My Allegiance Is To Students Alone And I Will Never Bow To External Forces: GISU PRO

 

By Presh

The inauguration and swearing in ceremony  of the students'  union Officers held 8th of March,2022 at Afrika Amphi Theatre. students came to express their joy and celebrate with the newly inaugurated officers of the Students' Union.

Speaking to ACJOAU correspondent, the  PRO of the union Comrade Ogunperi Taofeek Olalekan, Tao said, "I contested because i recognized the fact that there's a communication gap between the University authority and the students and one of his agenda bridge the gap between the students and the University authority" 

The PRO  further said that he's working on communication channel from traditional one to the new media, to ensure students get information, not only promptly but correctly.  He also promised to give out correct information to students no matter the pressure or external influence either from the management or any body that may surround it as he called himself an "image maker" and can never and will never yield to external factors as his allegiance is to students alone. 

Speaking on the issue of dissemination of fake news, he said, "as the spread of fake news cannot be prevented,the best thing to do is to have an official website that can be trusted by the students to give out not accurate but prompt information" 

He also assured the students that has interest in broadcast journalism as mass communication seems to be an approved course on campus now,that if there is going to be a need to form an alliance with the school's radio station (Great FM) to help students grow in that platform and build up their career, he as the PRO would make it happen.

Speaking on the Great Ife Students' Union social media handles, the PRO said, "if not for the unfortunate incident of October 1st 2020, "i had already planned on releasing official handles of the union and was waiting for this moment even while waiting i still tried to do something, and the official handles of the Union will be released in couples of hours"

Speaking further on how he planned to work with ACJOAU he said , " I think i am the closest officer to ACJ because i am the PRO and i am going to be  the chairman of the press committee which  means he will be talking to the Press much more than anybody else". As an independent body on Campus, ACJ comes in as a partner in progress and working together officially is for progress and not to politicize ACJ in the dissemination of information from the union to the students.

Lastly, there is the usual tradition of giving out information to the students on campus which is the physical means of going to different halls of residence, the PRO promised to use numerous platforms to disseminate accurate information including the physical means as students would tend to trust them more if the information were been given out physically other than the virtual means though he would use both the digital and domestic channels of reaching out to the students. "We can't sit in Sub and project information, i have been meaning to go out and give official and physical announcement"

I Want Them To Concentrate On The Welfare Of All Students And Not Some Personal Aggrandizement: OAU VC To Union Officers

By Red

Tuesday, 8th of March, 2022 is a day to be remembered amongst the students of Obafemi Awolowo University as the Students' Union Officers were finally  inaugurated and swore into office after six months of waiting.

It was a large ceremony held at the Afrika Amphitheater where students came to express their joy and celebrate with the newly inaugurated officers of the Students' Union.

Speaking to ACJOAU correspondent, the Vice-chancellor of the institution, Prof. Eyitope  Ogunbodede, with regards to the newly inaugurated Students Union. He expressed his delight over the event where he said, "this is the first time in the history of OAU where the SU election went smoothly without a petition".

Speaking further, he said "On our side as management, we have also tried to introduce some kind of leadership training in some of these things we are doing which we think can assist”. He mentioned that  Student Union is very different from what it used to be before, hence, people have to learn for the progress of the universities.

About the ASUU strike, the VC mentioned that the management was not happy about this plight, saying, "but we're happy that the students are still benefitting despite all the happenings”. 

Concerning the current division between lecturers in the  university, he said "when I entered this university, I knew exactly when I was going to graduate and I graduated the very time I was supposed to graduate, not a day later, and that is what I want for my students”

He made  mentioned of  his expectations for the current Student Union, saying, "what I expect from them is something that will be of benefit to all students, I want them to concentrate on the welfare of all students and not some personal aggrandizement or promoting themselves and things like that”

He expressed his thoughts warning the SU not to be very careful to avoid being sucked into the general political space in the country. He said, "this is Student Union and it's not based on political parties and they must see it that way”.

