Security

OAU Calls for Tighter Security after Robbers Injure Students

By Web News 528

By Mojisola Oladele

The Management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has condemned a recent armed robbery attack on students at an off-campus hostel on Monday night.

In a statement, the University’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, said the management described the incident as distressing and unacceptable.

Mr Olanrewaju explained that the assailants dispossessed the students of their valuables and inflicted physical injuries during the violent attack.

The management lauded officials of the Students’ Union for their swift intervention, promptly evacuating the injured victims to the University Health and Medical Centre for urgent medical attention.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Adebayo Bamire, appreciated the Nigerian Police Force for its prompt response.

On behalf of the management, Professor Bamire urged security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), to intensify surveillance and routine patrols around student-populated areas.

The robbery occurred at the Oreoluwa Hostel in the Moremi Estate area of Ile-Ife.

Reports identified three injured students who received treatment: a 400-level student of the Department of Management and Accounting, Ogedenge Oluwafemi; another 400-level student in the same department, Emmanuel Akinribiye; and a final-year student in the Department of Mathematics, Olalekan Okemiga.

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Education

OAU Management Solicits Police Help on Missing Student

By Web News 211

By Mojisola Oladele

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, wants the Osun State Police Command to assist in locating a female student who has been missing for four days.

According to a statement by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, the missing student is identified as Dorcas Oseghale, from the Department of Chemistry, with matriculation number CHM/2021/165.

Mr. Olanrewaju said Oseghale was last seen last Wednesday around eight in the evening.

Mr.Olanrewaju states, “Dorcas, a resident of Adesanmi House, Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife, had told her roommate she was going to buy food in front of the Students’ Village along Ede Road but did not return.”

“Her roommate later tried to reach her on the phone, only to discover that both of her lines were unreachable.” He states further.

He noted that the Vice-Chancellor Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire commended the students for promptly reporting the incident and appealed to anyone with useful information on the student’s whereabout to contact the nearest police station or the University Security Unit immediately.

The university spokesperson also assured that it would continue to work closely with the police and other security agencies until the matter is resolved.

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Lifestyle

Osun Govt. Commiserates with OAU over Fatal Lion Attack

By Web News 362

By Funmi Ojo

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has sympathised with the Management and the entire community of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife over the tragic loss of its long-serving Veterinarian Technologist, Mr. Olabode Olawuyi, to a lion attack.

The Governor, in a statement by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed describes Mr. Olawuyi’s sudden passage as agonizing especially coming from a lion he has been feeding for the past nine years.

He commiserates with the immediate family and everyone touched by the unfortunate incident, noting that the Government and the people of Osun stand with them in this moment of grief and anguish occasioned by Mr. Olawuyi’s unfortunate demise.

Governor Adeleke prays to God Almighty to comfort everyone touched by this tragic incident and grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

He further prays for the repose of the soul of Mr. Olawuyi while praying to God to fill the void of his death for immediate family and everyone who depended on the deceased while he was alive.

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Education

Chisom’s Death: OAU Cautions Students on Use of Okada

By Web News 426

By Folake Oye

Authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State have warned students against excessive use of motorcycles as a means of transport.

The Public Relations Officer, PRO of the institution, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju gave the warning in ile-ife on behalf of the institution following the death of a final-year student, Miss Chisom Nwakwo.

Mr Olanrewaju, who condemned the carefree attitude of motorcyclists, otherwise known as Okada riders, observed that passengers on commercial bikes, in most cases, paid no attention to their safety as they engaged in chatting using their phones.

He explained that the motorcyclist conveying the deceased student was careless, saying he lost concentration while watching another minor accident and a bus hit the bike from the back.

Mr Olanrewaju said the university had contacted the family of the deceased, praying to God to give the Nwankwos the fortitude to bear the loss, 

Miss Nwakwo died on Tuesday after a motorcycle accident on the school campus.

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Education

Student’s loan scheme is accessible – Tinubu

By Web News 392

By Folake Oye

President Bola Tinubu says his government places much premium on education and will not allow anything to truncate the system.

The President stated this at the 47th convocation ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-ife, Osun State.

Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, President Tinubu’ said the students’ loan provided by his administration was accessible and without any encumbrances.

