OAU Fixes New Date For Matriculation

By Ewaoluwa Adediji

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, has announced a new the matriculation date for the matriculation which was earlier postponed till further notice.

Recall it was earlier by OAU Peeps News Agency that the Matriculation which was to hold scheduled to hold on 9th March 2022 was postponed indefinitely. 

However, in a Press Statement made available to OAU Peeps News Agency stated that the Matriculation is now scheduled to take place on Monday,14th March,2022 between 2PM and 6PM.

Matriculating students are advised to collect their academic gowns at their faculty Secretariat and check for when they're are scheduled for their Matriculation.

Full Text Of Inaugural Speech By OAU Student's Union President, Olayiwola Folahan Festus

SPEECH DELIVERED BY OLAYIWOLA FOLAHAN FESTUS “REFORM”, THE PRESIDENT, STUDENTS’ UNION, OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, AT THE INUAGURATION/SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF THE ELECTED STUDENTS’ UNION OFFICERS ON TUESDAY, 8 MARCH 2022, AT AMPHITHEATRE, OAU, ILE-IFE

The Visitor, the Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, the Dean of Division of Student Affairs, all other principal officers of the University, guests, academic and non-academic staff unions, groups, the press, ever conscious, vigilante and progressive Great Ife students; all protocols duly observed.

I want to thank Almighty God for making this day a reality. There are countless reasons for my thanksgiving but I want to state two out of them. For one, thanking God for this day is informed by certain occurrences in the past six months which have made it seem as though today would never come. Another reason is that, ladies and gentlemen, it is exactly 5 years and 2 days since the previous President of Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University delivered his inaugural speech. My wish, hope and prayer is that may we continue to witness a day like this every session.

There is no doubt that today will go down in the history of the Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University (Great Ife Students’ Union) as, so far, the end of the longest of beginnings in the Students’ Union. Beyond the popular and the unpopular stories and heresies of the past six months, the most important thing is to reclaim and sustain the values and philosophies that bespeak us as IFE (Intellectual Fighters for Emancipation), the culture that makes us an enviable academic lineage of honorable men and women within and outside Nigeria.

The mantle of leadership that I and other officers of the Union officially take up today is a generational assignment, a major yet microcosmic instance of leadership from which the over 30 000 students of this University have impatiently and laboriously waited to benefit from. I daresay that the impatience is true, by extension, for all other Nigerian students and Nigerians who directly or indirectly benefit from our Union’s valiant pursuit of a better and open society. The uneasy wait is over.

In his essential work, The Wretched of the Earth, renowned political philosopher, Frantz Omar Fanon, wrote: “Each generation, must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it”. The underlying message of this quote makes me wakeful. It has made me ask myself several questions. I ask myself, what this generation that I belong to is. I ask myself what our mission is and if we have discovered it. I ask myself if we are fulfilling it or betraying it.

My endless but critical ruminations and observations have not failed to provide me results. I am convinced that this generation is a generation of game changers, innovators, exemplary leaders; men and women who will leave indelible marks on the sands of time. But these are not the only attributes of this generation. This generation is, in spite of its wealth of creativity and brilliance, a generation of youths who are challenged on all spheres of life. This generation is one that is laboriously growing in an atmosphere toxically charged with economic, political, religious, ethnic tensions.

Without mincing words, the mission of this generation is not undiscovered. The mission of this generation is to primarily wean itself off the challenges that confront it. The secondary assignment of this generation is to become the genesis of a better society and a beacon of hope for those coming after it. However, none of these can happen without education. As Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

Ladies and gentlemen, obviously, this generation has not fulfilled its mission. Yet, it cannot be said that this generation has failed its mission. The fulfillment or the failure of the mission of this generation is going to be a product of our collective efforts, including that of the older generation. But, I must say, that by virtue of the trust that the students of this University reposed in me and other Students’ Union officers in the widely adjudged freest and fairest OAU Students’ Union elections held in August and September 2021 (over six months ago), the students of this University have done one important part of the job of fulfilling the mission. While the cooperation of Union members will be needed at every point in this journey, the bulk of work lies with us the elected Students’ Union officers and the authorities of this University. And it is on this note that I will go into explicating some of the problems that I and my team have noted and owe the students of this University the solving of them:

STUDENT WELFARE

A minister and renowned author, Myles Munroe, in his seminal book, In Pursuit of Purpose, said: “When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable”. I want to state it here clearly for those who are here now and those whom history will extend my words, that one of the major purposes of any union is to, where lacking, retrieve the welfare of its members, sustain and improve it. The Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo recognizes student welfare as its purpose and for the said purpose, it shall stand intolerant of any abuse of power or resources that undermine the welfare of students.