He had concluded the interview saying ”I have decided to come here because this is very important to me, so you have to prioritize... we are building the future and whatever you do can make or mar the progress and future of quite a number of students, so you're not just leading yourself, you're leading 30,000 students and whatever you do can either promote them or permanently damage them and this, to me, is very important and that is why we're all here”.

Throughout My Tenure, The Constitution Will Be Strictly Adhered To- Speaker SRC GISU

By Fayy

Six months after the Great ife Students' Union Election which Cut across the HEC, CEC, and SRC produce leader in every arms of the government. The long anticipated inauguration and swearing in of the Students' union Representatives held today at the Africa Amphitheatre and it remains a good news that the union has been reinstated officially and can now commence their duties.

Speaking to ACJOAU correspondents the Speaker of the SRC RT, Hon. Ajadi Toheeb speaks on how he feels about the swearing in and the things he wants to put in place as he assumes his office. 

In his words,he expressed his joy on having the union back in board "The inauguration is something we all have been waiting for. There are series of challenges our Union had experienced before now and thank God we had our inauguration today and now union is back" 

Speaking on how he intends to keep the executive arm in check, he said "of course, the speaker of the house is the custodian of the Great Ife students' union sacrosanct Constitution and it is my responsibility to ensure that all SU officers discharge their duties in accordance with the Constitution"

Speaking further, on how he would handle the case of an honorable that is defaulting and what sanctions would be placed on such honorable. He said "My responsibility is to ensure that any activity the union will engage in will be in line will the provision of the Constitution"

The speaker reiterated that , throughout his time in office, he would ensure that the Constitution is strictly adhered to and no action would be taken outside the Constitution.

Breaking: OAU Postpones Matriculation Till Further Notice

The obafemi Awolowo University has postponed the 2021/2022 Matriculation ceremony which was earlier scheduled for Wednesday 9th March, 2022 until further notice. 

In a release made available to OAU Peeps News Agency by the University Spokesman Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju confirms that the matriculation has postponed and students are hereby advised to continue attending their lectures and other academics activities. 

The Statement reads thus: 

The authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, have postponed the 2021/2022 Matriculation ceremony,  earlier scheduled for Wednesday, 9th March, 2022, until further notice.

A release by the Director, Academic Affairs, Mr. Murtala Agbaje, and made available by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the new day and date will be communicated to the general public, especially to those concerned in due course.

The University Management has decided to postpone the Matriculation ceremony in the interest all.  We, therefore, apologise for any inconvenience  this postponement might have caused.

Students are, hereby, advised to continue attending their lectures and other academic activities.

The Transportation Dilemma On Campus: Who Is To Be Blamed?

By Gem

The hike in transportation prices around the OAU community has become a sore topic for all students of this great institution, especially for the large percentage of the student populace that stays off campus.

Even when the prices of transportation were not this high, students were struggling to pay the transportation prices. After the increase in hostel prices off campus, it seems the spirit of extortion has spread from hostel owners to the motorcyclists and bus drivers.

They do not understand the basic fact that we are students, and a large number of these students do not have the financial means to meet up to these excessive prices. Speaking with some of these motorcyclists and bus drivers, they are not even remotely apologetic, showing that they have little to no care about the students and our well-being.

They need to understand the fact that most students are still receiving money from their parents and there are self-sponsors as well. The little pocket money received from parents is still used to pay the outrageous transport fare. Taking a look at a student who stays in Mayfair, after paying huge money for rent, will still have to pay #200 to go to campus everyday, #1000 if he goes to school five days a week and that's #5000 a month. Let's assume he was sent #10000 every month, so HALF of his monthly allowance will go to transport fare every month and it might even be more than that. How do you expect such a person to feed? And we are crying that the number of yahoo boys on campus is increasing daily. For those staying in areas like Damico or Modomo where you almost always have to get a motorcycle to carry you to campus gate, the price is even more!

Not every student is from a rich home, and even if we are, are we expected to be spending money anyhow? This issue is making most students to start looking for accommodation on campus which is not provided since the spaces in hostels of residence are not enough. 