He said his government was focusing on rebuilding the nation, reviving the economy, uniting the people and righting the wrongs of the past, as he sought Nigerians prayers, support and cooperation in realizing the objectives

He acknowledged the fact that the country is currently faced with socio-polictical and economic challenges which the government is working on how to surmount.

In an addresss, the Vice Chancellor.of the institution, Professor Simeon Bamire thanked president Tinubu for promising to pay withheld salaries of staff and cancellation of the 40% deduction from IGR.

Professor. Bamire who reeled out some of the progress recorded by the institution also expressed concern about security challenges and diminishing funding capacities of the University.

He called for collective responsibilities to sustain the golden image of Great Ife, noting that the university will always appreciate the efforts of the alumni, private individuals and organizations for their assistance in capital development and maintenance of facilities.

Sport

OAU to Host 2023 WAUG

By Web News 629

By Folake Oye

The Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife will host the 2023 edition of the West African Universities Games, WAUG in December 2023.

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Simeon Bamire disclosed this at a news conference in Ile-Ife.

Professor Bamire said the university was prepared for the sporting fiesta, explaining that necessary arrangements have been put in place to make the stay of all officials, participants and their handlers worthwhile, particularly in terms of accommodation and medical facilities.

He noted that the minister of interior, Doctor Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo will be the special guest of honour at the opening and closing ceremonies of the event.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the competition, which comprises table tennis, basketball and athletics, will feature sportsmen and women from universities in Nigeria and countries within the West Africa sub-region.

Professor Bamire commended Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke and his Oyo state counterpart, Engineer Seyi Makinde for their assistance and commitment towards the hosting of the sporting events.

The Vice-Chancellor appealed to spirited individuals, corporate organisations, captains of industries, members of the diplomatic corps, seasoned administrators and sports enthusiasts to assist the university financially and materially to foster unique hosting of the championship.

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Education

OAU VC Appeals to Victims of EFCC Raid

By Web News 417

By Adenitan Akinola

The Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Simeon Bamire, has appealed to students of the institution who were victims of the raid on some off-campus hostels along Ife/Ibadan Road by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to put the experience behind them and move on. 

Giving an update on the matter on Thursday, the Vice Chancellor, in a statement signed by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, commended the EFCC for the quick profiling and release of the students, adding that colleagues of the affected students pressing for their release also exhibited discipline in their agitations. 

 The statement read partly, “After a spirited effort by the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, which sent representatives to the Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to intervene in the case of arrested students, the EFCC has released 59 of the students.

“While thanking the officials of the EFCC for the quick profiling and eventual release of the students in less than 24 hours, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Simeon Bamire urged the EFCC to partner with the management of various Institutions of higher learning to organize workshops for students across faculties to sensitize the students about the danger of financial crimes and cyber criminalities. 

“The Vice-Chancellor, therefore, appealed to students who were victims of the raid to put the experience behind them and move on with their lives. He lauded other students who rallied round their affected colleagues for being their brothers’ keepers without being violent nor exhibiting any act of vandalism.”

Recall that EFCC operatives stormed hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife in the early hours of Wednesday and arrested 69 students of the university. 

The students were taken to the Ibadan Zonal Office of the commission, where they were detained. However the management of the institution, as well as the parents and guardians of the affected students, secured freedom for 59 of them on Wednesday. 

Adenitan Akinola 

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Foreign

OAU Students Protest Increase in Tuition

By Web News 400

Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State, have staged a protest against the hike in school fees.

The students, who stormed the varsity premises began the protest early Tuesday morning carrying placards reading “When I dey pay 20k, I dey borrow money. Where you wan make I get 90k? #FeeMustFall”, “I cannot afford to drop out. #FeeMustFall”, “My Mama dey sell Fufu, my papa dey ride Okada. Where you won make I see 90k? #FeeMustFall.”

The Secretary General of the varsity Students’ Union, Akinboni Opeyemi, confirmed this to our correspondent, adding that the student populace does not agree with the current tuition fee.

The students’ union on September 26 urged students of the institution to suspend payment of tuition fees, following the slash in fee hike by the management of the institution.

It was gathered that the management of OAU reviewed the school fees payable by the students of the university.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olanrewaju, stated that the management reduced the fees after a meeting held with the students.

Olanrewaju had said that the Students’ Union leaders were adamant, insisting that the fees should be reduced by 50 per cent.

