Cybercrime : Who Is To Be Blamed?

By Israel Chrislyte

Technology in the past and present years has proven to be a major catalyst for the development of many countries. This same technology too has been proven to have brought about some social vices and moral ills to the society. With technology, the circulation of pornography and other sexual materials has grown in leaps and bounds. With the advent of the internet, a new form of crime has evolved. The term "cybercrime" refers to all crimes committed using computer networks.
Countries like the USA, the UK and other European countries have all been ravaged with different forms of cyber crimes ranging from data theft to hacking of credit cards. Chief among these crimes is the full scale hacking of unsuspecting victims' account. Life savings, pensions and inheritances have been lost to fraudsters via the internet.
Nigeria is not left out as many of her youths are involved in one way or the other in this type of crime. In Nigeria cyber crime is widely known as 'yahoo yahoo'. The trend now is you being seen driving a luxurious car and living large.
When these so called yahoo boys are asked if what they do is right they mostly say at least they are not armed robbers with guns and they don't harm anyone. How true is this?
The Nigerian government recently gave an all-out order to arrest people who are suspected to be yahoo boys. Suspected yahoo boys  have been arrested at night clubs around the country. This move by the government saw a lot of criticisms and also praise from quaters who felt differently about it. Speaking with one of the Yahoo boys who pleaded anonymity, he said ' i don't give a damn about what anyone says about what i'm doing, i pay my own bills and provided a job for myself since the government decided not to'.
Another guy who simply identified himself as Larry said, 'i don't want to be called lazy that is why i choose to hustle in my own way'.
Everyone involved in this yahoo thing, in one way or the other, blame the government for making them go into it. They said if the government had provided the basic amenities needed for a smooth running society, they wouln't be anybody involved in crimes such as this.
The big question is- Is the government really the cause of this or peer pressure?.

The "Not-Too- Young-To-Rule-Bill" A Way Forward Or A Fabricated Lie

By Adesina Tunmise Adeolu.

On the 31st of may 2018, the president of the federal Republic of Nigeria assented the bill Not-too-young-to-rule, and therefore was passed into law ACT 27 OF 2018.
This of course was an unprecedented victory in the history of Nigerian youth as the age limit for candidates to contest for elections was reduced making it possible for younger ones to contest for political posts.
We often talk about youth and involvement in politics, but the question we need to ask ourselves is that are the youth truly ready to embrace this responsibility put before them?
Youth constitutes more than half of our population in Nigeria that tells us that when we say youth, we're referring to a large amount of people who is not limited to by occupational grouping, financial status, ideology or lifestyle. We often seem to forget that youth are not only limited to the confines of our university streets, polytechnics and colleges of education.
As a matter of fact that my readers can attest to, legit youth of this Nation are also  found in unfit places indulging in abominable activities like smoking Indian hemp in street corners, Idle hands found in car parks with stick of cigarettes stick to their mouth. The youths found in this despicable places indulging in abominable activities are eventually employed by politicians as machineries to steal ballot boxes during elections.
Another set of youths that we have are the apathetic youths. This set have shown no interest whatsoever in politics. They have cast their political consciousness into oblivion. They have deliberately shut themselves out of the political arena of the country, salvaging their interest in other activities such as entertainment, sports and other menial activities. This is rather unfortunate because these youths constitute the majority of the country's youth force.
It therefore becomes a pivotal issue that youths create in themselves what I will call a "political recuperation".
Nigerian youths need to restore their ill consciousness of political activities going on around them, youths should be drowning but yet starving for political awareness of the society for that is the beginning of true leadership
Also as youths, our worldview needs to change. I mean the lens through which we see our society needs to be changed. We need to begin to open our eyes to see a world where things can get better and brighter.
we have to close our eyes to religious dogmatism, an instrument that power hungry politicians have borrowed from money hungry so called religious leaders to keep us in check, to make us just as obsequious as their dogs. It is high time we began questioning the true reason for our existence. Are we born subjects of objects, A mere victim or a maker of circumstances. We need to open our eyes to envision a world where every of our heart yearnings aspirations  are consciously translated into utility. Youths need to close their eyes to corruption, indecency, immorality, internet fraud, incompetency and unproductiveness and open their eyes to see a world where orderliness, honesty and productiveness is a conscious achievable achievements that must begin with them.
For about two decades now, Nigeria has played a her democracy on the wrong side of the board. She has sold competency for power, she has supplanted sage for seduction, she has traded off innovative skills as a ticket to winning political offices for god fatherism and has given up LEADERS FOR POLITICIANS. These politicians have taken rounds upon the dignity of our land and we have fallen victim of their sugarcoated mouth which is but a gateway to hell. But all hope is not lost. The time is now for us to restore our dignity, for us to make an edifice of hope from the broken pieces of out lives. #Wearenottooyoungtorule its just about time....THEY'VE COVERED THE CLOUDS LONG ENOUGH; WANT TO SEE THE DAYLIGHT....

