OAU Peeps News Agency Named Among Top 50 OAU Campus Sharpers

Indigenous campus news portal, OAU Peeps News Agency has just been named alongside some other persons and groups as those that shaped Obafemi Awolowo University the most in 2017. This year's edition is the third from the organizers, Chero Vibez.

The recognition which was announced some hours to the end of 2017 added to the list of popular awards and recognition the news agency has bagged in recent times.Notably, in November 2017, OAU Peeps News Agency was named the Best Nigerian Varsity Editorial by the Nigerian Universities Merit Awards. Prior to that time, the Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ) and House of Trends Incorporated (OAU Awards) named OAU Peeps News Agency as the year's Best News Agency, in separate Awards.


Here is the full list of Chero Biz' 50 Outstanding People who shaped OAU in 2017:

(1) Sage - Man of the Year
(2) House of Trends Incorporated (HOTINC)
(3) MC Timi Agbaje
(4) Ekpa stanley
(5) The Vibez promotions
(6) Timanzeh
(7) Theholu
(8) Valentine
(9) Modupe
(10) 78A Media
(11) OAU Blog
(12) Life of OAUstudents
(13) OAU Trends
(14) Rhozario
(15) Yhemi Eleso
(16) TalkwithTola
(17) Smartbrains NG
(18) Fattkay
(19) Adejumo kabir
(20) Lexie Armani
(21) Shank Comics
(22) Alaska (The vibes collections)
(23) KingHaybee (Haybeeclassic)
(24) Pigeon Post
(25) LammieBells
(26) Dockthor
(27) OAU zone
(28) GiveItToTayo
(29) OAU Peeps News Agency
(30) Lume Drinks
(31) Mc Smith
(32) CBEE
(33) Imas4to9ja
(34) Foodie
(35) LA makeovers
(36) Zaman
(37) John The Raper
(38) Bihigdrimez (HOUSE OF BIHIG)
(39) Xpecial (HAPPEN NIGERIA)
(40) OG Studios
(41) SAMDAM Entertainment
(42) Ewa Agoyin
(43) Badman Beats (Producer)
(44) The Merije
(45) Idiol Nupo Collections
(46) Luminux Dance Factory
(47) Humans of OAU
(48) Zibes drinks
(49) Disturbing IG (DIG)
(50) Ayomide Photography

Happy New Year!

It is with great delight and joy that we welcome you; our dear readers and friends to the year 2018. Indeed, if not for anything else, we appreciate the most supreme for the gift of life without which hope dies. 2017 was a colourful year for us at OAU Peeps, like the few others before it; it was a year of growth and development. And of course, these processes we plan to continue even at an exponential rate in this year for perhaps the day growth stops is the day we begin to die. 

We pray and hope that you find your heart desires this year and in all, 2018 holds for you pleasurable experiences.

From all of us at OAU Peeps, we say Happy New Year!

Have a Prosperous 2018.

‘Joba Ojelabi

For the OAU Peeps Team

"No Change In Resumption Date " - OAU Public Relations Officer

By Farombi Oluwaseun

With few days left to the proposed resumption date of academic activities in Obafemi Awolowo University, the university management has resolved that resumption holds as earlier scheduled despite the consistent agitation by the NASU, SSANU, and NAAT union members on campus.

Speaking with OAU Peeps News Agency , the University Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju stated that there is no change in resumption date. He further added that academic activities will commence immediately students resume.

Reacting to questions from OAU Peeps News Agency, the University Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof. I.A Aransi affirmed that the resumption date remains 2nd January and cannot be altered.   " The End of the year break has been terminated,students should resume",He further added.

When asked as to whether the university management has already found  a way to circumvent  the effect of the ongoing Joint Non-Teaching Staff protest , Prof. Aransi said the students should leave that for the management to handle.