“For the students in Humanities, the initial sundry charges of N89, 200 for returning students have been reduced to N76,000 while for the new students in the Humanities, the initial fees of N151,200 have been reduced to N131,000.

“For those in the Sciences and Technology, the initial charges of N101,200, for returning students is now N86,000 while the new students in the same Faculties will now pay N141,000 instead of the initial N163,200.

“In the same vein, the returning students in the Pharmacy and College of Health Sciences will now pay N109,000, instead of N128,200. The new students in the same Faculties will now pay N164,000 instead of the initial charges of N190,000,” the statement partly read.

It added that the university management has agreed that the payment can be made in two equal installments.

While speaking with our correspondent, Opeyemi noted that the union requested a 50 per cent reduction of the initial proposed fee before it was reduced by 15 per cent.

“We want reduction just as stated in our last demand.  We want a reduction of the initial proposed fee before the school management reduced it by 15 per cent”.

The union earlier demanded that the school management make it a duty to reverse the increment in school fees and “all financial institutions, remitta, especially ignore and suspend any payment from OAU pending the time the union will write to them; otherwise, their branches in Ife and OAU campus will be shut down.”

“We’ve also written to all respective banks to halt the acceptance of fee payments from any student until a better resolution has been achieved. As much as we don’t want to, we are currently running out of options and might have to shut down all activities on campus and progressively on all campuses throughout the country if the school authorities remain silent on the issue,” the union added.

PUNCH/Taiwo Akinola

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Education

No More Dressing As Usual On OAU Campus

By Web News 690

The Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, has launched a battle against immorality and indecent dressing on campus by placing a ban on public kissing and hugging by the opposite sex, any skimpy dress, making of tinted hair, tattoos and others.

It also asked the students to desist from wearing any dress or items that cover their faces and also banned opposite-sex students from sitting on each other’s lap.

The school management said sexually provocative dresses would no longer be allowed in the school.

These were part of the set of codes of conduct and dress code as contained in the revised students’ handbook, which also banned backless clothes, transparent wear, off-shoulder clothes, bum shorts, tattered jeans, dreadlocks, earrings for male/cowries for female, and micro/mini dress.

The university also banned sagging of trousers or knickers for males and females, hair braiding for males, nose, mouth, eye or extra rings, crop/jump tops, unconventional wearing of caps, tattoo/indelible markings for males, multi-coloured braid for females, haircuts with inscriptions, T-shirts with obscene inscriptions depicting immorality, hooliganism, among others.

It vowed that heavy make-up, rumpled and dirty clothes, and hair plaiting or weaving by male students would no longer be tolerated on the campus.

According to the school, violators of any of the dress codes will be rusticated from the school for one semester while in addition, any student found with coloured hairstyles, hair braiding for males, or spangled hairstyle for males will be rusticated for two semesters from the school.

It said it would rusticate students found touching, kissing and hugging a member of the opposite sex and students found massaging or sitting on the lap of the opposite sex for two semesters.

The school management, however, urged male students to note that their hair should be neat and well-combed at all times and that the hair should not be coloured (except it is a natural colour).

Guardian/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Crime

Ahize’s Death: Two OAU Students Union Leaders in Police Custody

By Web News 530

By Adenitan Akinola 

The colleagues of a 500-level Civil Engineering student, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Okoli Ahize who was killed by a mob on the school campus at Awo hostel have protested against his death.

The protesters barricaded the main road inside the campus thereby causing heavy gridlock. 

The protest led by the president of students for the Faculty of Technology, Ayanfe demanded the school fish out all the students that were involved in the mob action leading to the death of their friend.

He also urged the University authority to include them in the investigation panel. 

The Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Isiaka Aransi who addressed the protesters pleaded with them to exercise patience with school management and ensure that they did not embark on actions capable of causing crisis in the school. 

When contacted, the management of the school through the Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju confirmed that they had handed over two suspects to the police while the investigation was still ongoing. 

Similarly, the spokesperson of Osun State Police Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola also confirmed the arrest of two Students’ Union leaders. 

She promised that more arrests would be made very soon.

Recall that Ahize died in hospital on Tuesday after a mob of students attacked him before he was later subjected to torture by the leadership of the Student Union over alleged phone theft. 

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Simon Banire had set up a committee to unravel the circumstances of the 500-level student. 