 Adesina Tunmise Adeolu is a Law student of Obafemi Awolowo University. He can be best reached  on adesinatheo@gmail.com

A Nation That Bleeds

By Abdulwahab Jemil Lanre.

It is no doubt that the political incongruity of a nation largely affects the citizens in a number of ways. The educational, infrastructural, social welfare to mention a few of the development expected of a nation cannot to an appreciable extent be achieved with an unstable political environment. Relatively speaking, the developing and third world nations have an antecedence of unstable political atmosphere which has for decades affectednay hindered their development. My dear nation Nigeria is a perfect example of that nation that has from time been having issues with an unstable political atmosphere.
Right from independence, we have suffered greatly from leaders that care for their families and their unborn generations. The resources meant for the entirety of the nation's population would be embezzled or mismanaged by public office holders, instead of being punished by law the citizens would rather pay for it, even with their blood in some cases. Yes their blood I said. I know you will be wondering how possible this could be, but let me quickly refresh your memory with the not too long pension fund that was mismanaged by a public office holder which directly or indirectly led to the death of many pensioners who could not get money on time to access good medical treatment. Have these people not paid with their blood for the mistake of just one public office holder?

Politics in my country has appeared to be the most 'lucrative business' where everyone wants to venture into for no other reason in most cases rather than to make cool money. This quick way of making money has made politics a do or die affair for most politicians, they can go the extra mile to win an election by investing much more money in electioneering processes and at times instigate some youths popularly referred to as 'political thugs' to cause chaos in their respective immediate environment, all for their selfish interest.


These people have successfully caused differences amongst the masses with religious and tribal sentiments. The average man from far eastern part of the country has been structured by these sets of individual with their gimmicks to perceive the man from the northern part as a fundamentalist, on the other hand the man from north perceives the easterners as people who are not patriotic and hence unfit to rule the nation. The westerners have always been sitting on the fence claiming to be diplomatic but this to me appears hypocritic in nature, because there are certain issues one has to frown at for the progress of a state. All of these politicians have successfully done but the question citizens should ask is, how possible is it for that politician in your region who condemned the other man from another region to still be in the same political party without differences? The answer is simple, they have successfully distracted your attention from governance and engaged you into social media war with people from other regions. This you'll be busy with and before you realize it, he or she has completedhis/her tenure. They will come back home again to feed you with lies and tricks, put token in your pocket, you vote for them and they travel back to live the next four years with the same men they have turned your back away from.

We as citizens have failed to ask questions about what governance is, and don't care about how our resources are being managed. In most cases we are so much concerned about our  three square meals and I tell you that your rights democratically goes beyond you eating three times a day. The generations before ours neglected governance and that is why we have to live this way today. The most alarming thing now is that our generation is as well neglecting this and instead most youths have resorted to all manner of illegal ways to make money. Rituals have now become common place and the question is what are we leaving for the coming generation? We failed to understand that the system is indirectly turning everyone into a thief, because everything doesn't follow normal protocol again, you have to bribe people to get things done, I owe no one apology for this as it happens almost everywhere in the country.

The just concluded Ekiti gubernatorial elections has answer to most of the points raised above. People had to settle for a one term former governor that was rejected four years ago just for tokens. This is a testament to the fact that people do not even know what they want for themselves and their generations yet to come. People see governance as something meant for some sets in the society or the elites so to say, not until we see it as everyone's responsibility, things won't get any better.
Nigeria is a nation that bleeds and needs the attention of her citizens to as a matter of urgency stand up to their feet and fight for the future of the nation. We don't necessarily need to engage ourselves in physical battle with these people, but I tell you with your PVC you have a lot of changes to make. It's a tough decision to make but we all know that nothing good comes easy, and in the end we'll all be the  hero and more importantly we'll have something meaningful to keep for the generations yet unborn.
               

