President Muhammadu Buhari Reconstitutes Governing Councils of OAU, 4 Other Federal Universities

By Hassan Pelumi

President Muhammadu Buhari  has dissolved and reconstituted new governing councils for Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife and 4 different universities in Nigeria. University of Ibadan (UI), University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), University of  Lagos (UNILAG), and Maritime University in Delta are the universities affected. The approval of the dissolution was contained in a statement by Mr Sonny Echono, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Thursday 8th of April 2021. 

Here is a list of the new council of the universities:

 

Chief Odigie Oyegun, Chairman; Mr Masud Kazaure, Abba Yaro, Alhaji Abubakar Maikafi and Mr Emeka Nwagbo are listed members of the new council of UI.

“For  UNIPORT, the governing council members are Sen. Andrew Uchendu as Chairman while Mr Kolo Uzamat, Cdre. D. T. Hinga, Mohammed Makarfi and Ahmed Al-Mustapha are members.

“...For UNILAG, we have Dr Lanre Tejuosho as Chairman,  with  Dr Aminu Ahmed, Dr Uro Gardner, Chief Chinedu Adindi and Mr Mustafa Salihu as members.”

“...also, OAU  has Chief Oscar Udoji as Chairman with Capt. Bala Jibrin, Mr Eugene Odo, Dr Lateef Babata and Alhaji Saidu Bako as members.”

“The Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Delta has Dr Elias Courson as Chairman and  Mr Nelson Alapa, Mr Victor Giadono, Alhaji Bello Dukku and Mr Godwin Ananghe as members,” he stated.

The permanent secretary also stated that all the governing councils of the five universities would be inaugurated in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, on April 19. However, he directed Vice-Chancellors of the affected universities to attend the inauguration ceremony.

Source: Premium Times 

 

OAU Staff Commits Suicide

By Olukanmi Abidemi Abeeb ÀBÍMÓ 

It has been reported that an OAU staff committed suicide. One of the staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, community identified as Fisayo Oyeniyi, hung himself in his residence after sending suicide text to his mother, wife and children on the 25th of March 2021.

Our correspondent gathered that Oyeniyi was one of the armed guards in the security department. He left his working place for his house around Kanmi bus stop, at Ifewara road, Ile-Ife to commit suicide.

Oyeniyi sent text messages to his mother, wife and his two children informing them that he was not interested in living again.

According to a source in the area, “the incident happened around noon. I saw people rushing to his apartment to get to see for themselves to be sure of what Mr. Oyeniyi has done to himself.

We saw where he hung himself, dangling on the rope inside. He has been buried. This is so sad.”

Another source said, he committed suicide after two hours that he sent the suicide text to his family

Pandemonium among OAU Aspirants Concerning the Online Post-UTME Screening

By Ganiyu Ayanniyi M.

Some days ago, the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife shifted its Post-utme screening to online test to start on 15th March to 19th March 2021. This online screening for aspirants appears to be the first of its kind in the history of the great school. 

Even so, as the D-day draw nearer, aspirants are still  tensed. There seem to be many unanswered questions; How will the questions be answered? What if network delays? What if data gets exhausted during test? What if electricity fails? Won’t they postpone the screening process again? Why can’t they do the exams as stated in the previous directives since COVID-19 as reduced in positive cases but strengthen in recoveries?

Nevertheless, the school through its Post-UTME Screening Committee, released guidelines, recommendation and contact info in case anyone of them needs help. The information given for aspirants says:  

1. Candidates are advised to have a RELIABLE INTERNET CONNECTION before attempting the online

screening.

2. Candidates will be required to attempt the screening with a webcam and microphone enabled 

device. 

3. Candidates should not cover their webcams during the period of the screening. INABILITY TO SEE

the candidate at any time during the screening may result in disqualification.

4. DO NOT USE MOBILE PHONES for the screening.

5. During the screening, you are not permitted to leave your sitting position. 

6. In the course of the screening, do not open another tab or any other application. 

7. An online calculator will be available on-screen.

8. The duration of the screening is 60minutes. The time starts to count when you click the start button.

9. In the event that your time lapses, your responses will automatically be submitted.

10. Nobody is permitted to be around you during the period of the screening. 

11. Candidate’s face must be visible throughout the duration of the screening.

12. Candidates must comport themselves accordingly.

13. No form of breaks will be allowed during the period of the screening e.g. access to food, toilet 

breaks, etc. 

14. Your activities during the period of the screening will be MONITORED AND RECORDED.

15. Violation of any of these instructions will lead to DISQUALIFICATION.

Recommended Computer Hardware and Software:

a. Candidates are required to use a smart computing device that has functional Webcam, Microphone and 

Speaker. 

b. Microsoft Windows 10 + activated ANTI-VIRUS or its equivalent (MacOS, Android) is recommended.

c. The following WEB browsers are recommended: Google Chrome (86), Mozilla Firefox (84) or later

versions.

For assistance before and during the screening, please contact the following numbers 

08159465607, 08113930151 or email: postutme@oauife.edu.ng

OAU Reopens Campus Halls of Residence

By Pelumi Hassan

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University has authorized the reopening of halls of residence for students. 