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Crime

Mob Action: OAU Management Decries Death of 500-Level Student

By Web News 612

By Folake Oye

Authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife have condemned the incident that led to the death of a 500-level student of the institution.

In a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, PRO, Abiodun Olanrewaju, the management said preliminary investigation revealed that the student died of a mob action over alleged phone theft.

The statement said the Vice-Chairman of OAU, Professor Adebayo Bamire had set up a committee to unravel the circumstances that led to the incident.

It noted that the mob action was a violation of the law of the country and the university regulations, and had been reported to the police.

The authorities of OAU, therefore, commiserated with the parents of the deceased, staff and students and prayed to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

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Education

OAU Students Protest ASUU Strike

By Web News 611

Scores of students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, today converged on the entrance of the University to protest the extension of Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU’s strike by three-month.

The students who trooped out in their large numbers marched along the Ife-Ibadan express way, a development which caused gridlock and hindered vehicular movement in the area.
The students who are under the aegis of Fund Education Coalition, chanted various solidarity songs.
Armed with placards with  various inscriptions such as  “Fund Education Now”, “Education is not a Scam” among others, as they chanted “End ASUU Strike”, the protesting students vowed to continue the protest till their demands were met by the Federal Government.
As the protesting students increased in numbers, moving towards the Ipetumodu roundabout, they were joined by some concerned members of the public.
One of the protesting Students, Olugbade Majeed said they would continue to stage protests until government honour the initial agreement it had with the ASUU.
Majeed said: ” We are protesting because the Government has failed the educational system in Nigeria. And they have not met the demands of ASUU which they had been signed since 2009.We have been at home for three months. 
“This particular Government has been showing nonchalant attitude towards education by engaging in Electoral Activities while students are at home idle. You will agree with me that an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. 
“We don’t want to be turned to criminal elements, we don’t want to be turned to Yahoo Yahoo, we don’t want to be turned to prostitutes and that’s why we are agitating for our right.
“We are on the street to let our voices be heard because we can not continue to suffer in silence. Nothing has worked out under this government. No security. We are all aware that nowhere is safe in this country. Yet, government does not seem it fit to respond positively to the challenges confronting the education sector in the country.
If there is proper education in Nigeria, there won’t be security threats as we’re  having now, because proper and well educated persons will shy away from criminal activities,” he said.
As of the time of filling this report , Osun State Commissioner of police, Mr Wale Olokode was in the midst of the protesters to ensure that  there was no break down of law and order. 
Mr Olokode appealed to the students to allow government and ASUU reach compromise,noting that their protest would affect the livelihood of other people.


Adenitan Akinola

Education News

OAU Update: Management Sends Students On Two Weeks Break

By Web News 671

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University,OAU,Ile -Ife has asked students of the institution to proceed on a two week mid simester break.

The development is coming after series of protests by some Indigenes of Ile-Ife over the emergence of Professor Adebayo Bamire as the Vice Chancellor of the Institution.

Protesters had besieged the institution carrying charms and fetish objects to register their grievance over the new VC.

As a result, students were prevented from entering the Campus.

But the action attracted widespread criticism and condemnation by people from various walks of life including the Ooni Of Ile – Ife, Oba Enitan ogunwusi and Nobel Laureate,Professor Wole Soyinka.

Radio Nigeria gathered that the decision for students to go on break was reached at a management meeting of the School held on Saturday.

A statement by the registrar, Mrs.M.I Omosule indicates that the break would take effect from Monday,28th March,2022.

It would be recalled that the Academic Staff Union Of Universities,ASUU had been on strike since February 14,2022.

After a month,it extended the strike for another two months for government to yield to it’s age long demands.

Leadership of ASUU in OAU had equally declared an indefinite strike over unpaid academic earned allowance but members of a parallel academic union on the campus,the Congress of University Academics,CONUA had refused to join the industrial action and and had been teaching the students.