NOVEL Nigeria Presents YES! FESTIVAL 2018

"If your brand or business is not growing, you'll soon be replaced - Kingsley Ndimele

Rather than drinking and partying, this is a festival with emphasis on discovery, motivation and discussion. This top quality program is designed to recharge and ignite every seed of positivity you've ever felt.

YES! FESTIVAL is the First Online Business Summit in Africa.  It is an online community of trailblazers and change-makers on one platform. With 30 business leaders across 25 African countries, activities and business lectures, we're so excited to invite you to join over 5,000 participants for a 30-day life-changing, riveting discussions with focus on entrepreneurship, branding and leadership.

One of the objectives of this online event is to develop and nurture startups that would shape the future of SMEs in Africa.

Our event lineup also includes; Book Reviews, YES! Essay Contest and YES! Charity Tour.

 This is a chance to take your life, business and brand to greater heights of exploits. Yes! You can.

Date: 2nd -31st October, 2018
Time: 6pm WAT Daily

Registration is ongoing;
For registration and more information, visit

 www.novelnigeria.com

Who to attend

- Business Leaders
- Aspiring Entrepreneurs
- Studentpreneurs
- Non-Governmental Organization
- Corporate and Educational Institutions
from all fields of businesses all over the world

Opportunities Include

1. Knowledge on setting up and running a business successfully

2. Free Advertisements on the YES! Festival Platform

3. Setting up structures and building a global brand

4. Leveraging on digital market for your business

5. Expertise and Mentoring from business professionals

6. Networking and partnership experience with potential clients
7. Certificates of participation

This is a chance to take your life, business and brand to greater heights of exploits.

Yes! You can.

Faculty Of Agric. Students Demand Improved Operations of the School Farm

Today, The Sahel Scholar's Conference aimed at introducing students to opportunities in the agribusiness landscape, steps for becoming agripreneurs and building successful careers in the sector was held at the Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on July 17, 2018.

The event which started by 9am had in attendance Ndidi Nwuneli (Managing Partner, Sahel Consulting), Adedeji Adebusoye (Vice President, Sahel Capital), Prof. D.J. Oyedele (Dean, Faculty of Agriculture) and HODs of various department amidst students from various faculties.

However,during the conference, over 250 Agric students unanimously made their demands known on the epileptic system of operation in the Teaching & Research Farm. The students took the opportunity to express their grievances as regards the pathetic state of the School Farm.

One of the participants who pleaded anonymous, said "Internship students go to farm daily to cultivate. They harvest and sell these products and submit the money to the farm. The current I.T students were told to construct and stock a fish pond and buy feeds, all for a cost around #300,000, knowing the current economic challenges in the country, yet the returns will go to the farm. The faculty needs to be considerate. The farm also needs to be mechanized and equipped". This statement was loudly supported by the students present.

However, the Dean, in his statement assured the students that efforts have been put in place to look into that.

The Sahel Scholar's Conference is the second annual edition of which OAU is a beneficiary. One of the organizers told students that 60 best students in the Faculty of Agriculture will be chosen for a paid Internship program and a year Scholarship award.

Some of the students who spoke with our correspondent said, "We've had several events like this, but implementation is often the problem. We hope this will be different.".

Olabode Adetoyi (CEO, Hi-Nutrients International Ltd.)  took turn to share his adventure in the entrepreneurial journey. He urged the students to be disciplined, purposeful, persistent and maximize the social media effectively.

He also took time to personally interact with some students after the photo session.

#EkitiDecides: A Clear Evidence Of Poverty

Well, while all and sundry are busy celebrating and wishing Fayemi for the hard gained position, let me join them as a Nigerian and at the same time portray some side chicks as a commentator to the election.

Through the online videos, pictures and other surfaced evidences by @BBC, Channels News Update, Premium Times and TheCable, it's now evident that poverty is like flowing River in the heart of Ekiti people.