When the welfare of students on OAU campus is discussed, certain issues come to mind more easily:

A. Transportation:

One of the major challenges we encounter on OAU campus is transportation problem. The transporters have at different times taken the advantage of the absence of Students’ Union to extort and exploit students with indiscriminate hike of fares. It is rudely surprising that many of them have still not come to term with the reinstatement of the Students’ Union and the powers it has to kick against all hike, extortion, and all other inconveniences they put students in. Some of them now have the effrontery to even go as far as harassing and assaulting students. It is time these issues stopped.

Solving the transportation problems is not by quick fixes. One of the best ways to address this issue is for the university to release all Students’ Union busses that are in their possession to us. We will run an independent Students’ Union transport system with lesser transport prices, especially when students are unceremoniously left stranded by transporters as some of them did on February 23 this year. Of course, my team and I are open to more ways of resolving the problems.

The current transportation issues on campus have prompted us come up with reasonable but temporary prices per destination on campus. We currently have enforcement teams in place to check anyone who violates the price list. These teams will work with all relevant authorities within the Students’ Union and the University at large. I am confident that with all our efforts harnessed at solving the transportation problems, we shall overcome.

B. Academic Welfare:

The primary goal of students of OAU is to graduate in flying colours. However, this is fast becoming nearly impossible for so many students. It is not often that students do not want to excel, it is that the system frustrates their efforts. There have been several reports of laboratories in bad condition, victimization, compromised tests, late release of results, and lecture theatres unconducive to learning, to mention but some of the problems. The internal and external strikes continue to be academic impediments for students. It is no wonder that our university that used to top rankings before now struggles to rank closer to some Nigerian and foreign universities it used to outclass.

The Students’ Union will optimally use its academic committee to cater for students’ academic welfare. The committee shall focus on taking active roles in bettering the academic welfare of students. The Students’ Union will be taking preventive and corrective measures to address the issues. Bound by the Code of Conduct of the University and other legal internal and external instruments, the Union, through its officers, fixes its eagle eyes on all persons concerned, from teaching to testing to grading and releasing of results, to ensure a better academic welfare for students.

C. Health Centre

The health centre delivery is not satisfactorily enough. The Students’ Union, in a bid to take active part in upping the healthcare system, shall establish the Students’ Union Health Committee. This committee is meant to work with the health center and other relevant authorities to receive complaints from students, amongst others. The Union will, in resolving any issue, explore all options. The Union expects openness, regards and a high level of responsibility from health workers. Health is wealth, they say; let us collectively not waste this irreplaceable blessing. There shall be no tolerance for anything contrary. 

D. Buttery

It is now commonplace on OAU campus that some butteries extort students by selling commodities at high prices compared to what is obtainable at market. We have challenged some of them in the past and we will not relent in our effort to compel them to sell at even prices. The Welfare Director, whose office shall be actively involved in all issues earlier raised, shall also gallantly lead the efforts here. A committee that he heads will enforce the union regulated prices and address matters arising from the butteries.

E. Accommodation

Getting a comfortable accommodation is one of the most difficult challenges that students face. Students have been exposed to many problems, in their efforts to secure accommodation, especially off campus. There are numerous issues of extortion, harassment, insecurity, theft, all because students are looking for comfortable places to stay. The Students’ Union will not fold its arms while Union members suffer in the hands of agents and landlords.

Just recently, the Students’ Union lost another of its members – Heritage Ajibola. Heritage fell into a septic tank at her hostel, Bvers Suites. The accident which claimed her life was preventable but, with what has been discovered, the Management of the Suites were lacking in properly maintaining a safe environment. For Heritage Ajibola, justice must be done!

The Students’ Union has noted that it is imperative to wade in on issues of welfare of students not only campus but also off campus. There are many extortionist landlords and agents around. The Union will take adequate measures to check them. Anyone that fails to yield to our consultative and consolidating efforts is choosing our confrontation.

