OAU Kilonshele News Outfit

Orisatoye Aminat Photo Credit: ACJOAU The Africa Foundation for Young Media Professionals has, on Saturday 27th January, held a one-day seminar for aspiring journalists, in conjunction with the Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University. This seminar was organized to train 40 campus journalists on how to safeguard themselves when reporting. While delivering his speech, AFYMP Executive Director Yinka Olaito explained what Safety is and the importance of safety when reporting an event. He said, 'Safety is based on taking precautions'. He enjoined members of the Association of Campus Journalists, OAU to always take all the necessary precautions while reporting.  As stated by the AFYMP Executive Director, Yinka Olaito, he noted that a journalist must be vigilant and collaborative. He added 'As a Journalist, think about your safety before you cover an event'. He advised the student journalists to have full knowledge about themselves; their Health s...

Adeniran Tolulope The Physics and Engineering Physics Students' Association, Obafemi Awolowo University, has on Tuesday, January 23rd, orientated its new students, by inviting lectures in the department to offer them practical steps to follow for a successful academic journey they're embarking on. While speaking, a lecturer in the department, Dr Fadodun, encouraged the new students to believe in themselves rather than having a failure mindset, when it comes to their studies. He further emphasized that students should not depend on the opinions of others, but their opinions matter. He further stated that students of Physics and Engineering Physics are more expected to learn Programming Languages and other skills related to science and technology, rather than handiworks. Another prominent professor of the department, Professor Felix Olise, also urged the students to be determined. Furthermore, he referred to the statement of Dr Fadodun, reiterating that the students t...

  Johnson Precious   A gas explosion is the sudden, violent release of energy from the ignition of natural gas or other flammable gases. When these substances are ignited, they can rapidly combust and produce an intense blast wave that can cause significant damage to structures and people in the immediate vicinity. The exact causes of gas explosions may vary, but factors such as improper handling of gas equipment, or lack of maintenance can all contribute to their occurrence. It is no longer news that gas explosions have become a recurring incident in school hostels.  The question on the mind of every concerned person is, why does this keep happening? One of the major reasons for these explosions is the use of substandard gas cylinders and accessories which are not fit for purpose. Due to the cost of living and lack of awareness, some students go for cheap options which often result in deadly consequences. Other causes include: Lack of proper safety procedures in the host...

OAU KILONSHELE         Students of Obafemi Awolowo University have lamented the poor healthcare facilities of the University's health center. This is coming after patients and eyewitnesses of events that took place at the Health Center spoke with OAU Kilonshele. First, let's navigate through the reasons why the Health Center has been facing these issues.     The Nigerian University system has been plagued by poor facilities for many years. Many universities lack adequate infrastructure of all kinds. Many campuses lack electricity, running water, and proper sanitation facilities which has led to overcrowding and poor learning conditions for students which also has negatively impacted the health and wellbeing of students resulting in poor health outcomes and a higher record of death which could have been prevented.  One of the biggest problems with the healthcare facilities at OAU is the lack of staff. There are not enough doctors, nurses, an...

The Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, announced the establishment of the Center of Excellence for Combined Energy Innovations and Technologies (CoE-CESIT). Prof. Bamire made this disclosure during the Institution's Faculty of Science 2024 Annual Lecture on Wednesday. The newly established center is a collaborative effort involving Trans-Disciplinary Research Teams in the Faculty of Science, the Center for Energy Research and Development (CERD), and researchers globally. Prof. Bamire emphasized that the center's primary objective is to provide innovative solutions for the future challenges in the energy sector. During his address, Prof. Bamire outlined the long-term vision of the center, highlighting its commitment to being at the forefront of advancements in smart petroleum and energy systems technology. He expressed optimism about the center's potential impact on the energy sector, both nationally and with...

Abdulbasit Abdulkareem In a bid to tackle the pressing challenges of energy sufficiency and sustainability in Nigeria, Mr. Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), has called for increased collaboration between academia and the Oil & Gas Industry. The call came during the GCEO's Lecture at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on Wednesday, January 17th, where he was honored with the Faculty of Science Excellence and Innovation Award. The lecture, titled "Energy Security, Sustainability and Profitability in Nigeria: Advances, Challenges, and Opportunities," emphasized the crucial role that academic institutions, such as OAU, play in ensuring national energy security through research and collaborative efforts with the industry. Addressing challenges hindering energy security, Kyari identified rapid population growth, pipeline vandalism, and crude oil theft. He stressed the significan...

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) stormed Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife today, 17th January, 2023, in a 2-day open air crusade. The programme kicked off this Wednesday and will continue tomorrow Thursday, 18th January. The program commenced around 4pm at the New Crusade Ground near OAU Sports Complex with over 5,000 attendees, including staffs, students and nearby visitors from Ife and suburbs in attendance. Irrespective of the fact that many students are currently in the week of tests, the interested believers among them still trooped out en masse to witness the program. It started with a choir ministration and plethora of worship songs for about 45 minutes before Pastor Joshua Ojo led a 7-minute intercession for the University. After then, Pastor Mathew Oyelami took over for another 7-minute intercession for the Country before other series of activities held. Guest ministration was on till the General Overseer mounted th...

