Vice Chancellor's New Year Message To The University Community

Happy New Year to you all. As we celebrate the start of a new year, I wish you the best of health and happiness in 2015. I welcome, in particular, our students who are resuming studies after the Christmas and New Year break.

I wish to convey my very best wishes and sincere thanks to all of you as we wrap up an eventful 2014 and shift our attention to 2015. The past 12 months have been marked by noteworthy achievements and changes. Therefore, as we reflect on the past year, I believe that we have many reasons to have enormous pride in our accomplishments and look forward with enthusiasm and hope to achieving more in 2015.

Permit me to cite a few outstanding examples: (1) the new webometric ranking released in July 2014, by the Cybermetrics Lab of Spain, a world-renowned Research Council, and which was circulated round the world, again rated our University as the first and the best University in Nigeria. This was the first time that a Nigerian University would be so ranked four times consecutively; (2) Early in 2014, the University won an $8million grant from the World Bank to establish the OAU Knowledge Park (OAK-Park). The OAK-Park will create a world-class model for uptake and commercialization of research and technology. Also, the Centre will harness the innovative energy and skill of Nigeria’s teeming youth into entrepreneurial activities by using appropriate skill-enhancing trainings and mentoring models that will further stimulate creativity and excellence in research and innovation, and expand learning opportunities for staff and students and, indeed, other researchers within the West Africa sub-region; (3) In furtherance of my commitment to the deepening of ICT use in the University, wireless internet access (Wi-Fi) was extended to Faculties of EDM and Agriculture; Department of Local Government Studies; and Civil and Chemical Engineering Buildings. This year, concerted effort is being made to extend same to the remaining Faculties, Angola and Mozambique Halls, and a few Roads in the University Senior Staff Quarters in addition to the existing ones on Roads 7, 9, 23 and 24. Also, an ICT-driven Sanako Digital Language Laboratory with simultaneous interpretation machines in different languages was installed in Faculty of Arts; (4) The University held the 24th Edition of the NUGA Games and it was a glorious outing. Indeed it was adjudged to be the best NUGA games in the recent past especially in terms of its organisation, specifically the ability of the University in ensuring that all games were held within the University and (5) The welfare of staff and students continue to be of our utmost priority. In particular, many members of staff, academic, administrative and technical were promoted in the past year and many were sponsored for attendance at conferences, workshops and trainings both within Nigeria and abroad especially in the US, UK, France, South Africa and Ghana.

In the area of infrastructural development, I am happy to inform you that a number of projects that started at the inception of this administration were completed and commissioned during the last convocation in December, 2014. These are the Moot Court, Ecology Building, Pharmacy Phase II Building and Clinical Lecture Theatre. Prior to this, the new network of roads at the ultra modern Central Market, the International Olympic Size Swimming Pool and the 8-Lane IAAF Certified Tartan Track were all commissioned and put into use. It is also important for me to inform the Community that construction has commenced of a 10 storey new Senate Building (Jubilee House) that was fund raised by the present administration.

Our University also successfully hosted the President of our nation, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on Friday 28th November, 2014. Also, the University 40th Convocation was held between Wednesday, December 10 and Friday, December 12, 2014. Both events were huge success.
Apart from the student agitation over the increase in charges which was eventually resolved after major reductions, the University witnessed an atmosphere of great industrial peace and harmony. I will like to seize this opportunity to thank the various unions for their partnership in fostering an atmosphere of peace that tremendously helped the growth of the University.

However, to continue in this enviable direction, it is important that we do not forget the best institutional values and ethos which have made our University to be the envy of all. We should do this by avoiding, like a contagious disease, all forms of academic and administrative malpractices, which can erode our valued and cherished legacies as an institution.

On our own part, we will continue to be proactive in meeting the demands of a growing, dynamic and changing community of staff and students, as well as other stakeholders. No doubt, there are still needs to be met in the provision of sufficient classrooms, offices and laboratory spaces. The good news is that while we continue to judiciously expend Government subventions and capital appropriation for the projects that they are meant for, this administration will continue to vigorously network, solicit and cultivate men and women of goodwill, corporate institutions, alumni and philanthropists to continue to help develop our University.

I believe that our University, and all of you who are part of it, will continue to make us proud in 2015. We will maintain our momentum and actively work to shape our own future as one of the nation’s premier public research universities. This is a great University and we must endeavour to keep it as such.

Thank you for being part of it and thank you so much for helping to make the past year so memorable. I invite you to join me in this great task of taking the University to greater heights.

Thank you and God bless.



