty of Arts or Law are indecent or unserious. Such assumptions are highly fallacious. Just as well, it is false to assume that other students in other departments are all morally decent and academically sound. Despite the rumours and allegations, and even though we might be more socially inclined, I can assert that there are quite a lot of responsible, calm and serious students in the Faculty of Arts, just as there are in other faculties.

So, I would conclude by saying that as intellectuals, we shouldn't form wrong opinions based on hasty generalisation. Also, students who find themselves in the infamous departments should rather choose to be pace setters of decency amidst the dark stigma of partly truthful allegations. You know, it is actually better to stand out, rather than blend in and flow in the wrong direction.

Finally let's all endeavour to be confident in our decency, even as we are decent in our confidence.

Rampage In SUB As President Allegedly Walks Out On Congress

By Olabimpe Samiah O.

"Step Aside! Step Aside!! Step Aside!!!"

These were the words that rented the air as agitated students or congressmen were shouting at the OAU Students' Union Congress held on Thursday, 29th June 2017.


The congress, which is still likened to many as staged drama, was supposed to start by 4pm but was delayed till some minutes after 6pm. The SU PRO, Mr Okediji Simeon, stated that the congress started late due to inaccessibility to the university sound system at Amphi theater. The Engineer in charge of the sound system who according to the PRO and SEC GEN promised to be available was nowhere to be found when it was due time for the commencement of the Congress. It was reported that the Engineer lamented on the mismanagement of some of the sound systems at the last Congress.

"Engineer in charge of the sound system said the microphone and the mixer were destroyed and are to be repaired." Boluwajaiye Adeoluwa, the Secretary General of the Students' Union claimed.
"He complained that the microphone we used for the last congress was damaged due to rough handling. When he told us this , we apologized and we gave him part of the money" attested the Public Relations Officer.
The congress started with the president moderating it, Submissions​ were taken from individuals and the congress seemed to be going on smoothly until the congressmen asked the president to step aside as the moderator of the congress and allow a neutral individual to moderate instead. These arguments were backed by the fact that a man cannot be a judge at his own case. Congressmen insisted that the President should not preside on the congress but the president turned deaf ears to their demands and hot arguments, agitations and Rants engulfed the theatre. The Hullabaloo was on for 30-45minutes and later on the President single handedly declared the congress closed. According to him he said the environment is not safe and conducive enough for a Congress.

Following his declaration, the President Walked out of the theatre with Congressmen shouting and ranting behind him. He was followed to the the Union building and minutes later, It was discovered that the president was nowhere to be found and Certainly had made his way out of the building through a backdoor. A considerable number of students who most people alleged to be member of the left movements on campus were asking for the wherabout of the President. Consequently, Students were seen trying to force themselves into the Union offices. They managed to force their ways into the Office of the Secretary General and from there to the President's office.

Meanwhile as this was going on, some students might have used the opportunity to attack and perpetrate evil things. As the PRO of the Union was reportedly mobbed while his female classmates that came to collect notes were harrased. Consequently the PRO, SPEAKER, DSP, CLERK offices were broken into. The PRO reported that his phone SAMSUNG C5 was stolen from his drawer and that he could recognise some of the students that barged into his Office. There we're lots of damaged doors in the Union building. The Secretary General lamented on how the doors were just repaired and that the money used was from his own purse.

Conclusively, some individuals are saying that the destructive act of the mob should not be completely condemned as a standard has been laid down for them by the destructive incident and the irrational act of the Sports Director on the protest in Akintola hostel.

Ife Law Set To Host Second Leadership Legal Career Conference

The Law Students Society of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife is set to host the second edition of its Leadership Legal Career Opportunities Conference.

The conference, which started last year, has been scheduled to hold on Friday, 30th June 2017 and Saturday, 1st July 2017.

The conference is to feature special sessions in Leadership ​and Entrepreneur/CEO; Entertainment and fashion/Showbiz; competition and Anti-monopoly Law; corporate Law and finance; Intellectual property and IT law; Arbitration and ADR; Legal drafting and writing.

The conference is open to Young lawyers, Law students and even non-law students.

The theme of the conference is, "BEYOND THE WIG AND GOWN: The practice of law in an emerging global economy, Legal services, careers and opportunities for young and budding lawyers". Alongside a grandeur dinner and launching of the LSS Mega website


Some of the Speakers at the Conference include:
1. Akorede O. Yusuf Ph.D
Department of Public Law, OAU, Ile-Ife.
Social Media law.

