OAU has a tradition of canning students found in anti-social acts publicly; they call it maximum shi shi. To some it is barbaric and others the best mechanism for having violence free society. Afolabi Oni, a 400 level student of Education English OAU examines the subject.
Among every twelve, there must be a Judas and among over twenty five thousands, thousands of Judases. No doubt that cultism has been the order of the day on most campuses, because of youthful exuberance, over ambition and the need for security. ‘Variety’ they say ‘is the spice of life’, but when the spices get to be too much, it spoils the broth. One of the most difficult tasks in the world is to checkmate the excesses of men, little wonder we have the law. One of the laws in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife which has now become a tradition is maximum shi-shi (MSS).
This tradition circulated around 1999 when students after clamping down massively on the cultists on campus as at that time, they converged in Amphi theatre and chatted a way forward. According to a source, Ife students after critical analysis and intellectual scrutiny on how to deal with all forms of anti-social acts resolved to use cane publicly on erring members of the union and the number of strokes to be determined by the students. The erring student is paraded round all the halls of residence, both male and female. The congress resulted on zero tolerance to cultism and to achieve this assault had to be defined. They resolved that assault ranges from touch to fist to hit, any form of push or pull was also assault. This move placed a compulsory ban on fighting and there was absolutely no need for breaking of bottles. The congress observed that such punishment is best as it will not affect the studentship of the erring student and yet teach him or her lesson. To every law, the right execution must be in place. This may not have been the case in all occasions and due to improper execution many call for the quick disposal of the tradition.
According to a Law part five student of OAU, Olusola Adegbite said that ‘Maximum shishi has incurred odium. Human dignity is not negotiable, not even on the altar of an allegation. Section 36(5) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution is clear and apt, and no excuse can cure this irregularity.’
While giving his manifestoes, the Students’ Union President Alaje Paul said the decision on the eradication of maximum shishi lies with the students and such can only be taken at the level of the congress. However, he was of the opinion that erring members of the union after the maximum shishi must be referred to Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) or University Joint Christian Mission(UJCM) for proper rehabilitation.
Another student of the faculty of Education studying Economics 400 level, Eniayewu Oluwole said maximum shishi is a tool to discipline students whose ways are impure. It should be encouraged to correct abnormalities in the students’ environment. I strongly believe that it needs to be redefined so as not to be an anti-students’ policy. When a student is found in anti-social activities, I see no reason such student should not be dully punished. However, proper investigation should be made in order not to temper with the students’ right.’
On more than one occasion the Register of the University, Mr. Ayorinde Oguruku has referred to maximum shishi with contempt. During ACJ organized open forum in the year 2007, Mr. Oguruku referred to maximum shishi as jungle justice. More so, when the 2008/2009 executives of the ACJ headed by Fatai Abiola Moshood paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Dean of The Division of Students’ Affairs, Dr Yinka Adesina, he said it was barbaric and that no student has the right to beat a fellow student.
A member of the student Representative Council, Raji Saheed in Education Economics 300 level strongly supports the maximum shi shi. ‘The only reason we do not have cultists on this campus is this maximum shi shi. If it is abolished, students will be licensed to kill and the weak will be at the mercy of the strong. It is basically to check excesses.’
Campuslife met with the leader of the Students’ Union judicial council, a law part five student, the Lord Chancellor of the Students’ Union, Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr. Omotoso Adebisi Wasiu aka O’ Black. He said, ‘the Great Ife tradition of Maximum shi-shi is one of long standing that has been accepted as the standard of punishment of anti-social activities such as affray, stealing, bullying, indecent assault etc. This process involves flogging or canning of the offender after being investigated and found guilty by the judicial tribunal-Hall Executive Council, Council Executive Council, Security committee or the judicial council of the Union as the case may be.
To some individuals, the doctrine of MSS is crude and barbaric but it must be understood that canning, or other forms of corporal punishment is rooted in the theory of punishment provided for in the corpus of our criminal law. The Court is empowered by law to sentence an offender to canning in addition to other forms of punishment. For example, by virtue of S.358 of the Criminal Code Act Cap 38 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 states, ‘any person who commits the offence of rape is liable to imprisonment for life with or without canning’ (emphasis mine).
Also, S 77 of the Criminal Code Act and S 384-387 of the Criminal Procedure Act provides for canning as a mode of punishment and sentencing. This evidences the fact that corporal punishment is recognized in law and it is not anomaly where an accused is found guilty of the alleged offence except where he is above the age of 45.
The rationale behind canning is not only to subject the offender to the pain that comes with it but the shame and psychological blow given to his person. This is to serve as deterrence to others. Thus, the Ife doctrine of maximum shi shi is not as odd or barbaric as people may perceive it to be. It may only seem to be barbaric where it is dispensed where due process is not fully adhered to. After all, our Union does not have a penitentiary system or fining mechanism and we cannot afford to expose our members to the obdurate sanctions of the university at even misdemeanor of theirs. We can only subject them to measures that will make them repentant and ashamed. This is the import of maximum shi shi complemented with parading.’