OAU KILONSHELE Closing the Final stage of the Great Ife Football League, as stated by the organizer of the League, there will be a medal presented to the winning team of the League. This medal was named 'The Supreme Medal'.  The Supreme Medal, which will be owned by the winning team of the Great IFE Football League Final stage, came as a result of the performance of the two finalists of the league, KHR and AGE. The final match between AGE and PHE is scheduled to be held by 3:30 pm on Thursday, January 18th, at the Mainbowl of the University Sports' Complex  These two departments were in the same group during the group stage and shared the same point in a 1-1 draw in the last game. However, AGE secured the first spot on the table as a result of a higher goal difference. The two teams, during the competition, didn't lose any of the games played. EEE will be playing against BCH, to secure the third place by 1:30 pm on Thursday, January 18th. The win...

Oluwafemi Olabode                            Photo credit: ACJ OAU  The Obafemi Awolowo University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, on Thursday 11th of January, reaffirmed the institution’s zero tolerance for cultism and exam malpractice. The University Vice-Chancellor represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Bola Babalola, disclosed this during the matriculation ceremony for the 2022/2023 academic session new intakes held at the University’s Oduduwa Hall Amphitheater. Bamire stated that since the University’s establishment, it has consistently produced skilled professionals to fulfil national and international employment requirements while noting that the University commonly known as ‘Great Ife’ has served as a hub of knowledge and intellectual excellence for many decades. He urged the newly matriculated students to strive for excellence by enhancing, refining, and understand...

Abdulbasit Abdulkareem   The Federal Government's pledge made in October 2022 to increase salaries by 35% for academic and 25% for non-academic staff in tertiary institutions across Nigeria is yet to be realized. The then Education Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu, announced these increments, but the promised improvements have not been materialized, leaving many university employees disillusioned. President Tinubu, a few months ago, directed the payment of four out of the eight months of withheld salaries and the announced salary increments. However, this directive remains unimplemented, adding to the frustrations of the academic community. Fast forward to October 2023, the current Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, declared that payments for the revitalization of tertiary institutions were underway. The Federal Government again, through the National Salaries, Wages, and Income Commission, approved a 35% salary increment for academic staff and 25% for non-academic s...

Abdulbasit Abdulkareem The accommodation fees for both fresher and returning students of the Obafemi Awolowo University sparked controversy at the beginning of the 2022/23 session. After initially increased to #30,000 for new students and #25,000 for returning students, there was a wild ride of revisions. Days after the session commenced, returning students saw their accommodation fees temporarily spike to #30,000 on the school portal, causing confusion among the students. While some students promptly paid the revised amount, the university later reverted the fee back to the original #25,000, promising to refund the excess #5,000 to those who had already paid the higher amount. With a November 16, 2023 deadline set by the university, affected students were instructed to submit refund requests to the Bursary Office. However, as of today, no refunds have been processed, leaving students frustrated and questioning the university's integrity. In an interview with an OAU Kilonshele repo...

Adeniran Tolulope   In response to the explosion that rocks Poplat Petrol Station in Lagere on Tuesday, 9th January, the Great IFE Students' Union, on Wednesday, paid visits to the Petrol station and other petrol stations in Ile-ife Vicinity.  The president of the Students Union, Abass Ojo made this known in a Parliamentary summit organized by the Faculty of Social Science Students' Representatives Council.  He noted that the leadership of the Students' Union in conjunction with the NANS Senate President, Babatunde AFEEZ, has visited the Petrol Stations in Ile-ife Vicinity to make sure the lives and properties of students of Obafemi Awolowo University are secured. Meanwhile, earlier, he made an issuance of the lock down of all Poplat Petrol filling Stations in Ile Ife.  In a short moment, the President, Abass Ojo said he received a response from the Area Commander of IFE Zonal Police, who has called upon the Owner of the Filling Station to address the Exp...

Olurotimi Lois On the 11th of January, post Buhari-era, the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU) will matriculate her fresh students. What are fresh students also known as? From bloody freshers to baby students, the tag sprawls across a host of higher institutions across the country. Are you one? Well, you won't be one any longer in few months' time. Back to business, matriculation is a ritual of the university and other institutions of higher learning across the global landscape. Fresh students, after securing admission and going through different phases of registration, are usually and ceremoniously welcomed into the school.  As a popular mantra trends amongst students and staff of the university, before the matriculation ceremony, new intakes have not yet been properly registered or have the university's seal on them as actual students.  In other words, their studentship status before this grand ceremonial welcome is tentative and fleeting....