Sola Agboola

News

OAU VC: Crises Not Over

By Web News 704

Despite the return of normalcy to the Campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU Ile following the protracted protest by Ile-Ife indigenes over the emergence of a new Vice Chancellor for the University, the crisis is far from being over.
In a fresh development, members of the Ife Progressives Forum, an umbrella body of Ile-Ife indigenes have called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the  Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to look into the selection process of the Vice Chancellor in the interest of Justice.
At a Press Conference in Ile-Ife, addressed by the President of the Ife Progressives Forum, Dr Famoriyo Gbolade, the Ile-Ife indigenes maintained that the selection process of the head of the Obafemi Awolowo University was manipulated against the emergence of an Ife person.
Dr Gbolade who presented a table tagged “Academic Profile of the Contestants” submitted that Professor R. A Adedoyin an Ife indigene from the University and Professor O. D Makinde an Idea person who applied from outside were the most qualified of the sixteen scholars screeners for the job of the OAU VC, yet a less qualified person was selected.
” Despite producing many qualified academics over the years, a deliberate mechanism has been put in place to ensure that no indigene has gotten to the post. Now, given precedence set in other federal schools including Universities of Benin, Ibadan and Ilorin, where deliberate efforts were made to appoint indigenes to VC posts, the argument is what is different about Ife?”
Dr Gbolade alleged that ” the secrecy surrounding the exercise is highly suspicious. There was path administered on the members of selection Committee, before the interviews were conducted and after, and during the process of compiling the results.”
Responding to a question on the alleged Protest of traditional worshipers on the campus, the Coordinator of Ife Youths Organization, Mr Abimbola Afolabi explained that what happened on campus was not ritual but prayers to appease God.
Mr Afolabi said if not for the suspension of the protest, there was arraignment to have both Christians and Muslim faithful conduct their own prayer on the University campus.
Recall that following the last week announcement of Professor Adebayo Bamire as the new Vice Chancellor of the University, some residents of Ile-Ife had embarked on protest to draw attention to what they described as a manipulated process to deliberately deny Ife indigene of becoming the Vice Chancellor of the institution.

Adenitan Akinola

Education

Protest Against OAU VC Goes Fetish

By Web News 828

The protest against the choice of the next Vice-Chancellor, VC, for Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, on Monday, took another dimension as Some indigenes allegedly invaded the varsity’s campus with charms and other fetish objects.

The bone of contention was that an Ife Indigene should have been appointed

They also closed the varsity’s two major gates, thereby preventing staff, students, and other stakeholders from either coming into or leaving the University.

The protests by the Ife indigenes started last Thursday, March 17, 2022, shortly after the University Governing Council, led by its Chairman, Owelle Oscar Udoji, announced a professor of Agricultural Economics, Adebayo Bamire, as the 12th substantive VC.

The protesters, who initially blocked the main gate of the University on the first day had threatened staff and students to stay away from campus.

However, on Monday, March 21, 2022, the protest took another dimension as the protesting indigenes were reported to have blocked the two major gates, entering the campus with charms, and other fetish items.

Videos that surfaced online showed the protesters assembled at the motion ground of the University Secretariat, dressed in all-white spiritual traditional attire, chanting incantations and performing rituals.

Reacting to the situation in a statement, the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, explained that the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board shortlisted 16 candidates for the interaction for the post of Vice-Chancellor.

He noted that the candidates, whose names were arranged in alphabetical order, were called in for interaction and each was scored by each member of the selection board.

According to him, the score sheets of each assessor for individual candidates were dropped into an envelope and sealed with the signature of the Chairman of Council on each one.

The statement added, “At the end of the interaction, the sealed envelopes were opened one after the other and announced to all the members. The score sheets were thereafter passed around for sighting. Then, the scores of the candidates were collated with Microsoft Excel and ranked from the highest to the lowest.“

The candidate with the highest score was eventually announced as the Vice-Chancellor by the Governing Council.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no member of the Board had foreknowledge of each candidate’s score before the final collation at the end of the interaction.

“The University hereby affirms that due processes were followed and merit was the basis for the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor.

“The University Management implores the leadership of Ile- Ife to please call these protesters to order so that the cordial relationship, which has been in existence, between the University and the Ile- Ife communities is not jeopardized.

Olaitan Oye-Adeitan

Education

Outrage Over Announcement Of Bamire As New OAU VC

By Web News 709 Post a comment

The announcement of  the new Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Adebayo Bamire, sparked protest as some people blocked the entrance of the University in disagreement to the development.

The governing council of the University, led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of council, Owelle Udoji, had on Thursday, announced Professor Adebayo Bamire as the new Vice-Chancellor to take over from Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede on 7th June, 2022.