To Adedayo Afolabi a 400 level student of Demography and Social Statistics said, ‘One cannot but mention the excesses of this barbaric act. Some persons will just come from nowhere and say they feel like beating, some will say they feel like slapping the stomach, it is stupid. Some of them are paraded naked or even with only their boxers in female halls, although not in most occasions naked. You need to see the way they beat, crueler than a Roman soldier, hitting all available spot. The victims are always perfectly deformed and terribly difficult to identify. On most occasions the victim is hospitalized after the exercise. More so, even most of them beating are thieves. This law must be abolished.’
Another student who will prefer if his name isn’t mentioned said, this tradition is good, other campuses should emulate it.
A4
08036126690
Friday, August 20, 2010
AN APPEAL TO MY DAD
DISCLIAMER! This article is fictional. Any resemblance with real life happening or correlation with office, persons and officers is regretted by the author. The author died after writing. Read and ignore the content.
My Daddy, Daddy, I am really crossed with you oo, but as a well cultured child one must not forget to remember that one must not get angry with his daddy even if his daddy is acting like a child.
Daddy, our graduates reported you to me o, and I am not here to confront you since I am not comrade Tobby neither am I Hon. Destiny. Daddy, don’t pay attention to the title, SPITTING FIRE, I am only here to plead. My immediate senior colleagues who are presently graduates of this institution have confirmed that most of them will not be going for NYSC in July but November. Daddy why?
Knowing full well that they were the first to conclude the second semester examinations last session, more so, the rush and pressure the university management put forth on the departments to get their results ready in no time was too much. The deadlines were terrible, several lecturers spend sleepless nights marking scripts in order to meet the deadlines and ensure that the most cherished students of their department make the NYSC in July. Now, all have come to not as only few departments are mobilized for NYSC this July.
Daddy, don’t you think you are being pitiless when students that gained admission the same year, say 2005, graduated with all their results intact the same year, and some students, based on their department will have to wait for close to a year before going to serve their fatherland.
It gives undue advantage to some graduates above the others. This is discrimination at its peak and injustice at its zenith. If not that people will say I am being rude, I will have said that you are a bad fellow or unintentionally wicked.
My Daddy, information reaching me has it that no student that has just graduated without an extra year in faculty of Arts and Education was mobilized for July NYSC. Daddy, if not that I am obliged to respect you, I would have said that you lack common sense. Daddy, I know that all our graduates cannot serve at a time, and we have specific numbers we can mobilize. My loving daddy, why didn’t you use your common sense to divide the numbers among the various faculties and even if you don’t have common sense, you should have consulted with someone that has common sense at least and probably the person will have suggested such.
My Daddy, as your bio-academical son, you may want to say that the Departments or Faculties didn’t meet the deadlines. Daddy, I am the opinion that strict sanctions should be melted out to HODs of Departments and Deans of faculties that do not meet the deadlines.
Daddy, some were even saying that not all our graduates will be mobilized in November. Daddy, what are you doing? Don’t let me say, what type of dad are you? Instead of you to lobby for more numbers to be mobilized for NYSC, you busy yourself doing next to nothing. Some of our graduates are yet to collect their ‘to whom…’ and you sit in your fully air conditioned office sipping tea.
My daddy, don’t let me reject you as my father, anyway this is an appeal not a demand, neither a command nor an impolite request. Well, if you think I am impolite, you too don’t come out publicly to say things you don’t intend doing. If you do that, that will imply that you a deceiver. I am not signifying that you are a deceiver, neither am I denying it.
Daddy, time is life, don’t just mobilize one department, and spread the number across all departments based on the number of their graduates. I am appealing to you now, so that some will not start criticizing you in future and once the criticism starts, you are on your own oo. I love you Dad. Bye for now!
A4‘…imparting lives’ 08024065997, 08054045225 zyplessy2k4@yahoo.com, oniafolabitheteacher@gmail.com
Afolabi Oni is a campuslife reporter of The Nation, a 400level student of Education English, General Secretary Association of Campus Journalists OAU, 2008/2009 session, Assistant General Secretary 2007/2008, Editor in chief of Ife Educator News Agency 2007/2008, and Editor in Chief of The Gist currently. He coauthored a book title tears and a Guest public speaker to several gatherings.
My Daddy, Daddy, I am really crossed with you oo, but as a well cultured child one must not forget to remember that one must not get angry with his daddy even if his daddy is acting like a child.
Daddy, our graduates reported you to me o, and I am not here to confront you since I am not comrade Tobby neither am I Hon. Destiny. Daddy, don’t pay attention to the title, SPITTING FIRE, I am only here to plead. My immediate senior colleagues who are presently graduates of this institution have confirmed that most of them will not be going for NYSC in July but November. Daddy why?
Knowing full well that they were the first to conclude the second semester examinations last session, more so, the rush and pressure the university management put forth on the departments to get their results ready in no time was too much. The deadlines were terrible, several lecturers spend sleepless nights marking scripts in order to meet the deadlines and ensure that the most cherished students of their department make the NYSC in July. Now, all have come to not as only few departments are mobilized for NYSC this July.
Daddy, don’t you think you are being pitiless when students that gained admission the same year, say 2005, graduated with all their results intact the same year, and some students, based on their department will have to wait for close to a year before going to serve their fatherland.