The Union of motorcyclists and bus drivers will be ready to say that the hike in price is as a result of increase in fuel price and scarcity as well. Looking at it, if we decide to calculate all the profits they will make if they don't increase transportation price and increase only the number of passengers, it will cover up for the hike in fuel price. But now, they increased the transportation fare and they still carry 4 passengers per seat which is not fair AT ALL! Most students have decided to start stabbing some classes due to increase in transportation price. What consequences does this pose to the students' academics in general? 

Ife should be a student community, but it often feels like it is an area where the locals try as hard as they can to extort students and make them feel as uncomfortable as possible. 

Whose fault is it now, the transporters or the school who fail to provide enough accommodation? Or do we go all the way up the ladder and blame the President of our great country Nigeria? I mean, if there was no fuel scarcity, then the prices might not have been increased. But knowing how Ife bus drivers and motorcyclists work, it was only a matter of time before all these prices were increased. Is it not just last year that the price of bus movement from campus gate to campus was increased to #50. How much longer before we have to start paying double that?

It is with a heavy heart that I write this article because I am witnessing the plight of so many students. This excessive milking of OAU students for theirs and their parents’ hard-earned money needs to stop! 

To all whom it may concern!

Driver Who Assaulted A Student Banned From OAU Campus For Two Weeks

Following the  assault of a student from the department of Quantity Survey, the driver with the plate number DTN 869 XA (OSUN) has been banned from working on OAU campus for the next two weeks. 

Recall it was earlier reported by OAU Peeps News Agency that a driver assaulted a student on Wednesday, 2 March 2022 and the Great Ife Students' Union has made it known that tougher approach will be used to make sure that the driver is punished. 

In a Press Statement made available from the office of the PRO-Elect, Comrade Ogunperi Taofeek Olalekan, Tao has made it known that the driver has been banned from OAU Campus for two weeks, paid a sum of ten thousand naira for medical bills of the assaulted student and also write a letter of apology to the student which include the avowal that he will never perpetuate such socially unacceptable behavior again. 

The Union however commend the security department of the Union and the Leadership of the driver's association for their cooperation in ensuring that the assailant driver was brought to book. 

Union members are however encouraged to always draw the attention of the Union to any issue which may undermine their welfare and safety and were assured that their welfare and safety are paramount interest of the Union and the Union shall always do its best at ensuring them.   

Between FASA and SATIRE, Who Won?

 By Ajibade Abdullah Adewale

Over the last few months, silence has been a dominating feature of the Faculty of Arts Students’ Association even when the association doesn’t have an administration and also amidst corruption allegations.

However, their consciousness has resurrected after a few lines of satirical paragraph directed to the leader (s) of a faction (s) in the association went viral.

To begin with, some students who found it complicated to decipher the satirical part of the story which has generated this uncontrollable uproar has only proven the widespread claim that the association only boast of orientation but is not oriented. And any student who writes to counter the above will do a favour of “further acknowledgement”.

With the uproar that the article garnered, it is easy to deduce that FASAites have a lot to unveil, the rationale behind their silence remains blurry. How will students of one of the acclaimed politically oriented associations be silent when their voices need to be heard?

Daily, FASAites have always demanded accountability in silence. They murmur the mismanagement of the administration of that time (2019/2020) while they continually cannot have their voice heard. “For how long will FASAites remain mute and watch as the association deteriorates?” This question birthed the SATIRE.

 

The Faculty of Arts Student Association will only need to prove its status subsequently for a few lines paragraphs of SATIRE has revealed how fragile her mightiness has become.

To the “pro-corruption faction” who celebrated the innocence of their leader, it is high time they revisit the definition of SATIRE. To the “anti-corruption” faction who understood the SATIRE, this is a win for the progress of FASA.

On this note, like Muhammad Ali, SATIRE has stung the face of FASA. Make-up or bleaching oil can not garnish this face again, except there is an instantaneous change.

SATIRE WON!