Following the release that the school will resume physically practical contents of some course, the halls of residence will be opened to students who had bed spaces before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

However, only students who have been grouped to resume would be allowed into the halls of residence. 

In a telephone conversation with the Dean of Students Affairs; Prof. Aransi, he revealed that the resumption is in phases to prevent students from violating the COVID-19 safety protocols.

“All students are not allowed to resume. Students are to resume as scheduled in the circular.”

Thus, these are the students that are expected to be on campus from Monday, 8th of March,2021 to Friday, 26th of March, 2021;

1. Science - Parts 1 to 4

2. Pharmacy - Parts 1 to 4

3. BMS Parts 1 to 2 Nursing and 1 to 3 Med. Rehab

4. Clinical - Parts 1 to 3

5. Dentistry - Parts 1 to 3

6. Education - Only students  offering the following courses:

(i) IED337-Experimental Chemistry for Secondary School Teachers I 

(ii) IED435- Experimental Physics for Secondary School Teachers II

(iii). IED231-Foundations in Biological Science I

(iv). IED335 -General Biology I       

7. Social Sciences - Only students offering the following courses:

(i) CSC201 - Introduction to programming.

(ii) CSC221 - Computer Appreciation

 

Note that the reason for this method is to manage and contain the spread of the second wave of COVID-19. 

OAU Physical Resumption Explained

By Pelumi Hassan

Obafemi Awolowo University has released dates for physical resumption of students. On Saturday, 6th Day of March, 2021, the school management circulated a special release that students in some faculties are to resume physically for the practical contents of their courses from Monday, 8th of March,2021 to Friday, 26th of March, 2021. 

The resumption have been divided into two groups. The first group will resume on Monday, 8th of March,2021 to Friday, 26th of March, 2021, while the second group will resume on Monday, 29th of March, 2021 to Friday, 16th of April, 2021. 

To shed more light on the issue, another circular has been released and it contains the following information;

“The First Group of students expected on campus from Monday, 8th of March,2021 to Friday, 26th of March, 2021 for the PRACTICAL CONTENTS of their COURSES, are as follows:

1. Science - Parts 1 to 4

2. Pharmacy - Parts 1 to 4

3. BMS Parts 1 to 2 Nursing and 1 to 3 Med. Rehab

4. Clinical - Parts 1 to 3

5. Dentistry - Parts 1 to 3

6. Education - Only students  offering the following courses:

(i) IED337-Experimental Chemistry for Secondary School Teachers I 

(ii) IED435- Experimental Physics for Secondary School Teachers II

(iii). IED231-Foundations in Biological Science I

(iv). IED335 -General Biology I       

7. Social Sciences - Only students offering the following courses:

(i) CSC201 - Introduction to programming.

(ii) CSC221 - Computer Appreciation

All the students concerned in relation to the above are to COMPLY WITH COVID-19 PROTOCOLS. 

Meanwhile, students who are not  within these categories are not expected on campus neither will they be allowed into campus.

Abiodun Olarewaju,

Public Relations Officer,

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.”

Again, OAU Peeps wishes students happy physical resumption. 

OAU Post UTME Exercise Changes to Online Version

By Abidemi Olukanmi Abeeb ÀBÍMÓ

Today 25th of February two days to 2020 post utme examinations, the university has made a sudden announcement about the commencement of the examinations

After  a careful review of recent happenings within and outside Ile-Ife, the management has decided to change the mode of conduct of this year\"s Post UTME exercise to ONLINE VERSION. Kindly check back for further information on the new dates.

Best of luck to all Aspirant in the new mode.

OAU Virtual Classes: A Flop or Success?

 

By G.A.M.

 

It’s been almost a month since the students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife resumed school. The plan to start virtual classes and physical classes has been effective ever since and there have been a lot of reactions from the students.  

According to a popular & revolutionary musician, FelaAnikulapo-Kuti, says "My people are suffering and smiling". That quote is the actual situation for all these students who do not know what to do about the adopted system of learning due to pandemic. In the bid for education, 

It is necessary to note that, via the academic calendar, the school is into its third week of online and offline (for Clinical, Pharmacy part 5 & Agric part 4 students) lectures. Many students are yet to receive lectures despite being stocked with assignments, notes or materials. Some students are still battling with registration of courses on Google Classroom because theyissues with the students\" mails. 

Everyone seems to have a complaint or the other about this learning approach. Even lecturers are tired of running from one office to the other to get the ill-functioning emails resolved. Some special electives do not also have code for students to enroll on the official platform. All these issues are making the school community wonder if the virtual learning is really worth the stress. There have been a lot of rambling and reaction against the virtual learning. The virtual learning has been said to have brought a lot of stress to the school community.

In short, based on different interviews held, students wish that the school management should allow physical resumption in batches with strict compliance to COVID-19 guidelines. And that, even if there\"s going to be need for online classes, it should not be in a hunting or pressuring manner. According to Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, Covid-19 infection cases reduce daily and recoveries get higher in Nigeria. So, will OAU listen to the frustration of students and start physical classes like how some schools are attending classes physically in adherence to the required protocols?

The school community has their fingers crossed as they wait for a response from the school management soon.