It gives undue advantage to some graduates above the others. This is discrimination at its peak and injustice at its zenith. If not that people will say I am being rude, I will have said that you are a bad fellow or unintentionally wicked.
My Daddy, information reaching me has it that no student that has just graduated without an extra year in faculty of Arts and Education was mobilized for July NYSC. Daddy, if not that I am obliged to respect you, I would have said that you lack common sense. Daddy, I know that all our graduates cannot serve at a time, and we have specific numbers we can mobilize. My loving daddy, why didn’t you use your common sense to divide the numbers among the various faculties and even if you don’t have common sense, you should have consulted with someone that has common sense at least and probably the person will have suggested such.
My Daddy, as your bio-academical son, you may want to say that the Departments or Faculties didn’t meet the deadlines. Daddy, I am the opinion that strict sanctions should be melted out to HODs of Departments and Deans of faculties that do not meet the deadlines.
Daddy, some were even saying that not all our graduates will be mobilized in November. Daddy, what are you doing? Don’t let me say, what type of dad are you? Instead of you to lobby for more numbers to be mobilized for NYSC, you busy yourself doing next to nothing. Some of our graduates are yet to collect their ‘to whom…’ and you sit in your fully air conditioned office sipping tea.
My daddy, don’t let me reject you as my father, anyway this is an appeal not a demand, neither a command nor an impolite request. Well, if you think I am impolite, you too don’t come out publicly to say things you don’t intend doing. If you do that, that will imply that you a deceiver. I am not signifying that you are a deceiver, neither am I denying it.
Daddy, time is life, don’t just mobilize one department, and spread the number across all departments based on the number of their graduates. I am appealing to you now, so that some will not start criticizing you in future and once the criticism starts, you are on your own oo. I love you Dad. Bye for now!
A4‘…imparting lives’ 08024065997, 08054045225 zyplessy2k4@yahoo.com, oniafolabitheteacher@gmail.com
Afolabi Oni is a campuslife reporter of The Nation, a 400level student of Education English, General Secretary Association of Campus Journalists OAU, 2008/2009 session, Assistant General Secretary 2007/2008, Editor in chief of Ife Educator News Agency 2007/2008, and Editor in Chief of The Gist currently. He coauthored a book title tears and a Guest public speaker to several gatherings.
JOURNALISM WITHOUT MASS COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT
Journalism in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife is that which cannot but be peculiar. This is due to the fact that the University has no Mass Communication department and as such, students practicing journalism practice as extra curricular activities. Although, few students have the intention of being media practitioners in future, yet the limitation by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) that her members cannot but be graduates of journalism, at least a minimum of Ordinary National Diploma (OND).
The date or year in which the practice of journalism started in Obafemi Awolowo University cannot be specified, but the rationale behind it been pronounced is not far fetch. Some group of students few decades ago were interested in bringing sanity to the OAU community. They published private or ‘sacred’ stories of the OAU community for the purpose of correcting social ills. These journalists were taken to the students’ court, tried and on most occasions discharged and acquitted. One of such was The Parrot among others. This news papers were always served hot at the halls of residence on Monday morning. Few years later, the various News Agency saw the need to have an association to fight for the common interest of all journalists, and this was how the Association of campus Journalists was born. The various news agencies elected Executive Councils members across the various news agencies to lead the association.
Based on the to promote the readership of each news agency and the fact that some student could not afford to purchase the paper also accompanied with the cost of production, some news agencies decided to get News boards-standing boards that they paste their news articles for all to read the articles for free. Based on the relevance of the Journalists, the University Management gave the Association of Campus Journalists, the sole right to conduct the press confrontation and manifestoes. This exercise is a core of the transition process of the student Union leadership.
Today the Journalism in OAU is a moving train. The News boards make publication from time to time and the print do their business regularly. ACJ-OAU has over 30 registered press board, 10 news prints and close to 300 members. Some of this news agencies are Ife Educator, Infocus, The Councilor, Socioscope, The Critic, Icons, The Eagle, Nasels Communication Bureau, Medivioce to mention but a few.
The ACJ-OAU knowing her limitations, especially the fact that she may be handicapped in the ethic of journalism resolve to invite practicing professional journalists and writers to educate and enlighten her members as regards the ethics of the profession. In the past the likes of Nngozi Nwozor (The Nation), Sam Omaseye (The Nation), Segun Adeoye (Tell), Segun Adisa (Anchor of Labe Orun), El-Nukoya and Fatimah Abdukareem (Nigerian Association of Women journalists (NAWOJ) President, ) have been her guest.
The ACJ-OAU has refused to be confined to the four corners of Obafemi Awolowo University, some of her members write for National Dallies. While Fatai Moshood writes for the Compass, Oni Afolabi, Ayodele Obajeun, Hannah Ojo, Yemisi Akingbola and Akpomuje Paul write for Campus life page of the Nation News Paper. OAU students’ union is vibrant not in herself but in the fact that her activities is brought to the notice of the entire students and Nigerians as a whole by the ACJ.
However the ACJ has her challenges and one of such is the impression the OAU community has about us. We are opponents to the university management and adversary to students. We are loved by neither. Imagine that on the floor of the congress, I as the General Secretary was almost assaulted because the thought I was management boy and was taking snap shots to be taken to the management for explosion of radically students. One Honorable member of the Parliament Folarin Kazeem at the Presidential debate of English students’ presidential election (2008) was badly comported and the Vice President Administration of the ACJ, Miss Ife Akala, took the snap shot, and he dragged the device forceful and deleted it. Such persons have forgotten that the media is there to caution.
