OAU Students Frown Against Online Lectures

By Ganiyu Ayanniyi M.

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University have said they are not in support of the proposed plan by the institution to switch lectures online, an online poll conducted by OAU Peeps News Agency has revealed.

Last week Thursday, the Federal ministry of education stood firm in its decision on the safe reopening of schools.

Upon the confirmation, various schools, both public and private announced the resumption of academic activities in compliance to safety protocols. Though, few schools are yet to announce theirs.

The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife is yet to announce the official resumption date and the means in which lectures would be delivered. However, the school is taking serious steps to let these done on time.

There is a proposed academic calendar which will be reviewed by the School Senate on 19th January, 2020. The calendar proposed that only final year, all clinical, pharmacy (part V) and part IV agric students are allowed to resume the school residence on 7th February in order to continue with physical lectures while other students would continue with online classes.

Sequel to this, there have been reactions from students in different social platforms as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter etc. that there should be physical lectures for all because they believe that being at home won't help them to focus in studying online.

But, what is the fear of these students? Mass failure ? Frequent power outage ? Lack of phone or browsing gadget?  The cost for the online classes? These are some of the questions that disturb students.

As a result of various reactions, OAU Peeps News Agency, did an online poll to know students' choice about the online classes. 510 students voted; 20% want the decision as earlier stated in the proposed calendar, 67% do not support the idea of online courses; they prefer physical classes for all students while 13% are fine with both online or physical lectures.

Many tertiary students opined that if some market places could open in full air without the observance of Covid-19 protocols, schools could open while respecting the guidelines as a civilised area. All the same as some students are worried that if some schools could fully open for physical lectures, why not so for Obafemi Awolowo University with total compliance to safety measures ?

OAU Approves Reopening of Mosques in Halls of Residence.

By Ganiyu Ayanniyi M.

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife via its Council has approved the reopening of the halls of residence mosques ahead of students resumption.

This was made known in a responsive letter signed by the acting director of the Vice-Chancellor's Office, I.O Adejuwon on 24th of December 2020, informing the approval after the matter was presented to the School Council.

The mosques was closed since 2017 following the clash between members of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), OAU branch due to varying Islamic views and insubordination to authorities.

This achievement was obtained after the relentless efforts of Muslims leaders outside and within the school especially the Chief Imam, OAU Muslim Community in name of Professor Abubakr Sanusi in seeing peace reign amidst all odds. 

The Chief Imam of OAU Muslim Community, Professor Abubakr Sanusi through his letter dated 19th December, 2020 has urged the school management to reopen the mosques within the halls of residence while assuring that peace and sanity would reign.

However, the School management via its Council has given three terms and conditions which the mosques should follow:

1. The mosques should be designed such that the inner portion would be visible to those outside.

2. Activities in the mosques should be conducted in ways that will be visible to everyone and not in any way shrouded in secrecy; and

3. The activities of the students should be supervised by the office of the Chief Imam, and biannual reports to the office of the Vice-Chancellor would be appreciated.

OAU Students To Know Resumption Date After Senate Meeting

Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University can now hope to know the exact date academic activities would resume after the University Senate meeting on Tuesday, 19th January 2021. 

Since the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suspended its 9-month old strike on the 23rd December 2020, students have continued to expect that they would be recalled back to school soon. But no news has come since then for students of OAU. 

In a telephone conversation between OAU Peeps News Agency correspondent and the university Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju earlier today (Thursday), we were able to gather that it is unlikely that students would be asked to resume back to school before the speculated date of 18th January.  

According to the university PRO, the Senate of the University has a sitting already scheduled for the 19th of this month and the resumption of academic activities is expected to be one of the top issues that would be up for discussion. He further urged students of the institution to exercise patience and ignore any rumour flying around until the school management releases date for resumption. 

Meanwhile, OAU students have continued to urge the university management to announce resumption as soon as possible so that they can continue with their studies. 

OAU, we are waiting for resumption circular please 😌, e fun wa ni update ⚠.

— Opemidimeji Ọmọlúwàbí Ekiti 🗽 (@opemidimeji_xo) January 7, 2021

 

I don't think OAU is ready for resumption yet, as it stands now it's over 24 hours of power outage and I got to know it's because the management is owing. (Either true or not, I can't confirm) but I heard.

Shey there is still hope for resumption like this?

— Oluwakemi💡✊ (@Oluwakemistrie) January 6, 2021

 

If one of OAU or UI should announce resumption, everyone will follow suit. I'm certain

— Ọ̀gágun Akinlolú ❁ (@LoluAkinteye) January 6, 2021

As at the time of filing this report, some universities, including the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), University of Benin (UNIBEN), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), and Lagos State University (LASU) have already announced the resumption of academic activities in line with the directives of the National University Commission (NUC) asking schools to reopen by 18th January, 2021. For some of these schools, learning will be virtual and online for the meantime while the possible impacts of the second wave of the COVID19 infection on physical gathering for learning are being assessed.