I sat for long to wanton that how will a state be like this? How can money be the coordinator of senses? Or is it true with what Smalldoctor Gbagaun said that owo ni 'senior'?

Coming to reality, Nigeria as a country will never be a dreamed nation by Patriots. And who are the Patriots? Are they those that buy votes with stipend? Or those that will be tagged professors without any element of professorships in their thinking?

Buying of votes is now a worrisome issue and trend which the just concluded Ekiti Election in Ekiti proofed. Both parties of APC and PDP used the avenue of the fact that Ekiti is a poor state and it's poverty ridden to win their hearts with money and all kinds of gift for mandate.
Stomach infrastructure has been a long trend. Osokomale reinforces this in Ekiti state again and forgets the dividends of democracy he promised. He even at one Interview with @seunokinbaloye of Channels Television that 'his people like him and yesterday he was with them frying Gaari'..... The question is, is this what they want? This set of people has made Ekiti people believe that with stipends you can have their power, their future as well as their Civic rights which should have spoken for them for the next 4 years.

According to report, the least that was shared to buy the electorate at the yesterday poll was #5,000. This recurring practice by the so called Change crusader and the proclaimer of bringing power to the people is a dent on the hard earned democracy, demanding accountability and fairness, and in one way or the other fuels Corruption.

In a video footage by BBC Yoruba, an aged woman is seen running amidst others, the reporter moved closer quizzing her that what's happening inside, the woman responded that 4...4 thousand. The reporter asked again that 'tani won ni kia dibo fun (who are we asked to vote for)? The woman answered that whoever your wish, then she said it undertone that 'fayemi, Fayemi ni ki adibo fun (we should vote for Fayemi).

Another pictorial evidence online showed a woman backing a female child, showing her ballot paper, which she has voted Fayemi on,  to the guy coordinating the mandate-for-5k in their unit, just to get her paid. It's not a curse that this set of people can never enjoy good governance as they have taken their part while baking it.

In a video by SaharaTV, PDP agents were seen gifting #3,000  to buy their power.


It is disheartening to read some unreasonable, unfounded and unpatriotic comments that what goes around comes around because similar act was carried out in 2014 by the then ruling party.

It is no more news that Nigeria has been crowned with new accolade of 'capital of world poverty '. The question is, are we progressing or retrogressing as a country?

Does it mean that at this age and time, some of us still believe that two wrongs can make a right? If the answer is in the affirmative and it is supported by majority of the people, then I think we should be considering looking beyond democracy as a suitable government for our country.

However, while I will not wish Ekiti people bad, I pray this their newly married wife, the marriage be a fruitful one.

Uthman Samad is a student Journalist from department of English, part 3. Currently the Deputy Editor-in-chief (Administration) of OAU Peeps News Agency
15/07/2018
He can be best reached on sarmerdk2@gmail.com

Restructuring: system of inclusive and productivity-- Gov. Dickson

By Alabi Aderonke

Following the security crisis and economic debacles in Nigeria, the governor of Bayelsa, Seriake Henry Dickson proffered restructuring as the practicable solution at the annual lecture of faculty of arts Obafemi Awolowo University ile Ife on the 12th of july 2018.
He emphasized that restructuring is not about dismemberment but  a way of organizing and administering in true federalism.

He quoted Awolowo who said Nigeria is a geographical expression reiterating the fact that no matter the difference and diversification it is left for the people to use a system that suit them. He exemplified from the political system in the pre colonial era of Nigeria.
Though people shared same origin and belief, they still paid allegiance to their local shared community. The same reason why we need to note and understand our difference already pointed out by Ahmadu Bello the Sultan of Sokoto on federal system.

The federal system of the early post- independent Nigeria is totally different from what we have now as our federal system operations is now basically on paper and instead of giving it time to interact and discuss the reality of our time the leaders majorly engaged in McCarthyism ( pointing accusing fingers thus causing more problems) .
Tracing to the days of regional government in Nigeria, he pinpointed that we have more development as each region strived to develop anonymously which hence bring about drastic advancement then. Seriake furthered that patriots Nigerians are in need of reform to be able to unleash potentials and end the ongoing social instability.
He said" if you want stability and security then you need a new Nigeria". Henceforth, we must abandon the expensive and unproductive system that has persisted all the years since the military era.