No thanks to the University Management of OAU too because journalists have more than once been victim. A very recent example is the of Mr. Ayo Ademuluyi, the Formal Editor of The Eagle News paper who published a ‘report’ on the VC’s EFCC investigation and is yet to be mobilized for law School. Well, No one knows reason behind his immobilization because all his results have been released and he has graduated. Although, it may be difficult to establish a cause and effect relationship between the witch’s cry and the child’s death as the aftermath, yet, there is possiblity.
ACJ-OAU has a peculiar case, but journalism has come to stay and is per of every faculty and department. All we need is commitment on the part of her member. If there is anything the ACJ-OAU has achieved is in a concrete demarcation between her and the student union leadership. Her secretariat is separate from the union building and the Students’ Union is not a member of the ACJ and cannot lord over the ACJ. Conclusively, the fourth estate is in isolation, which is in the interest of all. Our motto is ‘…asserting the strength of the pen.’ But as far as I’m concerned, what keeps my going is the need to impart life.
Afolabi Oni
A4
‘…imparting lives’
General Secretary OAU-ACJ 2008/09, Assistant General Secretary OAU-ACJ 2007/08
The date or year in which the practice of journalism started in Obafemi Awolowo University cannot be specified, but the rationale behind it been pronounced is not far fetch. Some group of students few decades ago were interested in bringing sanity to the OAU community. They published private or ‘sacred’ stories of the OAU community for the purpose of correcting social ills. These journalists were taken to the students’ court, tried and on most occasions discharged and acquitted. One of such was The Parrot among others. This news papers were always served hot at the halls of residence on Monday morning. Few years later, the various News Agency saw the need to have an association to fight for the common interest of all journalists, and this was how the Association of campus Journalists was born. The various news agencies elected Executive Councils members across the various news agencies to lead the association.
Based on the to promote the readership of each news agency and the fact that some student could not afford to purchase the paper also accompanied with the cost of production, some news agencies decided to get News boards-standing boards that they paste their news articles for all to read the articles for free. Based on the relevance of the Journalists, the University Management gave the Association of Campus Journalists, the sole right to conduct the press confrontation and manifestoes. This exercise is a core of the transition process of the student Union leadership.
Today the Journalism in OAU is a moving train. The News boards make publication from time to time and the print do their business regularly. ACJ-OAU has over 30 registered press board, 10 news prints and close to 300 members. Some of this news agencies are Ife Educator, Infocus, The Councilor, Socioscope, The Critic, Icons, The Eagle, Nasels Communication Bureau, Medivioce to mention but a few.
The ACJ-OAU knowing her limitations, especially the fact that she may be handicapped in the ethic of journalism resolve to invite practicing professional journalists and writers to educate and enlighten her members as regards the ethics of the profession. In the past the likes of Nngozi Nwozor (The Nation), Sam Omaseye (The Nation), Segun Adeoye (Tell), Segun Adisa (Anchor of Labe Orun), El-Nukoya and Fatimah Abdukareem (Nigerian Association of Women journalists (NAWOJ) President, ) have been her guest.
The ACJ-OAU has refused to be confined to the four corners of Obafemi Awolowo University, some of her members write for National Dallies. While Fatai Moshood writes for the Compass, Oni Afolabi, Ayodele Obajeun, Hannah Ojo, Yemisi Akingbola and Akpomuje Paul write for Campus life page of the Nation News Paper. OAU students’ union is vibrant not in herself but in the fact that her activities is brought to the notice of the entire students and Nigerians as a whole by the ACJ.
However the ACJ has her challenges and one of such is the impression the OAU community has about us. We are opponents to the university management and adversary to students. We are loved by neither. Imagine that on the floor of the congress, I as the General Secretary was almost assaulted because the thought I was management boy and was taking snap shots to be taken to the management for explosion of radically students. One Honorable member of the Parliament Folarin Kazeem at the Presidential debate of English students’ presidential election (2008) was badly comported and the Vice President Administration of the ACJ, Miss Ife Akala, took the snap shot, and he dragged the device forceful and deleted it. Such persons have forgotten that the media is there to caution.
No thanks to the University Management of OAU too because journalists have more than once been victim. A very recent example is the of Mr. Ayo Ademuluyi, the Formal Editor of The Eagle News paper who published a ‘report’ on the VC’s EFCC investigation and is yet to be mobilized for law School. Well, No one knows reason behind his immobilization because all his results have been released and he has graduated. Although, it may be difficult to establish a cause and effect relationship between the witch’s cry and the child’s death as the aftermath, yet, there is possiblity.
ACJ-OAU has a peculiar case, but journalism has come to stay and is per of every faculty and department. All we need is commitment on the part of her member. If there is anything the ACJ-OAU has achieved is in a concrete demarcation between her and the student union leadership. Her secretariat is separate from the union building and the Students’ Union is not a member of the ACJ and cannot lord over the ACJ. Conclusively, the fourth estate is in isolation, which is in the interest of all. Our motto is ‘…asserting the strength of the pen.’ But as far as I’m concerned, what keeps my going is the need to impart life.