SECURITY

For over two decades, OAU holds the record of having a cultism-free campus; this record must not be allowed to break. This is a legacy we enjoy on OAU campus today, thanks to our comrades past. This must be religiously protected for the succeeding generations to benefit from. We implore the Security Department of this University to not relent in its efforts. Beyond and around OAU campus, it is public knowledge that safety of lives and properties is gravitating towards being an unaffordable commodity.

The Security Committee of the Students’ Union, under my watch, shall vigilantly work to keep our dear campus even safer for students. It is indeed worrisome that we continue to record cases of stolen phones, laptop and other gadgets. Theft is now rampant on campus. The Security Committee will ensure that, if not eliminated, the crimes will be fought to a logical end.

As a union, in matters of security, ours is a long list of partners to work with. Our first partnership remains with the members of our union whose sense of collective responsibility and personal vigilance will assist the union in discharging its duties. We shall work with Nigeria Police Force, Director of State Security and other sister agencies to tackle all security issues within and also, very importantly, off campus.

I must not forget to mention that Mr Adegoke Timothy’s death is a tragedy that the Union cannot get over without seeing done for him. The Students’ Union is keenly watching the process of getting justice for the late gentleman. Our stand remains the same: anyone responsible for the death of Mr Timothy Adegoke must face the wrath of the law.

A. Zero Tolerance To Cultism

OAU as an anti-cultist institution is not an accident. Some of our past heroes paid the supreme price that make us enjoy peace and tranquility on campus. The memories of July 10 1999 Massacre continues to linger on. The gruesome killing of the then Secretary-General of the Union and four other Union members has become an unintended and hurtful sacrifice that our community paid men and women of the underworld. We cannot afford to see them invade our campus again.

It is the fact that we do not have to fear that there some unwanted elements lurking in the dark that all of us, men and women, can traverse this beautiful campus at any time of the day and night. Hardly is there any other higher institution of learning that shares this glory with Great Ife. We must see it as the duty of our lives to keep is a cultism-free campus.

It is not that cult-like activities have not been discovered over the years; it is that such activities have always been repelled. I want to say here, Great Ife, Articulate Ife; that Great Ife remains Great Ife; there shall be no entertaining cultism in my time. Anyone here or elsewhere who nurtures such thoughts as championing cultism on OAU campus should discard such thoughts. You cannot stand the wrath of Ife.

B. Assault And Sexual Harassment

The motto of our University proclaims it as a place of learning and culture. It is highly condemnable that anyone would engage in such socially unacceptable behaviors as assault and sexual harassment in our campus. In this intellectual space we all occupy, no one must introduce hooliganism under any pretext. The Union condemns at all criminal activities, including assault and sexual harassment. It is great that the University has an Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy in place but even greater is to see the full enforcement of the policy at all times.

Greatest Ife, Articulate Ife, let us be reminded that Great Ife students do not engage in physical combat. We are IFE - Intellectual Fighters for Emancipation. From experience, most of the students experience physical attack from transporters and menial workers on campus. To those who have taken physical assault and bullying as their hobby, we say to you today, “Time up!”. And if you do not listen now and you continue in the act, our piece of aluta all oppression for you is coming to discipline you and give you the Great Ife senses.

Before I round up, I will like to wish all women here and all over the world a Happy International Women's Day. Indeed women are phenomenal. The elders say “obinrin ni iyo aye” – women are the salt of the world. This saying is a pointer to the essence and importance of women. May the world be kinder to women.

CONCLUSION

My aim is to protect all the students and defend our constitutional right as enshrined in the Great Ife Students’ Union constitution and University code of conduct. I will stand for and uphold at all times the principle of rule of law and also display all levels of transparency and accountability which is the bedrock of democratic Unionism. I will offer leadership driven by empathy and capacity, strength and sagacity, faith, hope and confidence. I will not be indifferent or turn a blind eye to real concerns of Great Ife students.

For me, the union we deserve is one that will be a source of pride to all Great Ife Students, one that will be respected and admired in other Universities across Nigeria, Africa and the world. It should be a union that can hold its own and stand tall anywhere in the world.

Reform is for Progress

Reform is for Development

Reform is for Reformation

I therefore ask you to join hands with me in this noble cause of reforming the Great Ife Students’ Union.

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!