2. Anthony I. Idigbe (SAN)
Senior Partner
Corporate law and finance.

3. Sen. Iyere Ihenyen.
Partner, Infusion Lawyers.
Intellectual property and information Technology law.

4. Justice (Dr) Nnamdi Dimgba
Federal High Court, Abuja.
Competition and Anti-monopoly Law.

5. HRM, Oba Adedokun (Aronyinkeye I)
The Orangun of Oke-ila, Osun State.
Leadership.

6. Adeyinka Adeniyi
Deeprimix Consulting Nigeria Limited.
Entrepreneur and CEO

7. Kenneth Ononeze
Best graduating student, Law school, 2015.
Leadership.

Students Cry Out Over Marked Increase In Rate Of Robbery, Union Leaders Visit State Commissioner Of Police

By Alabi Aderonke and 'Joba Ojelabi

Robberies in residential areas are not totally new occurrences​, especially in places with a dense population of Students. However it seems Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife might have just had enough of these sardonic incidents. 


In what seems like the straw that broke the camel's back, about three female hostels in maintenance area were robbed in between the late hours of Monday, 26th June 2017 and the early hours of Tuesday, 27th June 2017. The three hostels affected include B-ver, Aquifer and Stella Hostels and there are reports that several valueables were carted away by the armed men, who were alleged to have come in through bush paths. There were also reports of a number of other robberies occuring simultaneously at the time of the incident in some other student hostels in town.
 
Keeping in mind that "Maintenance" as the estate of female hostels is called used to be regarded as one of the safest residential areas outside the University Campus, perhaps this is why several students and organisations have begun to express fears over the state of security in the town at large. It was thus lauded by many when the President of the Students' Union alongside a team of some other students visited the Osun State police command later in the morning of Tuesday, 27th June 2016.

The visit, which was to express the concern of Students over the sardonic state of security in the town, was to the Commissioner of Police of the state. However, upon arrival, it was learnt that the Commissioner was not around at the time and so the delegates were attended to by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, John Abang. In the report of the meeting by the Public​ Relations Officer of the Union, Mr Okediji Simeon, the Union expressed her concerns as regards the state of security in the town, making several demands to help better the situation. In response, the Deputy
Commissioner appreciated the leaders for directing their grievances to the appropriate quarters and ​promised to look into the issues raised, he also charged the Union leaders to also try, as much as possible to curb cultism in the institution.


Hopefully, the state of security would improve in the days to come as it seems a lot of residents are already against the wall.

"A Call Into Politics, A Call From God"- GILCOM Alumni Host Governor Ayo Fayose

By Alabi Aderonke and Uthman Samad

"A Call into Politics, a call from God".
This was the justification statement for being a Christian and the venturing into politics of Governors Peter Ayodele Fayose, the governor of Ekiti state, at the Oduduwa hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University on Saturday, 24th June 2017.


The governor who was represented by the Chief of Staff of Ekiti state, Mr Dipo Anisulowo, at a program tagged, "THE MARKET PLACE", a public discuss on vital issues that shaped​ the world. The programme was organized by GILCOM a.k.a Charismatic Students Fellowship. The alumni fellowship of God is love Community OAU claimed that his political success was because he harkened to the voice of God which he did in 2000. The governor also justified his outspokenness by saying, "he is the voice of the common man" and if he did not speak his conscience will not be free. He reiterated his service to man right from 2000 when he was a philanthropist, a humanitarian and he gave out medical support, amenities and education- scholarships.

He accused that his first impeachment was based on the conspiracy of the Elites in Ekiti state. But no matter what, he was bold as a Christian in face of tribulations so far he obeyed God's call. In the course of the event, the Governor was also presented an award which was received by his representative.

June 26: Drug Free World or World of Free Drugs?

  Living  in  the  21st  century  has  its  own  intricacies  especially  when  its  2017.  The  recession  is  taking  its  toll on  all  and  sundry,  people are  stressed  and  stretched  more  than ever  before,  divorce  rates  are  skyrocketing,  depression  is  consistently  shared  amongst  the  old  and  young     and   the  life  expectancy  has  plunged   miserably.  In  this  age,  the  celebrity  celebrates  obscenity  and  extols  immorality,  the  artist  sings  odes  to  marijuana  and  if  you  are  a  boy  and  you  have  not  had  a  beer  at  16,  then  you  are  chicken –hearted The  world  is  in  a  bad  shape   and  almost  all  of  us  are  entangled  in  this  sad  web  of  modernity  ,  a  very  valid reason  to  resort  to  these  stuffs at  least  to  lift  us  high  when we  are  down  and  to  celebrate  each  of  our  successes  and  landmarks: drugs.

