"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.

Why You Should Opt For Carpooling

By Osinjowo Tomisin

The current petrol scarcity in many parts of the country has plunged many people into confusion. This situation is further worsened by the announced temporary halt in train operations which has been a strong consolation for people who frequently travel long distances even in this time. Many are seeking ways to cushion the effect of these on their finances, health and work performances. Carpooling is an effective measure.

Carpooling is an arrangement whereby several people travel together in the same car in order to save costs, reduce polluton etc. This can be of much help to especially workers who travel long distances daily. Carpooling is well practiced in many foreign countries.

The advantages of carpooling are numerous ranging from economic to health, environmental advantages.

Carpooling can help to save transportation costs of the participants as all it takes is a participant's car and cost of fuel( which will be contributed by the participants). This, on the large scale reduces demand for fuel. It can also do a lot in reducing congestion on roads and in vehicles used for public transport which will in turn reduce air pollution by the exhaust fumes of motor vehicles.

Besides so many financial advantages, carpooling has also health benefits as it reduces for participants the stress of struggling for a seat in public vehicles. This can reduce the risk of many diseases such as hypertension.

Try carpooling today!

Tony Elumelu Fellow Trains 21 Startups In Osun State

Startup LABS over the weekend hosted 21 startups across Osun state in Ile-Ife, on December 17, 2017 to learn what it takes to win the TonyElumelu grant in 2018.
The meetup was facilitated by a 2017 fellow of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and founder of Epower, Mr. Ogunbowale Gbenga. With an excited guest already seated, Gbenga was able to unleash expository insights into the basics of funding and all there is to securing a long term networking relationship and opportunities with 999 fellows if a startup made the TEF list.
Here is what the convener of Startup LABS and host of the meetup, Joshua IGBA has to say,

“The objectives of this meetup were met. I am more than confident that attendees of this meetup will make it to the TEF fellowship in 2018. It shall not end here; we will take this exposition to others and places, to teach those who have great products and ideas on how to apply.”


Here are what attendees have to say
John Ukwenga | Bestgrade Academy
This December edition of startup labs was wonderful. Gbenga has given an edge to any startup here today, who is considering the Tony Elumelu grant and any other accelerator programme out there. I learnt as a startup, one needs a mentor in the area of business so as to be properly guided in decisions making.

Dare Osunsanya | Darbot one-stop tech hub
Gbenga epower is an energetic and selfless entrepreneur with vast knowledge as regards various aspects of entrepreneurship. The training was an eye-opener to some of my mistakes when applying for accelerator programmes in the past. I was able to un-learn and re-learn.

Startup labs featuring TEF, continues in Abuja | January 7th and Lagos | January 14 featuring Ogunbowale Gbenga, Founder/CEO of Epower.