Also, while speaking with our correspondent,the OAU NASU Chairman, Comrade Odewunmi  said the Union doesn't recognize the resumption date. In his words "we were not involved when students students were given break, We don't know anything about the resumption ".
He further added that he cannot advice students to either resume or not as they do not have any issue with the school management but the Federal government. "" The indefinite strike still continues,but if students resume, we will try our best to see that the academic environment is conducive for them but we cannot guarantee that as we are working with the order from Abuja"", he further stated.

It will be recalled that the Senate of the University declared  an " End Of The Year Break" to students on December 5,2017 as a result of the unpalatable occurrences occasioned by the infefinite strike action of the Obafemi Awolowo University branch of the Non - Teaching Staff, which comprises  Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT),against the Federal Government over an alleged disparity in the disbursement of Earned allowance to all the staff unions in Nigerian Universities.

Consequently, the students are expected to resume on Tuesday, 2nd January, while lectures commence on Wednesday, 3rd January, 2018.

However, as the time of filing this report, water supply has been restored to Halls of residence though in dark as electricity has not been restored including the academics environment of the university.

YALI RLC West Africa Emerging Leaders Program 2018 (Onsite Ghana and Nigeria)

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) was launched by the United States Government, to train the next generation of African Leaders who will shape the future of African business and entrepreneurship, civil society leadership, and public sector management.

The YALI Regional Leadership Centre (RLC) West Africa, Accra, offers you an innovative and game changing Online Emerging Leaders training program in the following courses:

Business and Entrepreneurship
Civil Society Leadership
Public Sector Management

The program is hosted by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

Eligibility
Between the ages of 18 and 35
From the countries below:
Nigeria
Ghana
You must be able to read and write in English

You must have a valid ID (passport if you are outside Ghana)

Outstanding leadership training through global collaboration – The YALI RLC West Africa exceptional Emerging Leaders Online Program is created through the collaboration of leading universities and partners – ensuring that innovative, high quality and peer-reviewed courses can help you become a real Leader.

Application Deadline
19 January 2018

Apply Now for the YALI RLC West Africa Emerging Leaders Program 2018 – Onsite Ghana and Nigeria

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the YALI RLC West Africa Emerging Leaders Program 2018

Commonwealth Foundation Internship 2018 At Commonwealth Writers, London

Background
Commonwealth Writers aims to strengthen civic voice and shape public discourse through creative expression by less heard voices.

Commonwealth Writers is a cultural programme within the Commonwealth Foundation. The Foundation is an international organisation established by Heads of Government in support of the belief that the Commonwealth is as much an association of peoples as it is of governments. It is the Commonwealth agency for civil society; a unique, stand-alone organisation established by, funded and reporting to governments.

The role
We are looking for an Intern to work in the exciting arena of Commonwealth Writers. The internship will be London based and support activities of the programme, in particular the two websites, www.commonwealthwriters.org and www.addastories.org, and various projects including the Commonwealth Short Story Prize and craft development initiatives.

The person
The individual should have strong writing skills, research ability and experience, experience of working with websites and various social media tools, ability to meet tight deadlines, Microsoft Office knowledge and good administration skills.

Closing Date:
Friday 26 January 2018, midday (UK time)

Interviews:
Week of 12 February 2018

Allowance & Duration:
£50 per day allowance
6 to 12 months duration
As an internship this does not constitute employment with the Foundation. There are no payments for holiday or sickness.

Continue to application

Non- Academic Staff Strike Not Ending Soon – SSANU

The Non-teaching staff of Nigerian Universities; NASU, SSANU and NAAT under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee JAC said they will not call off the strike unless the Federal Government answer to their demands.

Speaking on behalf of the three unions, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) spokesman, A.O Salaam said the workers are unhappy with the strike itself but were left with no other choice. Salaam said this in an interview with Journalists.

“I hate to sound negative because our honest desire is that the matter is resolved soon and we all resume to our various duty posts. As far as we are concerned, it is not in anybody’s interests that we stay away from work. However, if we are left with no choice, what do we do?”