Professor Bamitale Omole

Vice-Chancellor

Press Release: Students' Union Leaders Give Mid-Term Account Of Stewardship

FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE UNION

WELCOME ADDRESS AND MID-TERM ACCOUNT OF OUR STEWARDSHIP: “AWE 2014”

"A man without answers for posterity is an epitome of failure"
We like to use this medium to welcome everyone back on campus and wish us a happy new year. With due civility and veneration we salute the doggedness, consciousness cum resoluteness of Great IFE students in standing with the current leadership of the Students’ Union in ensuring that the dividends of a 21st century Union are delivered to Great IFE students and the Great IFE community as a whole.

OUR MANDATE:
Over the years, in the history of our union, confrontation of issues with massive mobilization of students for demonstrations had been the means of venting disapproval and grievances on issues as it affects them. This measure due to the then existent order, had produced results as well as its attendant consequences on all and sundry in its diverse pictures.

Today, the question is no longer whether the course we are fighting is just or not, for that is incontestable BUT whether the mechanisms and methods of prosecuting the cause is still as potent and productive?

As a brief reflections on the past, the current make-up of the Union leadership emerged as an alternative to the status quo, crisis managers and never crisis-instigators. Flowing from this; movement from *consultation, *consolidation and *confrontation has been the fundamentals of every strategic plan towards attending any problem that it is faced with. This in the final analysis is set to project a constructive, result oriented and developmental unionism. We promised to employ mediation, high profile deputations and students' interest based lobbying, negotiation, boycott, sit-ins and the last/physical resort, confrontation in meeting the desires of Great IFE students.
Also we pledged to re-brand the Union into one which is financially meticulous such that more funds are dissipated on developmental endeavours for the benefit of all and sundry within the mental and physical space of the Great IFE community. This is in line with 21st century best practices of students' movements in developed countries such that we can be respected and indisputably accepted as stakeholder in the varsity system and comity of unions globally. On the basis of the foregoing we promised AWE2014 which the OAU students bought into and thereafter voted us in.

THE CHALLENGES
With reverence to dictate of reason and respect for the most obvious, it is correct that we address first our challenges. Not for provision of excuse but to position us for better service. Some of our challenges were:

The dearth of true traditions and conventions of the union due to the longtime proscription, a situation that gave room to ungodly manipulation of such to sooth personal interests instead of general interest by various components. No handing over of union property no matter minute (but for the structure christened Students' Union Building, SUB) which would have aided the smooth start of the union activities, at a time when the management and various terrestrial and cerebral forces had more than enough to fight us. No union finances at our disposal even as at the time of starting the increment struggle, except when we solicited and when we collected freshers' dues which was wholly spent on the about four months long struggle. Even after having access to finances we could hardly spend because passing of budget met brick stone and fire until the 10th week into the first semester due to internal crisis. The increment in fees was wickedly flung at the toddling union in order to consume it but for the doggedness of Great Ife students.

We must admit that shortcomings abound in certain areas, meanwhile these have been/ are being addressed. Despite the odds we still have successful mid-term records under our campaign slogan "AWE2014" of which we shall appraise without further ado.

A (ACADEMIC PROGRAMS)
We have succeeded in securing prompt mobilization for NYSC and release of results as against the usual unnecessary delays OAU is known for.

We were also able to achieve putting a stop to forceful sales of materials and unnecessary/excessive billing of students in the name of textbooks, materials or handbooks by some departments/ lecturers.

W (WELFARE PROGRAMS)
We have secured functional wells in Angola hall and Mozambique hall.
Bridges along Fajuyi/Akintola Halls and Fajuyi/Awolowo Halls link paths 90% completed.
Over 100 students got installment payments through the efforts of the Union
Over 100 students got work study as against the usual meagre number that enjoyed this in times past.
Refurbishment of Awo Hall reservoir
Constant supply of qualitative water through tanks and taps to the tanks
The Union advanced loans to some students to pay their fees.
Constant water supply to the halls through alternative power supply to the dam was ensured.
Three (3) buses were secured during the tenure to aid internal transport system, excursions and other trips.
Preliminary work on the over 1,500 bedspace-capacity students-union hostel such as securing Architectural, Structural detailing and Mechanical and Electrical designs as well as bill of quantity needed for its construction.

E (EMPOWERMENT AND OTHER PROGRAMS)
Availability and test-running of the prototype of the Great Ife app, the professional/career network for linking OAU students and alumni & companies.

Two days entrepreneurship summit and 10day skill-up program organized to breed young and skilled students, exposing them to the world of business and becoming young Entrepreneurs.
Social programs such as; +First of Many, +Coke Studio, +Ongar cooking competition, +Campus invasion by WEMA Bank, Swag+Minds, among others were organised /co-hosted to empower and project OAU up-coming stars to the world.