Afolabi Oni
A4
‘…imparting lives’
General Secretary OAU-ACJ 2008/09, Assistant General Secretary OAU-ACJ 2007/08
14 days in hell
Preamble
I have a wound in my heart that no man can tend nor heal. I wound I will carry even in death if a miracle doesnt happen. A wound I think of every second of my life and cannot but notice it. It is easier to teach than to practice what you taught. It is easier to be a coach at the sideline of the field casting blames and faults than be in the field of play yourself. I used to think that when you talk about women that I was a vetiran teaching people how to best maintain their relationship and control their woman, not until I met the woman I will forever love.
Story
The Academic Staff Union of Universities were at I again, they were protesting for increment in thier salary and better welfare conditions in the Nigerian Universities. They have being at it for two months now and obviously still counting. Ibalofa a student of Obafemi Awolowo University popularly called great ife stayed back at school. He did this basically for two reason, he wanted to keep writing news as a correspondce to The Nation newspaper and to keep teaching at an Educational Institue in Ife. His parents lived in far away Lagos about 400 miles away.
However, life was a little boring in Ife. He was putting in his brother's house, Mr Jacobs. Mr Jacobs also a student of Ife was married to Ada and they were staying together in a flat in Modakeke. Ada's younger sister Adaku came to stay with her sister and her bed was in the sitting room with Ibalofa. No sooner than not Mr. Jacobs travelled to Lagos not only to see his parents but to make more money because business in Ife was far from good.
Early Monday morning, Iba as he was fondly called, woke up before six, did his hygiene retuals and dashed up to take a Motor bike of to the Educational institue, the had seven O' Clock class, a three hours class. He was taking Literature in English for students seeking admission to into the university. He was in class just 3 minutes before seven and the students in the hostel we already arriving one after the other. Dele one of the students requested that they waited for other but fair Eluku prefered they got started. Iba knew that to sustain a 3 hours class wasnt easy as he had to teach with high level of humour. Iba started the class at seven requesting the students to ask questions in diffcult areas already taught or from their past questions and the questions flew out from the lips of the students as the teacher skillfully paried them.
To be continue in the book 14 days in hell by Oni afolabi, 08036126690
I have a wound in my heart that no man can tend nor heal. I wound I will carry even in death if a miracle doesnt happen. A wound I think of every second of my life and cannot but notice it. It is easier to teach than to practice what you taught. It is easier to be a coach at the sideline of the field casting blames and faults than be in the field of play yourself. I used to think that when you talk about women that I was a vetiran teaching people how to best maintain their relationship and control their woman, not until I met the woman I will forever love.
Story
The Academic Staff Union of Universities were at I again, they were protesting for increment in thier salary and better welfare conditions in the Nigerian Universities. They have being at it for two months now and obviously still counting. Ibalofa a student of Obafemi Awolowo University popularly called great ife stayed back at school. He did this basically for two reason, he wanted to keep writing news as a correspondce to The Nation newspaper and to keep teaching at an Educational Institue in Ife. His parents lived in far away Lagos about 400 miles away.
However, life was a little boring in Ife. He was putting in his brother's house, Mr Jacobs. Mr Jacobs also a student of Ife was married to Ada and they were staying together in a flat in Modakeke. Ada's younger sister Adaku came to stay with her sister and her bed was in the sitting room with Ibalofa. No sooner than not Mr. Jacobs travelled to Lagos not only to see his parents but to make more money because business in Ife was far from good.
Early Monday morning, Iba as he was fondly called, woke up before six, did his hygiene retuals and dashed up to take a Motor bike of to the Educational institue, the had seven O' Clock class, a three hours class. He was taking Literature in English for students seeking admission to into the university. He was in class just 3 minutes before seven and the students in the hostel we already arriving one after the other. Dele one of the students requested that they waited for other but fair Eluku prefered they got started. Iba knew that to sustain a 3 hours class wasnt easy as he had to teach with high level of humour. Iba started the class at seven requesting the students to ask questions in diffcult areas already taught or from their past questions and the questions flew out from the lips of the students as the teacher skillfully paried them.
To be continue in the book 14 days in hell by Oni afolabi, 08036126690
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
No gender in Yoruba Culture
The issue of gender discrimination was the subject of discuss at seminar organized by the Institue of Cultural Studies, Obfafemi Awolowo University and Youba Group Project Abroad with a theme Beyond Genderocrntric Models: Yoruba Culture in the Global Age. Oni Afolabi a 400 level student of Education English was in attendance and reports.
The women's movement of the 1960s was not of course the start of feminism. Rather, it was the renewal of the old tradition of thought and action already possessing its classic books which had diagnosed the problem of women's inequality in the society, and in some cases proposed solutions. These books include Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Right of women (1972), Virginia Woolf A Room of One's Own (1929) among other portray unequal treatment given to women.
The same was the subject of discourse in Pit theatre of the Dramatic arts department at OAU, by 11 am on Friday the 30th of July, 2010 when Dr. Oyeronke Oyewumi of the department of Sociology, Stoneybrook University, Stoneybrook, New York, USA criticized gender discrimination and clearified the fact that it wasnt never yoruba idea. In her invention she said Male privilege and female exclusion is not Yoruba in nature, as it filtered into the system through collonialism, the translator's perspective and the religious instutues.
