Dear readers,
"Change", the mantra that is no longer strange to Nigerians and, more importantly, an indisputable reality. This phenomenon has also not left your beloved news site.
Sometime around this period two years ago, the pregnancy of a foetal wild dream was birthed. Being a pioneer in the area of online campus journalism and news reportage, OAU Peeps News Agency has surely had its rough days, but it is days like this that has forged us into the formidable force we are becoming by the day. Remarkably, by July 21, we would have served the 'OAU community with undiluted news stories for two solid years.
However to further improve the quality of our services most especially as our reader base, whose satisfaction and up to date information is the major motivation and lifeline of the agency, we must at occasional intervals respond to nature's call for ecdysis; we must shed the old skin to allow the growth of a new one, a bigger and better one!
Beloved Readers, now is one of such times as OAU Peeps Agency hereby uses this medium to inform all our friends, Patners, the Great Ife Community and even beyond that the Official logo of OAU Peeps News Agency has changed. The old logo, which was just an impromptu amateur designer's attempt to cover up a pressing demand, would no longer be the face of OAU Peeps.
Apparently, the change process is one that cannot happen all at once and hence just this now, one which has already been implemented on some of our platforms. It might take a little while before it reflects on all our platforms.
We find it pertinent to also point out that the change does not in any way signify a change of brand but as a matter of fact the improvement of one. We remain the OAU Peeps you know! We remain the OAU Peeps you trust! And we remain the OAU Peeps that would continue to redefine Campus Journalism!
You can always reach out to us on our various social media platforms.
Instagram - @OAUpeeps
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Thank You!
Ojelabi Jesujoba
Editor-In-Chief
OAU Peeps News Agency
Saturday 2 July 2016
Friday 1 July 2016
Registrar Is Not Acting Vice-Chancellor, Abiodun Olanrewaju Clarifies
The Public Relations Officer of Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr Abiodun Olarenwaju has said that the decision of the Federal Government cannot be questioned, hence final. This is coming some few hours after all members of the Governing Council of the institution handed over to the Registrar upon their dissolution.
While addressing members of the Press today, the University spokesman said since OAU is a Federal institution and the President is it's Visitor, therefore officials of the varsity have the sole responsibility to oblige to directives of the President without recourse.
It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, late on Thursday ordered the dissolution of the Governing Council of OAU due to the unabated Vice Chancellor selection crisis rocking the university.
He further clarified that the Registrar, Mr Dotun Awoyemi, had not been appointed as the Acting Vice Chancellor but was asked to handle the affairs of the University just for the main time.
In his words, Olanrewaju said,
“It is not done anywhere in the world that
the Registrar will become the Vice Chancellor of the institution, even the federal Government did not ask him to be the Vice Chancellor, also the Registrar cannot convey a Senate meeting where Resumption will be discussed, it is the appointment of an acting VC by the Federal Government that will pave way for Resumption”.
On when the acting VC will be appointed , he further said,
” I cannot state that but I believe that Federal Government will appoint an acting VC soon”.
"University Management Not Responsible For Town Robberies" - OAU PRO
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| Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, OAU PRO |
The OAU Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olarenwaju speaking today at the press conference organised by the OAU ACJ stated that the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife has some of the best Hostels. He further stated the reason for the current demeaning state of the halls could be attributed to the students for allowing squatters in their rooms which are only meant for Freshmen and Final year students and not returning students outside this circle. He further notified the journalists present that the Halls of Residence had been renovated on paper.
Also Speaking on the recent robbery attacks occurring off campus, he said the University Management is not to be held responsible for that so far the students are out of the axis of the university.
He also added, stating the obvious, that the price for bedspace was very cheap when compared to getting accommodation in town.
OAU PRO Finally Speaks On Resumption
Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, OAU PRO
Speaking With the Obafemi Awolowo University Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olarenwaju during a Press conference with the Association of Campus Journalists, at the University Senate Building today, he assured all OAU students that resumption will be in matter of days.