Immediately the new Vice-Chancellor was announced, some people believed to be indigenes of Ile-Ife, barricaded the University entrance and prevented vehicular movement for almost an hour.

They insisted that an indigene of Ile-Ife must succeed Ogunbodede if peace would reign in the university.
The protesters threatened to shut down the University on Friday, warning people not to enter the campus.

Cont/Adenitan Akinola

Education

New VC Emerges For OAU

By Web News 680

A Professor of Agricultural Economics in the Faculty of Agriculture Adebayo Bamire has been announced as the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU), Ile-Ife. 

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Owelle Udoji announced the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor during a press conference held at the school ICT auditorium.

 Chief Udoji said the new VC of the institution will assume office by June 7th, 2022 following the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent, Professor Eyitope Ogunmodede.

 He explained that Council, at its meeting held on 7th December 2021 flagged off the processes for the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor.

He said In line with the approval of the Council, the vacancy was widely advertised in compliance with relevant Statutes and Acts guiding appointment to the position.

“At a Special Meeting of 14th February 2022, the Council perused the Curriculum Vitae of all the twenty applicants who indicated an interest in the position. At the end of the exercise, sixteen of them were shortlisted, having met the advertised criteria.

“The interaction with the candidates began on Monday, 14th March 2022 and ended on Wednesday, 16th March 2022.

All the sixteen candidates appeared before the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board, with fifteen of them present physically and one, at his request, virtually.

The Selection Board painstakingly examined the Curriculum Vitae and interacted with each candidate, and scored them accordingly to stipulated criteria. 
“The three highest-scoring candidates were presented to the Council for further consideration as provided by the law. The entire exercise of the Joint Selection Board was witnessed by the representatives of the Federal Character Commission who have confirmed the exercise as fair and transparent and carried out in full compliance with the provisions of the Federal Character Commission Act.

“In line with the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act as amended, the report of the Selection Board was considered by the Council which, after a careful and dispassionate review of the report, decided to appoint Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, Professor of Agricultural Economics from the Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as the Vice-Chancellor of the University with effect from June 7, 2022.

The decision of the Council shall be communicated to the Visitor to the University, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari through the Hon. Minister of Education.”

Adenitan Akinola

Judiciary

OAU Student Murder Case: Court Denies Hotelier, Six others Bail

By Web News 849 Post a comment

An Osun State High Court, Osogbo presided over by Chief Justice of Osun State, Adepele Ojo has denied the bail application of the owner of Hilton Hotel and Resort, Dr Rahmon Adedoyin and six staff over the alleged murder of a Master student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. 

The defendants; Dr Rahmon Adedoyin, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola are facing trial on eleven counts bothering on murder, conspiracy, felony amongst others. 

Justice Ojo refused the bail application of the defendants stating that their health condition are not critical. 

Upon arraignment, the counsel to the defendants, Messers Adekunle Adegoke (SAN), K. K Eleja (SAN) and Okon Ita had moved the bail application for seven defendants which was opposed by the prosecutor, M O Omosun. The bail was argued by both the counsel and prosecutor and Justice Adepele Ojo reserved ruling till today. 

The trial Judge maintained that the defendants had not placed anything before the court that suggested that the Ilesa correctional center could take care of the health needs of the suspects.

Trial subsequently resumed after the ruling on bail application.

Akinola Adenitan

Education

Osun University Defiles ASUU Strike as Lectures hold

By Web News 3833

The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU members of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile- Ife, Osun State has embarked on one month total strike to press home its demands from the Federal Government, as directed by The National Executive Council, NEC of the Union. 

Radio Nigeria Correspondent, Mojisola Oladele who visited Obafemi Awolowo University and Osun State University gives the situation report of the Strike Action.

Confirming the development, Chairman, ASUU OAU branch, Mr Adeola Egbedokun said the lecturers have joined the strike as directed by its National President at the press conference held in the early hours of Monday.

Reacting to the issue, the Public Relations Officer, OAU, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju explained that other lecturers who were not under the umbrella of ASUU were lecturing the Students.

Mr Olanrewaju assured that the institution would continue to embark upon policies that would better the welfare of Lecturers and give standard Education to Student of the institution.

However it was a different situation in Osun State University, Osogbo, were students were seen in classes being attended to by lecturers.

