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Showing posts from April, 2024

Students Resist Closure of New Buttery in Awolowo Hall Of Residence

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Abdulbasit Abdulkareem   In a display of solidarity and protest, students residing in Obafemi Awolowo University's Awolowo Hall have staunchly opposed the decision to close down the newly established buttery in Block 7 of the hall of residence. The resistance stems from accusations leveled by the Physical Planning and Development Unit (PPDU), who allege the structure to be illegal. OAU Kilonshele Reporter gathered that officials from the PPDU visited the hall of residence on Monday, April 29th, and  confronted the proprietor of the buttery, citing the illegality of the structure. Additionally, a poster denoting the structure as illegal was affixed to the buttery. However, students vehemently tore down the poster, asserting their discontent with the allegations. Expressions of solidarity and support for the buttery owner reverberated throughout the hall, as students lamented what they perceive as a targeted attack. Many students attributed the accusations to be purported...

Should Students Appreciate the FG For Students' Loan Scheme?

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Adeniran Tolulope Students might have come across a social media graphics where the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS , indicated its interest in holding a Solidarity Walk to appreciate the Students' Loan Scheme which was recently signed into law by the Federal government of Nigeria. A question that have been the title of discussion among many students is " Should Nigerian students appreciate the FG's scheme of borrowing them money to finish their Education?" In June 2023, the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government sent a first bill to the Senate, and later forwarded another a second time after a comprehensive review, before it was approved by the lawmakers in April 2024. Recall that the Students' Loan Scheme was part of the agenda of the Renewed Hope, which was the Campaign theme of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 General Elections. Many citizens viewed it as a strategy to win the election at first, but unlike previous admini...

Students, others React to Sudden Halt in Operation of Union Shuttle

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  Edun Precious Oluwatomisin, Oguntade Adedoyin    On November 6, 2023, the Student Union, in conjunction with Uniconne commenced the operation of a transportation bus for students. The union shuttle kicked off by operating between bus stop and campus gate. The plan was to expand its operations to Damico and Road 7. Unfortunately, the Union Shuttle stopped operations abruptly with no information given to students as to why it stopped. The CEO of Uniconne, Mr John Alade, while answering questions regarding the union shuttle, noted that the system has been crippled majorly due to the involvement of the conventional transport system. He further explained that the town and gown relationship, which is the communities of the University town, is important to the school, as it involves the non-academic population and the University, and should not be severe. Mr John reiterated that the shuttle has caused a rift as students tend to use it more and have gradually moved...

GWR: Tunde Onakoya hits 21 hours of Undefeated in Chess Game

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Emiola Oluwaseun Tunde Onakoya, the founder and convener of Chess in Slum, which started in 2015 with the aim to give a better life to children who live in the Makoko slum in Lagos (the world's largest slum). Chess in Slum has gathered and diverted the eyes of the world to the lack and poverty being experienced by the children in Makoko. But the vision is bigger, and chess has been the only way funds are being generated for the education and good living conditions of the kids. Mr. Tunde, the chess prodigy, kicked off his Guinness World Record journey yesterday, on the 17th of April, in the heart of New York City, with the intention to raise $1 million dollars to cater for children out of school in Africa. The #Chess Marathon for Change is expected to last for 58 hours. As of the time of filing this report, Tunde Onakoya, who is also dubbed as the King's Gambit, has gone 21 hours undefeated, while he has defeated New York chess master Shawn Martinez and 17 other rand...

Minister of Solid Minerals Suspends Mining activities around OAU Campus and Teaching Hospital

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Abdulbasit Abdulkareem The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, has announced the indefinite suspension of all mining activities within the premises of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), its teaching hospital complex (OAUTHC), and surrounding areas in Ile-Ife, Osun State. This decision follows investigations into suspected illegal mining operations in the vicinity. In a statement issued on his social media platforms, Alake stated that the ministry took decisive action after a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, and the Chief Medical Director of OAUTHC, Prof. John Okeniyi. "Upon reports of illegal mining activities, we swiftly took action to investigate the allegations, which led to the suspension of all mining activities for further scrutiny," the minister said. The suspension order applies to all mining operations within the university campus, its teaching hospital complex, and surrounding environs until further notice. This move aims...

Students Bemoan Persistent Shortage of Water in Awo Hall.

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Adeniran Tolulope Students living in Obafemi Awolowo Hall of Residence have again, lamented the unavailability of water in the hostel. A Twitter user staying in the hostel, @kollydee4, tweeted that the issue continued this semester despite the protest that was done last semester.  Recall that, On the night of March 5th, 2024, it was reported that the Residents of Obafemi Awolowo Hall of Residence protested the unavailability of water in the hostel . This led to a temporary solution from the Students' Union, who in turn provided a tank of water to fill the reservoir at the entrance gate. While the situation persists, the students staying in the hall are again clamoring for water. Speaking with OAU Kilonshele, a student noted that since there was no intervention from the school management yet, students have been fetching water from the well, since the semester began.   Meanwhile, there are three boreholes drilled inside the Hall, but none of the boreholes are bei...