News (149)

An undergraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Opeyemi has earned a rather rare media mention through a feature published on his exemplary foray into agribusiness, cocoa-farming to be precise, even while still studying for a degree. The young agri-prenuer, Olowogbade Opeyemi, a Part 5 student in the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Technology, whose post on social media about his exploits on his cocoa farm caught the attention of some online news media, which ran features on him, was quoted to have stated that the harsh conditions of job-seeking should be enough motivation for Nigerian youths to be drawn towards agriculture; but instead, many regard farming as a lost cause. “The situation of the country should push youths to agriculture but no, they think it’s a lost cause.

By the time I graduate, I want to have employment options for my peers here in school. I’m sure they will be thrilled and motivated”, Opeyemi said. On some of his future plans for the agri-business, he was reported to have said that he intends to build a farmstead that will serve as a temporary residence for him wherever he comes to work on the farm, instead of making daily trips that might hinder him from fully focusing on what needs to be done. Opeyemi added that he also plans to buy a motorized sprayer that will enable apply pesticides and other agro-chemicals faster and wider on the tree crops. This youngster’s extra-curricular adventure aptly reflects the stance of the present university administration led by Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, which places a lot of emphasis on revamping the curricular of the various programmes in the university such that entrepreneurial skills acquisition that will make OAU graduates job creators rather than job seekers, will be incorporated into the new curricular.

Similarly, the University is to partner corporate organizations and individuals in the quest to provide quality entrepreneurship education for the generality of the students

Efforts to further bring education and health services nearer to the people received a boost in Nigeria as the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, commissioned the newly built and well equipped ICT/CBT and the Health Centre of the Centre for Distance Learning of the University, in Moro, Osun State. Thanking the Director of the CDL, Professor Sola Akanni, for providing good leadership and leading by example, Professor Ogunmodede expressed delight with the fast tempo which the contractor(s) employed to complete the projects within the stipulated time. He urged everyone present to lay a good example so that posterity will be kind to all at the end of the day.

The Vice-Chancellor, who was conducted round the CDL estate before commissioning the projects, lauded the resilience of the lecturers and staff of the School of Nursing whose determination led to the increase in number of applicants into the B.Sc. Nursing program. According to him, the official presentation of the Health Centre will help prevents diseases and, to the barest minimal, prevent death. He promised to assist the CDL in anyway the University might deem fit, appreciating the entire work force of the CDL for supporting the Director in turning the Centre around for better. While commissioning the new 2KVA generating set, Professor Ogunbodede assured them that sooner than later, the uninterrupted electricity supply that the OAU main campus would be enjoying latest by October, would be extended to the centre so that their academic and administrative activities will go unhindered.

Earlier, the Director of the Centre, Professor Sola Akanni, had thanked the Vice-Chancellor for giving him the opportunity to serve the University for the second time as the Director, thereby redeeming his image, honour and integrity. He enumerated various achievements his administration had recorded within the short time of his tenure, attributing the extension of the clinic to the initiative of the Vice-Chancellor whose advice on several areas made it possible for CDL to advance and develop to its present enviable position.

The Post-graduate College, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has held its very first colloquium for the generality of the postgraduate students of the University, even as the students are tasked on the need to be conversant with the rules and regulations governing the university’s postgraduate programs.

The colloquium which will be an annual event subsequently was held at the Moot Court Hall of the Faculty of Law.  A very large turnout of Postgraduate students attended the one-day event which featured four (4) presentations with doting focus on:  relationship of postgraduate staff in the Faculty and College with postgraduate students, delivered by the College Secretary, Mrs. Fadeyibi; adhering to rules and regulations for hitch-free postgraduate operations in the departments and faculties, handled by the Deputy Provost, Professor Olaleye; data analysis, statistics and interpretation or results, rendered by a member of the Postgraduate College Board, Dr. Faleye; and ensuring quality in processing forms and theses to the Postgraduate College, delivered by the Provost, Professor Ajibade. 

The oldest member of the Postgraduate Board, Professor Oyebisi, and the Dean, Faculty of Education, Professor Adeleke, had special sessions at the colloquium to expatiate the peculiarities of the Postgraduate programmes in the University, stressing that the students should count themselves very lucky to have been admitted into the University out of the numerous applications received.

The colloquium had a demonstration on the procedure for completing the new “Form A” which will soon come into effect online to enable effective administrative processing at the College.

Questions were taken from the students on grey areas requiring further explanations before the colloquium was brought to a close.

A member of the faculty in the Department of Foreign Languages, French section, Dr. Saah Nengou Clotaire, has won the Golden Pen award of the 16th edition of Dakar’s International Bookfair and Teaching Logistic. The Book Fair which held in Dakar, Senegal, with the theme “Books, Youth, Economy: The Challenges of Our Development”, was organized and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture (Directorate of Books and Reading; the Francophony International Organization; and the International and External Trade Centre of Senegal. Dr. Saah Nengon, a Cameroonian and Senior Lecturer in the department represented Nigeria at the International Bookfair in which he won the prize for the best International communication Presentation.

Nine (9) communications were selected from African and European countries out of which Nigeria’s entry made by Dr. Saah Nengou Clotaire was adjudged the best. The entry titled, “A la Croiséedes cheming du dévelopment médiatique, guerre des livres et paix à la lecture”, meaning, “At the Crossroads of Media’s development: War of Books, and Peace unto Reading”, highlights the cacophony and rivalry in the media world today, between the traditional paper book (the codex) and the digital book (Electronic book).

The paper goes on to expatiate that the youths are increasingly addicted to androids, and consequently, visit less the conventional libraries and bookshops. This sudden shift, according to the paper, has been perceived by many parents like a rebellion and threat to reading’s discipline and the long time-honoured tradition of reading books at school. The International Bookfair was presided over by the President of the Republic of Senegal, His Excellency, Macky Sall.