Ongoing work on the documentation of the union's history.
Reinstatement of three (3) out of the suspended students, although the Union has made it clear to the authority that all be reinstated. Enough of divide and rule tactics.

PROGRAMS/EVENTS TO EXPECT IN SECOND SEMESTER
At this juncture which we must reassure you that we are dedicated and committed to the service we swore to offer. To this effect, with your unwavering support, we shall accomplish the following programs this second semester:
Congress, symposium and debate.

Reinstatement struggle to be furthered through symposium, constant political education, mass actions as well as other tactics.
Commissioning of completed various union projects such as the wells/taps, the mini pedestrian bridges, the buses, Great Ife app, etc.

Union website, free newspaper booth at SUB and Students Union Constitution app.
Bamidele Aturu Public Lecture & Inter-varsity debate.
Sourcing for funds for and starting the union hostel project.
Launching of compendium on union history.
Securing more buses
Constitution review, etc.

We shall strive to achieve these and more because the work goes on, for hope still lives and the faith will never die and upon this we stand and shall never do otherwise, so help us God!
Amandla Awetu!


Signed
BAMIDELE OLUDARE J. IBIKUNLE ISAAC M.
The P.R.O The President

UN Moves To Halt The Execution Of 54 Soldiers For Mutiny

The Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary or Summary Executions, Christof Heyns, has stated that “appropriate action including communication to the government of President Goodluck Jonathan is being considered regarding the imminent execution of 54 soldiers in Nigeria.”

This followed a petition submitted to Mr. Heyns by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, in December 2014 in which the group asked five UN human rights independent experts to individually and jointly use their “good offices and positions to urgently request the Nigerian government and its military authorities not to carry out the mass death sentences imposed on 54 Nigerian soldiers for what the government claimed was disobeying a direct order from their commanding officer.”

The development was disclosed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni in a statement dated January 4.

According to Mr. Mumuni, “SERAP has been in discussion with Johel Dominique at the Office of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, arbitrary or summary executions both on the telephone and via email. Johel Dominique has confirmed that the Special Rapporteur is considering appropriate action to avert the imminent execution of 54 soldiers on death row in the country. We have also confirmed to the Special Rapporteur that SERAP has the consent of Mr Femi Falana, SAN, the legal counsel to the 54 soldiers to file the petition.”
“SERAP welcomes the decision by Mr. Christof Heyns to intervene in the matter. Given his longstanding human rights commitment and achievements, we have absolutely no doubt that Mr. Heyns will work assiduously to ensure that justice is done in this matter and we wish him well as he strives to do that,” Mr. Mumuni stated.

It would be recalled that SERAP had in a petition dated December 23, 2014 and addressed to five special rapporteurs stated that, “It is not right or fair to try everyone in mass proceedings, and that such unfair trial should not send someone to the gallows. Imposition of mass death sentences is in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a party. This Covenant limits the circumstances in which a state can impose the death sentence.”

The five special rapporteurs are Christof Heyns, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Juan Méndez, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Pablo de Greiff, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence; Mads Andenas, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; and Ben Emmerson, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism.

According to SERAP, the courts-martial held in secret were “a mockery of justice” and ignored issues raised by the condemned men that “suggest lack of transparency, accountability and general deficiencies” in the handling of the security budget and arms purchases.

The petition copied to Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also stated that, “Under international law, cases involving capital punishment such as the present one require the full and scrupulous respect of the guarantees of highest standards of fairness, due process and justice.”
“All human rights depend for their enjoyment the right to life, which is the most fundamental of all rights. The right to life symbolizes everything that the United Nations works and stands for, be it in the area of peace and security, development or human rights. To reject the act of irreversibly taking someone’s life is to embrace belief in human progress and dignity,” SERAP also argued.

According to the organization, “The imposition of mass death sentences is unjust and incompatible with fundamental human rights. The UN General Assembly to which Nigeria belongs has called for a worldwide moratorium on execution. In fact, the Special Rapporteurs have pointed stated that the right to life is a fundamental right, not a toy to be played with.”


The organization stated further that, “The UN has also acknowledged the discriminatory and arbitrary nature of judicial processes and the danger of the death penalty being used as a tool of repression. It has documented evidence to show that the death penalty is no deterrent, stressing that “depriving a human person of his or her life is incompatible with the trend in the twenty-first century.”

It would be recalled that on Wednesday December 17, 2014, the Nigerian Army’s 7 division General Court Martial convicted 54 soldiers for conspiracy to commit mutiny and sentenced them to death by firing squad. The facts of the case indicate that the soldiers, from the 111 Special Forces, were charged for disobeying a direct order from their commanding officer, Timothy Opurum, a Lieutenant Colonel, to take part in an operation to recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State from Boko Haram terrorists on August 4.

