The Student Union election; The Drama
In 2008, the ban on the students' union was lifted after a session and the major drama during the manifestos was when 'SMAT' name unknown, a presidential aspirant with one of the best publicity said, 'if great Ife students are intelligent', in 2009 'Agenda mama', Joyce (Surname unknown) was the first female to prostrate, rather than knee during her manifestos, 2010 has her drama and AFOLABI ONI views it.
The debate started on Monday 1st, Nov, with the Association of Campus Journalists OAU, giving the aspirants quiz questions as well as debatable questions. The same thing continued on Tuesday, with the remaining offices. On Wednesday the aspirants were to give their manifestos and the hall was contested.
The aspirants gave their manifestos after journalists had read their manifestos and at a particular time frame. Any attempt by any aspirant to say 'of the greatest Ife', the response will be F-JAY. While some aspirants like Adelu James and Babaeko Kelvin hired band set others had their teaming supporter shouting. Any aspirant not loved will receive the gesture of sarcastically dusting the hands and asked to leave. The aspirant for the post of the Secretary General, Awelewa Wilson was the only aspirant that forgot to prostrate and the audience refused to give him attention.
The aspirants for the office of the president were dramatic. Babaeko did not use more three minutes to give his manifestos despite when they were given six minutes each and when Balogun Ademola was taking trying to exhaust his time, the crowd used his nickname against him, shouting, 'G.O. go!' Fredrick Joel had the loudest applause and the Oluwayemi Olalekan, (the PRO of the students' Union 2008/09, OAU) had to remove his suit before giving his manifestos. Lekan was the only aspirant that didn't paste posters. Adelu James the outgoing PRO didn't stop shooting two fingers in the air as his fans carried him after his citation. Adamolekun Johnson closed his eyes and was rushing down his manifestos and the crowd started saying 'Amen' because they mistaking him to be saying prayers rather than give his manifestos.
Their effort was rewarded after elections on Thursday. Chima Victor who was contesting for the office of the PRO lost the 2nd time despite having 2, 057 votes to Adeyemi Adetola, no little thanks to the other aspirant who weren't good contenders. Fatile Wale won the office of Sport Director with 3236 votes and second place Nwosu Markanthony. Olayinka Babawale won the office of the Director of Socials and culture with 4489 votes and his opponent Asifa Ayodele had 1551.
Olaoye Adeola a 200 level student of Management and Accounting said, 'His success cannot but be linked to the mirror he bought in the halls and his vibrant manifestos.'
Adefemi Olayinka won the Assistant General Secretary office, and the closest margin was the Financial Secretary as Adebayo Sikiru (2110) won Fasanmi Kayode (1984) by 26 votes. The next closest tie was the office of the Secretary General as Mandela Benjamin (1925) won Ogunne Kinsley (1888) by 37 votes. For the office of the vice president, Olupona Tolulope was the only aspirant that won in all faculties and 2nd placed Thompson Ayoka. The Office of the welfare director was won by Ayodele Ige with 1,885 against Olanrewaju Oluwaseun who had 1580.
Fredrick Joel emerged with 3605 votes which was almost 2.5 of what his runner up Adelu James, the outgoing PRO had. The Presidential aspirant with the least votes was Balogun Ademola with 75 votes.
Speaking with Campus life, Oluwayemi Olalekan a 400 level student of the faculty of Law said, ' I want to use this opportunity to express my hearty congratulation to Fredrick Joel for his landslide victory, I want to enjoin all Great Ife students and all aggrieved contestants to support his leadership, irrespective of differences and our political leaning and belief.
Afolabi Oni
08036126690
OAU
IGBO WEEK in OAU
In Obafemi Awolowo University from 3rd of November to 6th, five eastern states and the entire igbo community in OAU had her Igbo week which was the first of it kind as they usually have it at state level. Afolabi Oni, a 400level student of Education English reports the story.
The theme of the programme was, 'Igbo tradition in the 21st century, a need for a redirection', and the week concentrated more of how best to promote the Igbo culture.
Speaking with campuslife the Financial Secretary, Federation of Igbo Student 2009/10, Nzekwe Chukudalu said, 'the four day programme was indeed a success. The 1st day took the campus by storm with our publicity, especially Igbo students who hide themselves, while the 2nd day was 'Eri be agwuagwu na egwu onwa' meaning abundance to eat and moonlight dance respectivel where Igbo students came out in thier traditional attires and they told folklors admist eating and drinking beside moremi hall. the 3rd day was a publicity to the Igbo community in Ile-Ife and other students residing off campus. while day 4 was the cultural day that had the lunching of the magazine, the 'ada ndi Igbo' contest and two lectures.
Prof. Pita Ejiofor, a former Vice Chancellor of Unizik was one of the guest lectures and he said, 'There is a need to ensure that Igbo language doesnt go into extinction and the only way to ensure that is to speak the language. There is a need for Igbo students to embrace the language and see that it doesn't go into extinction.' Prof Pita added, 'Eastern universities are doing their best to ensure that igbo language doesn't goes into extinction by using it as their general studies course, which every student must pass before graduation. Unizik is an example. More so, for eastern students, credit is required in Igbo language before admission into higher institution. We should do virtually everything in our language because English makes us faceless. People have started making Invitation cards, birthday cards among others printed in Igbo language and we should patronize them in order to encourage them.'
The title of the second lecture was 'oya ji asusu igbo' meaning 'the dillemma of the Igbo language, by Mr Kalu Onuma, the Adminisrative Secretary, Ndigbo lagos said, 'When you ask a yoruba girl for her name, she says Sola, but an Igbo girl will say Benedicta, which makes it impossible to identify her as Igbo. Our goal should and must be to push the frontiers Igbo civilization into the world consciousness and take it to the next level. In most Igbo folklore death predicts living; living depicts the continuum of the soul, an endless journey through many lifetimes and comings, in-between is the allotted time to produce and this attitude of production is what marks the Igbo mind with that unalloyed approach towards work and a deep disgust towards indolence.'
The 'Ada ndi Igbo contest was keenly contested and won by Nkechi Ubakeze from Anambra state, an 100 level student of the department of Foreign Language. The judgment was based on the understanding of your native language, eloquence in Igbo language, intellegence and beauty.
Adanma Obondokwu said, 'Th programme was a okay, especially for those of use that we prefer English names rather than rich Igbo names. The truth it, this can be traced to colonization, because catholic dominated eastern Nigeria. the average Igbo is more catholic than Igbo and most of us prefer to bear names with saints. This lecture is timely.
Afolabi Oni
400 level Education English OAU 08036126690
Student encourages students
Solid link Educational Foundation, a non governmental organization, founded by Aikulola Abiodun a post graduate student of Economics organized a standard test for students to ascertain their preparedness for the forth coming examination on Friday 5th november, in OAU. The test was basically ICT, Economics and English. 34 schools participated with 3 representatives from each school within Ife-Modakeke area.
Taiwo Damilare from Modakeke high school was first, Adetunbi Adetayo of Royal High School was 2nd and Adedare Micheal of St. Phillips coming 3rd. The prizes were distributed immediately.
Tiawo Damilare said, 'This should come up as often as possible so as to keep us on our toes band create room for health academic rivalry that will indirectly solve the problem of examination malpractice.'
Aikulola Abiodun in a chat with campuslife said, 'The foundation is built and focuses on students who are less privilege in acquiring qualitative training and to promote institutional educational quality through standardized information that educate the energetic youth within the nation towards economic and social development.'
Afolabi Oni