She said, 'Ifa is the supreme diety and doesnt discriminate. When you check the lines of Ifa, you will see 'won ni ko ru bo ifa' but the translators being a man tranlated it to 'they said he should give sacrifice to Ifa' rather than 'they said they should give sacrifice to Ifa' and putting into good use the singular 'they'. Another thing we have to consider is the fact that, the women are the ones that go to the Ifa Priest the more. When the child is sick, who carries it to the priest on most occasion? It is the mother and subsequently she is the person that gives the sacrifice.
More so, the issue of names that are oriki like Ayinke, Alao, Ayinde, Alabi among others that are gender sensitive are names people adopted in other to aviod the orisa (gods) sensitive names after being converted to christians and musilms. They dont want to bear orisabunmi and they Ayinke, those names are appraisals like 'Darling' in English. Little wonder we have the proverb, 'Omo eko tio n fi oriki je oruko ... to ri won o fe je oruki orisa' this implies that 'the Lagosian who has made an appraisal thier name because they dont want to bear the names of gods.
I will like to assert that oruko amutorun wa (Natural names) that many says are gender sensitive like Ojo for males and Aina for females are primarily restricted to specific areas for instance we have had that an Ibadan cannot bear Ojo. She also explained the yoruba genres that are gender sensitive like ekuniyawo, obitu among others are not restricted to women as it is not out of bound for male. More so, on few occasions I have witnessed that the person teaching ekuniyawo is a man.
Furthermore, the timeline to when gender discrimination got into the yoruba culture is difficult just as it is difficult to put a timeline to when esu was demonized. Many link it to the early missionaries because, we all know that while the christains refer to God as olodumare the muslims refuse to call God olodumare because they had first hand information about Ifa and they know that olodumare occured more in Ifa and they use olorun.
She concluded that gender should not be a standard for discrimination and traditionalist should not take succour in the african traditional setting to abandon the women in the kitchen and say their voices shouldnt be heard. We had Iyalode Efunsetan Aniwura who is a classical example of a woman that lead men. The yoruba tradition is not against women leading men and doesnt see the woman as inferior, neither does Ifa.
Responding to the presentation, Dr. Foluke Ogunleye, the formal Head of Department of The Dramatic art commended Dr. Oyewumi for being at the vanguard of the fight for gender equality. 'It is time to put an end to such statements that she can do it because she is a woman or women should not hold that position or you cant talk to me that way because you are a woman. Women should rise up to the challenge.'
A student of Mechanical Engineering, 200level, Tinuke Oyewole said, 'My father use to tell me to respect my younger brothers. When I asked for the reasons, he said it was yoruba tradition. Thank God for this exposition that has exposed the elements of untruism in the statement. I am an advocate of gender equality because I have being greatly discriminated against. They will ask you, what is a lady doing in Engineering as if its made for the guy. They say we should go to Home Economics, even some lecturers throw light remarks at us. This exposition is a square peg in a square hole for me.
Adeoye Damilola a 100level student of Economics said, 'Nobody is discriminating against us. We are ladies and most of us want to feel like women. We cant do all the things they do, I wont love to lie on the floor fixing a car. Niether will I want to be in the boxing ring. More so, that a number be reserved strictly for females to participate in politics is clamouring for gender domination, but the exposition is educating and I feel the guy should be the head.'
Dipo Oluwaseun a 400level student of Fine Art department said, 'The programme was highly interacting and it did confirm the knowlegde I had earlier learnt about yoruba ancestoral believes especially when she majored on gender and the yoruba perspective. Programmes of this nature should be coming up frequently since Ife is for learning and culture. Big thanks to Institue of cultural Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University and Youba Group Project Abroad.'
Afolabi Oni
08036126690
OAU
The women's movement of the 1960s was not of course the start of feminism. Rather, it was the renewal of the old tradition of thought and action already possessing its classic books which had diagnosed the problem of women's inequality in the society, and in some cases proposed solutions. These books include Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Right of women (1972), Virginia Woolf A Room of One's Own (1929) among other portray unequal treatment given to women.
The same was the subject of discourse in Pit theatre of the Dramatic arts department at OAU, by 11 am on Friday the 30th of July, 2010 when Dr. Oyeronke Oyewumi of the department of Sociology, Stoneybrook University, Stoneybrook, New York, USA criticized gender discrimination and clearified the fact that it wasnt never yoruba idea. In her invention she said Male privilege and female exclusion is not Yoruba in nature, as it filtered into the system through collonialism, the translator's perspective and the religious instutues.
She said, 'Ifa is the supreme diety and doesnt discriminate. When you check the lines of Ifa, you will see 'won ni ko ru bo ifa' but the translators being a man tranlated it to 'they said he should give sacrifice to Ifa' rather than 'they said they should give sacrifice to Ifa' and putting into good use the singular 'they'. Another thing we have to consider is the fact that, the women are the ones that go to the Ifa Priest the more. When the child is sick, who carries it to the priest on most occasion? It is the mother and subsequently she is the person that gives the sacrifice.