In a lengthy discussion , he blamed the Federal Government for the strike. He said the Government have shown little or no concern in the matter and as it is the strike is not going to end soon.

In his words, “the bane of the crisis rocking the university system is insincerity and lack of commitment on the part of government. So if you ask me, I don’t see this strike ending very soon. Unfortunately!”

When quizzed about the rumours that the Earned Academic Allowance was meant to be for the Academic Staff alone he said, “the three Non-teaching unions negotiated Earned Allowances with the Federal Government in 2009. As far as we are concerned, there is nothing called Earned Academic Allowances because that’s not what was negotiated.

“There may be a group that is demanding Earned Academic Allowances but if we are to look at it dispassionately and from an enlightened perspective, the term Earned Allowance is more generic and cuts across the academic and non- teaching sectors.

“Unfortunately, the inclusion of the word academic, was intended to cause confusion and to create tensions and I think that agenda has succeeded.”

Also speaking on the meeting the Union leaders held with the Federal Government on December 19, he said the Government acknowledged the problems but did not proffer any solution, so the meeting was fruitless.

He however emphasized that the three unions are always ready to meet with the Government to proffer a lasting solution to the problems.

“We are not the ones to call a meeting. It’s their responsibility to invite us for meetings. When they do, we will attend. NAAT, NASU and SSANU, as responsible unions, will not shy away from any engagement or dialogue that will bring the conflict to an end.

“We will always make ourselves available but the onus lies with government. The earlier we are able to resolve the issues, the better for everybody.”

Source

OAU Break: Ile-Ife Traders Decry Poor Sales, Blame Government on Fuel Hike

By Uthman Samad

Few weeks ago, the students of the Obafemi Awolowo University proceeded  on an End of the year break, the traders of the Ife City has however complained of low sales since the break   amidst  fuel hike.

The traders in series of interview with OAU Peeps News Agency expressed their heart broken feelings over poor turn out of buyers especially during this Christmas period.

In her view, Mrs Adijat Olaniyan ,an hair dresser at  Lagere lamented over the poor turn out of customers saying that there is no any significant profit during the Christmas period and the normal period." People are looking for money to buy food and cloth to water for Christmas, not for hair-do as there's no sales at all"  Mrs Adijat added.

Furthermore, Madam Omisore Olayinka, a food seller told our correspondent that  the fuel hike and hoarding by the station owner has become every Christmas period tradition which do have effect on the purchasing power of buyers.

In the mean time, Mr Bankole durojaye told our correspondent that nothing spectacular can be pointed at during this Christmas period as their normal ways of working is not affected. Mr durojaye who is a fashion designer along lagere GTB axis lamented and called on government to pull money into the economy.

Speaking further, Emmanuel chiagozi, a boutique owner said their cloths are just hanged without customer to patronize nor check on their goods. "Like before, you can't see me like this for interview talkless sitting down with you because I will be so busy with customers, this year is seriously different as there is no green light which is peculiar to not only Ife".

Mr Clement chikeze who is  a shoe seller in Mayfair also decries the ugly state of the economy which is directly affecting their sales. He urged the government to find a lasting solution to December tradition of the petrol station and fuel hike which he said petrol is a pivotal joint of all traders and buyers. He added that there's no margin in their sales during this festive period as to when not.

Alh Amdalat, jewelry trader, while giving her comment on the situation of the period told OAU Peeps News Agency that there's no sales which has made them not to buy goods of high price just as people retract from costly products as we have been sleeping since morning without customer.

"The fuel scarcity is a major issue bewildering the growth of the economy especially developing state like Ife. An average citizen can not buy cloth for his family not to talk of going to cinema with the effect of petrol in their life. Imagine us buying fuel #160,#170, #180 per litre , definitely there will be rise in the price of transportation and you expect the price to remain the same as Osogbo to Ife is now #700 due the fuel hike" Adekunle Agboola, deputy chairman Osogbo car unit lamented.