Speaking, A lecturer of the institution who preferred to be anonymous said academic activities were in progress noting that he had a lecture later in the day.

Corroborating his view, The Public Relations Officer, P.R.O, Osun State University, Mr Ademola Adesoji said all the lecturers of the institution were on ground to perform their duties. 

Mr Adesoji assured that the institution would continue to produce valuable graduates who would impact what they have learnt into the Society positively.

Efforts to speak with the Acting Chairman ASUU of the institution proved abortive as his contact was not reachable.

Some students of Osun State University including  a student of Radiography Radiation Science Department, Miss Funmilayo Comfort and two Students of Computer Science department, Master Samuel Adeyinka and Alaba Omotayo confirmed that they had received lecture as at the time of filling in this report.

Moji Abey

Education

OAU/ASUSS Clamors For Entitlements, As Strike Continues

By Web News 958

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUSS, Obafemi Awolowo University OAU Ile Ife branch has insisted it will not suspend its current strike until the institution’s authority paid earned allowance of its members.

The protest was led by the leadership of the Union from Akure zone, Benin zone and Lagos zone.

Addressing the congress, coordinator of the Akure zone, Professor Olusayo Olu-Olu explained that only OAU was yet to pay the earned allowance for its staff since it was released by the Federal government.

Professor Olu-Olu said the major contention was the attempt by the  OAU management to use other modalities to effect, particularly to non-members of ASUU as against other universities that had paid since December last year.

Also speaking, the Chairman of ASUU, OAU chapter, Dr Adeola Egbetokun decried the attempt by the OAU management to manipulate the Union over the EAA allowance, saying OAU remained the only University attempting to inject new modalities of payment.

Dr Egbetokun maintained that (ASUU) fought for the money and should lead on how the money should be disbursed.

“That is how it happens in every university, I don’t know why OAU case is different. This is not the first time that such a thing like this will be happening.”

“We use to disburse EAA based on the template that is submitted by ASUU and not any group. If they have the capacity, they should demand theirs, this is our money. ASUU share must be disbursed to us.

On the 20th of January we held a meeting with the audit unit where they said they are going to take our computation for verification, since that day, there has not been any official communication from the management on the outcome of the audit.”

The ASUU chairman said the Union’s template was submitted to the institution management for audit verification and if anything was wrong in what was submitted, the authority should communicate the union formally.

Similarly, the coordinator of the Lagos zone of ASUU, Dr Laja Odukoya urged OAU chapter of ASUU to report the vice Chancellor to the minister of Education as an administrator promoting industrial unrest on his Campus.

Reacting to the development, the University authority through its Spokesperson, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju denied the allegation of it refused to pay the Earned Allowance but argued that there were two Academic bodies on the campus and it would be wrong for the management to use the template designed by only one of the Unions when the other one did not agree to it.

Mr Olarewaju said once the two unions reached a position on the template to use, the University would release their money to them.

Radio Nigeria went through faculties of Social Sciences, Law, Administration, Arts and sciences where students were met in numbers discussing the matter.

While some students were playing table tennis at their faculty basement, others were listening and dancing to hip hop music.

However, lectures went on in a few classes.

One of the lecturers who did not want to mention told Radio Nigeria that he was not a member of ASUSS, but that of Conference of Nigeria Universities Academic, CONUA and his union did not order a strike.

Some students said the ASUU strike was impeding academic programmes on the campus since ASUU parades the largest numbers of members.

Adenitan Akinola

Education

OAU Chapter of ASUU Embarks on Indefinite Strike

By Web News 1147

Academic Staff Union of Universities, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife branch, has commenced strike over non-payment of earned academic allowance by the school authority.

The union after it congress earlier on Monday, January 31, 2022 said it observed that there was no serious attempt by the authority to pay eligible members their dues, hence, the decision to embark on indefinite strike.

The resolution signed by OAU ASUU Chairman, Doctor Adeola Egbedokun added that the industrial action would not be called off without congress resolution.

“Congress noted that there was no serious commitment on the part of the University to effect payment of EAA to deserving members. Congress also noted that all political and diplomatic means to resolve the imbroglia has failed”. 

Consequently, congress resolved that: Total, Comprehensive and Indefinite Strike should commence immediately. The strike must not be called off without a congress resolution to the effect.