The United Nations human rights experts are part of what it is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights, is the general name of the independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world.

Signed
Adetokunbo Mumuni
SERAP Executive Director


Source
Photo Credit

Why Bovi Did Not Host The 'Headies 2014'

Many followers of Nigeria’s most prestigious musical awards were left stunned when they got to know that comedian Bovi would not be hosting the Headies 2014.

Questions started coming from all angles and some even came up with different suggestions like something went wrong between the organizers and the popular comedian.

Well, the real reason he couldn’t host the show has finally been revealed. The show was initially slated to hold on October 25, 2014 and he was in for the date and preparations and rehearsals had already started when the organizers decided to change the venue and the date due to some logistic reasons and he was already billed to have a show on the new date picked. So he couldn’t just combine two shows in one night.
Considering the calibre of the awards, the organizers had to get someone of a like mind with him in the name of BasketMouth and everyone present at the awards knew it was a job well done by our host.


Source: Vanguard

Life Returns To OAU Campus As Rain Semester Begins

Obafemi Awolowo University for the first time in year 2015 witnessed the most influx of students who are returning to commence academic activities for the Rain semester of the 2013/2014 session on Sunday, 4th January 2015.

Students and staff members also resumed work today, Monday January 5 after the prolonged Christmas and new year breaks. Some students who have not resumed yet continued to troop in numerously as at this evening. Academic activities have also started in some departments while some are yet to commence. The general timetable has been out and few departments visited also had their departmental timetable already out and pasted. Department of Botany as at 6:00pm on Monday had its draft timetable for the Rain semester pasted on their notice board and also Chemistry department had their finalized timetable up.
Department of Chemistry once again proved their attitude of early lecture commencement as the department held some of her classes today. CHM 102 was held as early as 8am this morning with some students in attendance.

Though the university community still looks scanty, a visit by our correspondent to the New Market showed their readiness for the start of the year as many of the shops there were open for business as usual.

Some fellowships which were on ground for their usual activities during the break continued with their schedules. Full academic activities have been predicted by many to resume next week since the semester is a short one as most part of the coming month, February will be spent as break at home by students and many of the university community occupants.

Important Notice To All Predites & JAMBites

As the predegree students of OAU prepare to resume back for the continuation of the first contact of the current session, many 2015 UTME candidates(JAMBites) and even some of these predites are still basking in the euphoria of Christmas and new year celebrations.

This is to remind you all that the sales of the 2015 JAMB UTME form would end on Thursday, January 15, 2015, while the website for registration closes Monday January 19, 2015.

All intending candidates for this examination that are yet to register are advised to do so asap to avoid story that touches.
Candidates that have registered already but wishing to change their choices of university or choice of course are urged to do so on or before the close of the registration or stand the risk of paying to do that after the examination.

We wish you all happy preparation as we expect you to join us on campus next year!

Please do not forget to share this post with other peeps.

As We Begin Year 2015!

We, at OAU Peeps News Agency want to appreciate the all sufficient God for the successful completion year 2014.

The vision of this project was obvious to us sometimes early last year and God being our source of power and inspiration, the distinctive News Agency came online on July 21, 2014 with the domain www.oaupeeps.com

Jumping from a one-man thing, the Agency now has up to 11 pioneer professional members who are not mediocres in the field of journalism with which we were able to register with the school authority via the Association of Campus Journalists, OAU.

Without ever-tatan Great Ife students, our testimonies for the year 2014 can NEVER be complete. These ones have been our primary audience. With just less than 6 months online, Great Ife community members have visited our website more than 450,000 times. This amounts to an average of 2500 daily pageviews. This is absolutely tremedous for a new magazine like ours. All this would have not been possible without you!

 We have continually, from time to time received feedback that have been of tremendous help to us. With your criticisms and words of encouragement, we are challenged to aim higher and perform better. I want to say thank you #teamOAU!

 2015 is finally here, we have numerous plans targetted at serving you in a greater measure. We hope to enlarge our coast in 2015 as membership calls will be made at an appropriate time. We urge every student(undergraduate and postgraduate) and staff members who wish to part of this vision to kindly heed to the clarion call when it is made. We can do this together!

A better coverage of the entire OAU Community for proper news delivery is non-negotiable and also not substitutional for us this year. We will maintain our current partnership with other external and internal firms and bodies even as we seek to involve and initiate new partnerships. All these geared at improving our service delivery.

Your continued support is what we crave for in order to bring this to reality. With God and you on our side, the sky is our starting point.

We also seize this opportunity to wish you happy resumption for the Rain semester. Our prayer is that this semester and year will be a progressive and productive one for you. Fresh air and a change for better I wish you!



David O. Adetula
Editor-In-Chief/General Manager