He however further explained that though he couldn't predict the exact time, he was sure the resumption date would be announced soon.
It will be recalled that the school has been shut since June 16, 2016 as following the protest of NASU/SSANU against the alleged illegal appointment of the New Vice Chancellor.
He also debunked the rumour of announcement of resumption date circulated in the media.
FG Declares July 5th And 6th Public Holidays For Eid El Fitr Celebrations
The Federal Government has declared July 5 and 6, 2016 as public holiday to mark Eid-el Fitri Celebrations.
The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, on Thursday in Abuja, urged all Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, which are love, peace and justice to their daily living and through this contribute to the development of the nation.
A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Bassey Akpanyung said Dambazau also urged Nigerians to use the opportunity of “this spiritual rejuvenation to reflect on the imperative of unity and peaceful co-existence in strengthening the bond of togetherness for a strong, virile nation.”
The minister, while wishing Nigerians a peaceful celebration, urges total support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s avowed determination to bequeath to the nation an enduring political legacy, it added.
Source - The Punch
OAU Staff June Salary May Be Delayed
The Staff of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife may experience a delay in the payment of their June salaries. This was made known in a circular signed by the Registrar of the institution, Mr Dotun Awoyemi. Awoyemi stated that the delay was due to the ongoing industrial action of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) which has he put it, "...made it impossible for relevant staff to gain access to their office."
He however appealed on behalf of the University administration to the University Community for understanding.
ASUU National Opposes Post-UTME Cancellation
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on Wednesday, kicked against the Federal Government’s directive for tertiary institutions to scrap the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, Post-UTME, for admission of candidates for the 2016/2017 academic session, saying the quality of tertiary education in the country could improve if the institutions are allowed to regulate their students admission process.
ASUU President, Comrade Biodun Ogunyemi, said such freedom would enhance the quality of education.
Recall that at a recent joint policy meeting to decide the cut off mark for students seeking admission into the universities, the government announced the scrapping of post-unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME).
The Post UTME is the second stage of screening usually conducted by universities for the final selection of candidates qualified for admission for an academic session.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu had threatened to sanction any university or tertiary institution found conducting examinations under any guise to admit students.
He further directed tertiary institutions that had collected money from candidates for such purposes to immediately refund it or face appropriate sanctions.
The ASUU boss told NAN that such directive encroached on the autonomy of the institutions.
“I think government should give these institutions the chance to regulate themselves,” he said.
“They should decide for themselves, the process they dim fit to admit their students. The Senate of universities for example, should decide on the process they want to use in selecting candidates.
“We do not think it’s right for government to decide the method of screening of the candidates, indeed, we want to attain some level of sanity and quality in the system.”
The unionist added that government could only come into the process by putting in place the necessary guidelines as part of their oversight functions.
According to him, it may not also be easy for institutions that had already collected money for the conduct of the post-UTME or screening in whatever guise to refund such money.
He added that this was because such money could have been diverted to other purposes.
Ogunyemi noted that most universities were under-funded and therefore, might have used some of the money to attend to urgent needs of the institution.
“Some of the arguments raised in this entire episode is that universities or tertiary institutions were using the conduct of such examination to make money,” he said.
“But the truth is, these institutions are poorly funded. If universities for example are properly funded, will the vice-chancellors be looking for other means of making money?
“In the last seven months, university workers have been receiving incomplete salaries, that is, the disbursement of funds for payment of salaries has always been inadequate.
When situations like this arise, the managements will not be left with any choice than to look inwards and seek means of meeting such needs.
And one of such strategies is by conducting such examination.”
Ogunyemi noted that the state universities were worst hit for many of them had yet to receive subvention in the last one year.
“Actually we in ASUU frown at extortion of any type from students or candidates but the government too should be alive to its responsibilities by providing the enabling environment that will aid teaching, learning and research"