       As  a  pharmacist  in  training  , I  understand  drugs  as  substances  used  in  the  diagnosis,  treatment  and  prevention  of  diseases .  But  theses  substances  if  misused   are  powerful  and  could  lead to  brain  changes  that  challenge  the  person’s  self-control  and  interfere  with  their  ability  to  resist  intense  urges  to  take  them .  Many  people  don't  understand  why  or  how  other  people  become  addicted to  drugs. They  may  mistakenly  think  that  those  who  use  drugs  lack  moral  principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality,  drug  addiction  is  a  complex  disease,  and  quitting  usually  takes  more  than good  intentions  or  a  strong  will.

    These substances  of  abuse  have  caused  a myriad  of   problems  and  done  a  lot  of  hurt  to  the  human  race.  They  have  broken  relationships  and  families ,  thwarted  dreams,  crushed  careers  built  with sweat  and tears . The  reliance  on drugs  has cost  humanity  some  times  the  value  we all  try  to  protect and  share  : love . Michael Jackson  ,  Prince , Whitney Houston to  mention  a few   are  famous  stars,  people  with  unbelievable talents   we have  lost  to  drugs . Drugs  of abuse  have  caused  embarrassment  and  disgrace to  the  likes  of  Lance  Armstrong. They have  cost  us a lot  , i say  too much. No wonder  the  United  Nations  in  December  1987  designated  June 26  as the   International   Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking .  A  symbolic  day  that commemorates  the  dismantling  of the  opium  trade  in  Guangdong.
     
Being  drug free does  not  mean  total  abstinence  from  drugs  or  alcohol  but  it  means being  able  to  love  ,  laugh   and live  normally  without  drugs , to  be  able  to  pursue  one's  passion  independently , share  smiles with  family  and friends  without turning  to  drugs  for  help.  It means  to be  truly  happy. This  is  a  good  time  to  make  resolutions  and  strong  resolve to stop  doing  drugs. The  human race in times  past   have  been able  to  rise  above  challenges . We  have  confronted fear  head  on  and dared to live,  i  believe  in  humanity  that  we can  make   concerted attempts  to  defeat  this  bane.  We  at  drug  free club  have  chosen  to  commit  tandem  efforts  to  uphold  and  show  by  example the  unlimited  , boundless  and  self-sufficient  traits  in mankind...without  drugs!  You should too.

Ishola Ayobami R.
President, 
Drug Free Club OAU

OAUSU President Challenges Critics, Promises To Resign If Anyone Can Validate Inflation Claims

In a press conference held today on the several controversies arising from the recent purchase of a Toyota Hiace Bus by the President of the Obafemi Awolowo University Students' Union, the President has come out to openly challenge critics and alleged antagonists to provide concrete proof that the bus costs more than the said price and not just work with individual estimations.

When detailing the events that led to the purchase of the Bus, Oyekan Ibukun stated that part of his Campaign promises was providing a transport scheme for the Union and upon the commencement of his administration, he made requests for funds from the University Management, not knowing of any backlog. Upon getting to learn of the backlog, the University Management only agreed to release the funds if it was tied to a meaningful project and so he decided to use the funds, which is being paid in installments for the bus project.

In response to questions about why he seemed to have slighted the legislative arm of the Union in making the purchase which was also very much reemphasized by the Chairman of the Budgetary and Finance Committee, the President accepted his faults and promised to correct this in further dealings. He however stated that the University Management gave an ultimatum of three days for the execution of the first project and as such did not allow him enough time to go through all necessary processes. He further stated that in making the next purchases, as accordingly to him; a maximum of three more buses would be added to the one currently on ground, a committee would be set up to make the process more transparent.

Also, reacting to alleged claims that the receipt being circulated on Social media is faux and his seeming reluctance to divulge the price of the bus from the beginning, the 400L student of Medicine claimed that the address on the receipt was the residential address of the dealer that made the sale and other necessary details such as the day the car was brought into the country, the Customs registration number (Cnumber), the amount paid on the bus etc. were clearly stated on the other documents of the car. This, according to the President, had also been the basis by which some other dealers had confirmed the authenticity of the claims that the bus was not a refurbished one but a Tokunbo Bus.
The President, however, once again reemphasized that owing to the height that people had tried to stain his integity, he was willing to give out the keys to any one to take to bus down to any Car dealer and if the bus is said to be worth less than the said price and he was found guilty of any embezzlement, he was ready to resign. This he claimed prompted his letter to thet Independent Corrupt Practice and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the two agencies have responded, commencing their investigations.


The Financial Secretary, Omisakin also denied claims that he stated that the Bus cost N2.9m as against the stated N2.5m by the President and receipt of the bus.


However, several reactions still trail the issue of the bus as many still remain unsure as regards the price of the Toyota Hiace Bus, while some other students do not even see the need for the project in itself.