More so, the issue of names that are oriki like Ayinke, Alao, Ayinde, Alabi among others that are gender sensitive are names people adopted in other to aviod the orisa (gods) sensitive names after being converted to christians and musilms. They dont want to bear orisabunmi and they Ayinke, those names are appraisals like 'Darling' in English. Little wonder we have the proverb, 'Omo eko tio n fi oriki je oruko ... to ri won o fe je oruki orisa' this implies that 'the Lagosian who has made an appraisal thier name because they dont want to bear the names of gods.
I will like to assert that oruko amutorun wa (Natural names) that many says are gender sensitive like Ojo for males and Aina for females are primarily restricted to specific areas for instance we have had that an Ibadan cannot bear Ojo. She also explained the yoruba genres that are gender sensitive like ekuniyawo, obitu among others are not restricted to women as it is not out of bound for male. More so, on few occasions I have witnessed that the person teaching ekuniyawo is a man.
Furthermore, the timeline to when gender discrimination got into the yoruba culture is difficult just as it is difficult to put a timeline to when esu was demonized. Many link it to the early missionaries because, we all know that while the christains refer to God as olodumare the muslims refuse to call God olodumare because they had first hand information about Ifa and they know that olodumare occured more in Ifa and they use olorun.
She concluded that gender should not be a standard for discrimination and traditionalist should not take succour in the african traditional setting to abandon the women in the kitchen and say their voices shouldnt be heard. We had Iyalode Efunsetan Aniwura who is a classical example of a woman that lead men. The yoruba tradition is not against women leading men and doesnt see the woman as inferior, neither does Ifa.
Responding to the presentation, Dr. Foluke Ogunleye, the formal Head of Department of The Dramatic art commended Dr. Oyewumi for being at the vanguard of the fight for gender equality. 'It is time to put an end to such statements that she can do it because she is a woman or women should not hold that position or you cant talk to me that way because you are a woman. Women should rise up to the challenge.'
A student of Mechanical Engineering, 200level, Tinuke Oyewole said, 'My father use to tell me to respect my younger brothers. When I asked for the reasons, he said it was yoruba tradition. Thank God for this exposition that has exposed the elements of untruism in the statement. I am an advocate of gender equality because I have being greatly discriminated against. They will ask you, what is a lady doing in Engineering as if its made for the guy. They say we should go to Home Economics, even some lecturers throw light remarks at us. This exposition is a square peg in a square hole for me.
Adeoye Damilola a 100level student of Economics said, 'Nobody is discriminating against us. We are ladies and most of us want to feel like women. We cant do all the things they do, I wont love to lie on the floor fixing a car. Niether will I want to be in the boxing ring. More so, that a number be reserved strictly for females to participate in politics is clamouring for gender domination, but the exposition is educating and I feel the guy should be the head.'
Dipo Oluwaseun a 400level student of Fine Art department said, 'The programme was highly interacting and it did confirm the knowlegde I had earlier learnt about yoruba ancestoral believes especially when she majored on gender and the yoruba perspective. Programmes of this nature should be coming up frequently since Ife is for learning and culture. Big thanks to Institue of cultural Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University and Youba Group Project Abroad.'
Afolabi Oni
08036126690
OAU
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Admission Fraudster meets waterloo
Since the beginning of the session, rumours had being going round OAU about admission fraud. Many thought it unnecessary to investigate as most thought it impossible in OAU. AFOLABI ONI a 400 level student of Education English investigated and reports the story.
On one Sunday after church service, a friend of mine, a graduate of Mathematics who also teaches reported a case of one of his students that had been unfortunate not to have written his test because he wasn’t duly registered, and evidently paid into the wrong hands as the Centre for Distance Learning has not certified him as a student because his name wasn’t on net and was neither in the list of those to write the test. Several other reports had being forwarded to the security committee of the students, union. The Security committee aided by the duped students’ reports progressed into action.
Several names of suspected persons started to emanate among which was Mr. Gbenga Agboola who claimed to be a graduate if International Relation department of OAU in 2004 and the arrest was made.
Campuslife man asked the Chairman of the Security Committee of the Students’ Union, Mr. Hackson Ovitafu, a 400level student of Sociology and Anthropology, how the arrest was made and he said, ‘We have being on this case for over two months as many students have brought reports. We went to his house severally and met his absence on several occasions. We apprehended his wife and little baby for 24 hours (giving them assess to food and drink) thinking that Mr. Gbenga will show up but he didn’t and we let go of the wife and the little child. On the day of matriculation we were in his house unexpectedly and he wasn’t around but we met two students in matriculation gown waiting for him and the also were his victims who he had deceived. Few days later, we were fortunate to have his picture and we informed the Landlord association who were also of help and we were directed to his fathers’ house. When we got there he was signing an undertaking for someone and was about leaving. Others like Alabisma, Dr. Sam, Waro and Murphy are some of those he confessed to be in this with him and we also have information about them.’