Happy New Year

I'd rather not start this little note with how bad or tough 2020 was, but here goes...

Yes, we lost an academic year, we had to stay indoors for months; I agree, it was a tough year.  Some would say it was a year meant for lessons and hard work.  The truth is that it was a year that tested our sanity and mental health.  

However, since we have agreed not to dwell on that year, here’s to you for making it and finishing that year strong. And here's the future that promises to be better.

I hope that this year brings you the joy, laughter, and the best.  May you have all that your heart desires and may you keep basking in the grace of God.  As we prepare for the most anticipated resumption ever, I pray that the student in us finds a way to resurrect and resume with us. 

2021 will be an amazing year. This time, stay jiggy and excited.  Happy new year from OAU Peeps News Agency.

 

OAU Loses A Female Lecturer

By Mutiu Saheed Abiodun

Tragedy struck again on Christmas eve; the 24th of December 2020, as Dr.(Mrs) Ajuwon a Doctor of Yoruba at the Department of Linguistics and African Languages,  gave up the ghost. 

It was discovered that she had been battling cancer for a while, which eventually took her life. 

May her soul rest in peace.

ASUU Suspends Strike

On Wednesday, the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU)

 “conditionally” suspended its strike. The 9 month old strike was protracted the longest industrial action that started since March 2020. After meeting severally with FG, the suspension of the strike was reported to take effect from today,Wednesday 23,2020.

The conditions why the suspension may be rendered null has not been released by the association.

However, ASUU National President, Biodun Ogunyemi made the announcement during a briefing of the union in Abuja, explaining that the development followed consultations with its National Executive Council (NEC).

ASUU To Decide On Strike Today

ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) branches are divided over whether to accept the Federal Government’s offer and call off their eight-month-old strike. 

The union will harmonise the positions of zones and branches at a meeting in Abuja today. With some branches insisting that the government must meet all the demands before the strike is called off, the union may put the decision to a vote. 

 The Ahmadu Bello University branch agreed with the government on the N40 billion Earned Academic Allowance (EAA). The branch, however, called for payment of the allowance before the strike will be called off. 

 Lecturers at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Delta State, said negotiations with the Federal Government must be concluded before the strike is called off. Ezekiel Agbalagba, chairman of ASUU at the university, said the congress on Wednesday accepted the EAA, but rejected the N25 billion for the revitalization of the varsities.

  According to him, the latest concession by the Federal Government is “an offer”, adding: “Let it land in our purse first.” He added: “We are willing to suspend the strike, but some of those contending issues should be thrashed and thrashed once.” 

 ASUU chapters of the University of Maiduguri, Yobe State University and Federal University Gashua resolved to get a serious commitment from the Federal Government before they call off the industrial action. 

 The Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM) ASUU voted to continue with the strike action until the Federal Government implements what was offered during the negotiation. ASUU- UAM chapter said both their withheld salaries and sundry allowances must be also paid. 

 A lecturer at UAM, who preferred not to be named, said they voted that the strike should continue until the government fulfills its part of the bargain. ASUU national leadership will receive reports from zonal coordinators, following state congresses. 

 After considering the reports, the leadership is expected to take a position and present it to the Federal Government. A source said some of the congresses voted to call off the strike; others did not. The source said the congresses agreed on the offers presented by the government to the union and with a timeframe to implement some of them. The source added: “All the reports will come in today (yesterday) and we can make a decision on it.” 

Last Friday, the Federal Government agreed with ASUU’s demand for payment of lecturers’ salaries from February to June through the old platform – the Government Integrated Financial and Management Information System. 

The government said the exemption of ASUU from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) was temporary pending when the university lecturers will complete the development of its payment platform – the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS). 

 After weeks of negotiations, the government offered to raise the EAA from N30billion to N35billion and the revitalization fund from N20billion to N25billion. Cumulatively, the government, through the Accountant-General of the Federation, offered the lecturers N65 billion to call off the strike. 

The government also shifted ground on some issues, including the insistence that all the academic staff of federal universities must be paid through the IPPIS platform. The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN ASUU Chairman, Prof Moyosore Ajao, said the chapter was in alignment with the national body. He said: “Our president will make a pronouncement on our resolution after our meeting tomorrow (today).” 

 A source at the ASUU UNILORIN meeting said the union resolved that “our salaries be paid and must henceforth not be stopped”. “We also resolved that ASUU is not and cannot be on IPPIS,” he added. Chairman of the University of Jos chapter of ASUU, Dr Lazarus Maigoro, said: “We are under a strict directive from the national body not to release our resolutions yet.” 

Sokoto Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Dr Jamilu Shehu, told our correspondent that the zones are expected to make their positions known at the Abuja meeting. 

 Source: The Nation Newspaper