Adenitan Akinola

Education

Explore FG’s PPP Policy to plug infrastructural gaps – Minister

By Web News 781

In line with the directive of President Mohammadu Buhari, the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has charged universities and other Nigerian tertiary institutions to find creative ways of exploiting the existing Public-Private Partnership policy to meaningfully bridge the infrastructure gaps on their campuses.

Alhaji Mohammed made the remark at the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife at the inauguration of rehabilitation projects at the Faculty of Science, sponsored by an alumnus of the institution, Dr Akintoye Akindele.

Correspondent, Adenitan Akinola was there for Radio Nigeria.

Adenitan Akinola

Crime

Timothy Adegoke’s Lawyer Challenges Police Claims Of Hotelier’s Innocence

By Web News 768

Pathologists invited to conduct an autopsy on the remains of Timothy Adegoke, a Master’s student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, whose dead body was exhumed some days after he was declared missing, arrived at Osun State University Teaching Hospital UNIOSUNTH, Osogbo around 2 pm, on Monday.

Family members of the deceased, counsels and journalists had arrived at the hospital by 11 am when the autopsy was slated, to monitor the event.

The corpse was taken out of the hospital’s mortuary department for X-ray and later returned for other examinations.

Lead counsel to the family of late Timothy Adegoke, Mr. Naheem Adekilekun, said the pathologist of the family of the deceased was there to represent them.

The Investigative Police Officer, IPO, and other pertinent parties were allowed into the mortuary while journalists and other members stood outside.

Meanwhile, speaking with newsmen on behalf of the family, Mr. Adekilekun challenged the police over the alleged audio of one of the suspects and the owner of Hilton Hotel and Resorts, Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin.

He expressed concern over the audio of the suspect who was said to be in police detention, pleading his innocence in the audio.

The counsel who said the action of Osun Police command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who told members of the public that there was nothing to show any form of mutilation on the body of the deceased when it was exhumed from the shallow grave, was contrary to what witnesses who were at the site of the exhumation had to say.

He called on the police to give an explanation on the reported “preferential and VIP treatment” being accorded the owner of the hotel who they claimed to be in their detention.

As of the time of filing this report, the outcome of the autopsy is yet to be out.

Adenitan Akinola

Education

Gov. Abiodun Gifts OAU Best Medical Graduate House, N5m, Scholarship

By Web News 641

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has rewarded Miss Joy Adesina, who emerged the best graduating student from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, with a house, a sum of five million naira and a scholarship for further studies.

Governor Abiodun, who made this known at the reception organized in honour of Miss Adesina, an indigene of Ogun State, noted that the medical scholarship would be for her residency at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

The governor reiterated that his administration would continue to recognize and honour exceptional indigenes of Ogun State, who through a dint of hard work attained academic excellence and are found worthy both in character and innovation.

He advised the awardee to put her intellectual prowess into research and scholarship and expressed optimism that Miss Adesina might be Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Medicine.

While calling on the private sector to collaborate with the state government through its Public-Private Partnership, PPP, programme to reposition education in the state, the governor promised that his administration would continue to appreciate and reward positive enterprises and achievements by sons and daughters of the state, especially the youths. 

Responding, the honouree appreciated the gestures extended to her by the state and thanked her parents for their love and support to achieve the feat at the medical school with a promise to make good use of the opportunity.

Bolanle Adesida

Education

OAU Dismisses Lecturer Over Sexual Related Offence

By Web News 690

Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU Ile Ife has dismissed another lecturer over the offenses of sexual intimidation, harassment and coercion of a female student.


The dismissed lecturer is Dr Adebayo Mosobalaje of the Department of English Language, Faculty of Arts.


In a statement by the University Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, the Governing Council of the Institution found him guilty of sexual demeanor against a female student.


The statement says, the Council decision was taken after it deliberated on the report of its Joint Committee and Senate, which investigated the case of sexual harassment against him.


According, the University Council has declared zero tolerance to sexual harassment in any form or guise and, accordingly, applied the appropriate University sanctions for such an offence as contained in the University regulation.


Recalled that a Professor of Accounting from Obafemi University, Richard Akindele was dismissed in June 2018 having been found guilty of same offenses.


Professor Akindele was later prosecuted at the Federal High Court Osogbo, where he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in Jail, while he was ordered to forfeit his mobile telephones to the Federal Government.

Adenitan Akionla