Abdulbasit Abdulkareem   Photo credit: ACJ OAU Students residing in OAU Hall of Residence find themselves grappling with a new challenge – a persistent blackout since Friday, just minutes before 5 pm. The blackout has left some of the halls with electricity blackout, hindering the pumping of water and subsequently restricting students from preparing for their tests.  Meanwhile, only Moremi Hall of Residence and Ladoke Akintola Hall of Residence have remained unaffected by the power outage, leaving students in other halls scrambling for alternatives. A surge of students were seen leaving their respective halls tonight and converging on Moremi Hall to access water, highlighting the severity of the situation. Whilst the recent surge in accommodation fees, a stark increase from #3090 and #2790 to #30,000 and #25,000, respectively, has sparked outrage among the students, many students expressed their discontent, citing the combination of elevated living cost. In respons...

Abdulbasit Abdulkareem   Obafemi Awolowo Hall at OAU, a hub of student life, has become a focal point of discontent as students residing in blocks 3 and 4 grapple with unexpected challenges stemming from early second-semester renovations during the 2021/22 session. The much-anticipated completion of the renovations, marking the beginning of the current Harmattan semester (2022/23), has brought to light a series of unsettling revelations, leaving students frustrated. The renovation process, which necessitated the temporary evacuation of students from block 3 and 4, reached a milestone with the commissioning of the newly renovated hostel. However, the excitement was short-lived as a circulated video during the commissioning revealed beds mounted inside each bunk. To the bewilderment of returning students, these beds mysteriously vanished upon resumption. Adding to the students' grievances, those allocated rooms in the renovated blocks were confronted with a financial burd...

Abdulbasit Abdulkareem   In another development, the water crisis that plagued Awolowo Hall at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has been resolved with the successful repair of the damaged pumping machine. Students are now relieved as they can once again access water in their residence. The Hall Chairman released a statement this afternoon at 4:15 pm, bringing the good news to the residents of Awolowo Hall. The statement reads, "This is to notify everyone that the borehole in block 8 has been repaired with a new pumping machine and now water has been restored." The swift action taken by the hall executives in repairing the pumping machine shows their commitment to addressing the needs and concerns of the students.  This was coming after several days of inconvenience for the residents of the hall. The students therefore appreciate the quick response and effective measures taken by the hall executives to ensure the prompt repair of the pumping machine.

Abdulbasit Abdulkareem    The Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Simeon Adebayo Bamire embarked on a visit to Awolowo Hall on Friday morning. The Vice-Chancellor, accompanied by his team, Hall management, and Awolowo Hall executives, meticulously inspected various blocks within the student residence.  During the visit, Professor Bamire expressed a keen interest in understanding the current state of the hall and engaged in conversations with both Hall management and student representatives. Notably, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy hostel environment. Addressing the the hall executives, Professor Bamire urged the student union to intensify efforts in keeping the hostel free of refuse and dumps. He highlighted the pivotal role students play in maintaining the hygiene of their living spaces and called for collective responsibility to create a conducive environment for all residents. The V...

Abdulkareem Abdulbasit   Students residing in Awolowo Hall at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) have been grappling with a severe water shortage in the past four days, due to the damaged pumping machine serving the hall.  In a statement released by the Awolowo Hall Executive, the Hall Executive issued an apology for the inconvenience caused by the lack of water says efforts to rectify the situation are underway, with the hall executives actively working to find a solution to the damaged pumping machineand the the hall warden and the Division of Students Affairs are also involved in addressing the distress faced by the students. In a meeting held earlier yesterday between the Division of Students Affairs and the hall leadership, it was disclosed that necessary measures are being taken to restore the damaged machine promptly. As a temporary solution, the Hall Executives reached out to the management of Awolowo Hall Mosque for assistance. The MSSN Awo branch has pledge...

Adeniran Tolulope   Toward the end of 2023, there was a trending report which stated that a Moremi Hall resident, was attacked at night by a male intruder. It was reported that the perpetrator was also a student, and that he was dressed in female attire.  It was even quoted by quite a significant number that he was sleeping by the side of the female student before he was caught, after which he struggled to keep the student silent. However, he couldn’t resist the defense which ensured the scenario didn't go uglier.  In just a week after the Moremi's incident, there was another male invasion which occurred at the Mozambique Hall of Residence. It was said that the victim of the incident, who held a lamp, made an attempt to shout to the public during the time it happened, late at night once again. This attempt to shout to the public made the invader to escape. These incessant break-ins questioned the silence of the University. Shortly after the Moremi's incident, ...

Abdulkareem Abdulbasit A team of researchers from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile–Ife has clinched the esteemed USAID Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture. Collaborating with the University of California (UC) Davis, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored this $460,599 project, and one of three awarded to West African researchers. The initiative, spanning 42 months, focused on empowering youth to cultivate local fruits and vegetables. It integrates cutting-edge climate-smart agronomic practices, sustainable soil health through soil amendment, and expert seed production and management. The project emphasizes gender sensitivity, promising to empower youth while being inclusive. A forward-looking approach lies at the project's core, emphasizing the development of digital tools. These tools serve as a foundation for efficiently transmitting innovative knowledge on indigenous vegetables and fruits to the youth, ensuring wides...