Mr. Gbenga Agboola confessed to have collected the money from the students that reported to the students union. He promised the nine students he collected a total of 1,135, 600 naira from admission. While Atolagbe Temitope paid 112,300naira, Adedeji Babatunde paid 100, 000 naira, Tifase Monisola paid a total of 120, 000 naira, Hope Godwin paid 150, 000naira, Ayodeji Ogunleye paid 59, 000naira, Gift Lucky paid 195,000, Adigun Rashidat paid 132,000 naira, Aham Okehie paid 150, 000 and Adedeji Ayodele paid 117,300naira. Speaking with Mr. Agboola, campuslife man gathered, ‘I did collect the money, they are nine students for now. I know others that are involved in this kind of business. One of us is Alabisma, whose office is opposite Ade Sunny Kelly close to Lagere. We are not an association but we are in this together. I issued Identity cards for my students which I made on my own and using the original as sample. Other admission documents including admission letters were also falsified by me. My business is to sell scratch cards for external exams like WAEC, NECO, JAMB and so one and when people fail they come to me for help.’
Speaking with Campuslife one of the students that were fiddled, Atologbe Temitope, told campuslife that, ‘I scored three marks short of the cut off mark and I was introduced to Mr. Agoola who claimed to be a lecturer and he collected a sum of 137,300 naira from me.’
Adedeji Babalola a victim recounted to campuslife that, ‘Mr. Gbenga Agboola collected 50, 000 naira from me in order to advance the JAMB result of Adedeji Ronke my daughter who score 57 marks in the Pre-degree programme last session, and scored 196 in her JAMB and we were told that the requirement for admission after pre degree programme is 200 in Jamb at least. He also collected another some of 100, 000 naira and did nothing and Ronke wasn’t admitted.’
‘I gave Mr. Gbenga and Mr. Darlinton money for admission. Mr. Darlinton came to Lagos to collect 15,000naira cash from me and I sent 30,000 naira to to Mr. Gbenga’s bank account. They promised me admission into University of Ade-Ekiti which didn’t materialize. I did OAU’s post ume and didn’t above the cut off mark, and then 35,000niara to help me increase my post ume scores and he didn’t because he said he need another 15,000naira. He later requested for 10, 000 naira for NECO registration because he said my results were not good for admission and 25,000 naira for accommodation. All these amounts to the sum total of 120,000naira and nothing is done.’ This was the dirge of Tifase Monisola another butt of Mr. Agboola.
Speaking with the Public Relation Officer of Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, he said to campuslife man, ‘We have heard the rumours too, but we haven’t gotten any report from any victim. We are investigating the matter and a report will give us headway. The reason admission frauds persist year in year is because people do not report. If you know any of them tell them to report.’
Mr. Agboola when asked by campuslife man if any member of the university management is part of his dealing said, ‘No, I don’t have any connection in senate building or Centre for Distance Learning organizers of the Pre-degree programme, although I tell my clients that I am a special adviser to the vice chancellor or that I work in exams and record among others. All these I say in order to facilitate payment from my clients.’
A student of the Department of Educational technology, Abimbola Michael, 300 level responding to the situation said, ‘Admission fraud is something that is common in other universities but not pronounced in OAU. This is a wake up call to all prospective students that you don’t pay your way through to OAU. The bulk of the blame should be passed to the students who score below merit and yet want to be admitted. Our prospective students should be asked to buckle down and work harder especially now that post ume is just two days away. They should be told, that no matter how much they have, if they score 199, they obviously will not be admitted. Should they fall below the cut off mark; they should just wait for the following year in order not to end up in the hands of the likes of Mr. Agboola the charlatan.’
The Students’ Union President Paul Alaje a 400 level student of Economics told Campuslife that, ‘For me I will blame five persons, first is the parent of the students and they should share the largest portion of the blame because some of our parent behave like desperadoes, they want their children to get admission at all cost all because they want to boost that their children are in university. The second is the children themselves who know the normal rout but they want to cut corners. Third is the management of the university who has left loopholes in their system for these miscreants to break through. Fourthly is the government the day that has made admission to be relatively scare such that the gap between the candidates seeking admission and the space available in universities is at a deficit are to blame for under funding education. Lastly are these miscreants who perpetuated the evil by stealing a whole lot of money from the desperate students. They are criminals and they are not welcome in Ife.’
Afolabi Oni OAU Campuslife The Nation correspondent 08036126690
I will be most grateful if this can be published this week in order to serve as an advise to prospective students writing their post ume this Saturday. We do paste the photocopy run campus for all to read.
On one Sunday after church service, a friend of mine, a graduate of Mathematics who also teaches reported a case of one of his students that had been unfortunate not to have written his test because he wasn’t duly registered, and evidently paid into the wrong hands as the Centre for Distance Learning has not certified him as a student because his name wasn’t on net and was neither in the list of those to write the test. Several other reports had being forwarded to the security committee of the students, union. The Security committee aided by the duped students’ reports progressed into action.
Several names of suspected persons started to emanate among which was Mr. Gbenga Agboola who claimed to be a graduate if International Relation department of OAU in 2004 and the arrest was made.
Campuslife man asked the Chairman of the Security Committee of the Students’ Union, Mr. Hackson Ovitafu, a 400level student of Sociology and Anthropology, how the arrest was made and he said, ‘We have being on this case for over two months as many students have brought reports. We went to his house severally and met his absence on several occasions. We apprehended his wife and little baby for 24 hours (giving them assess to food and drink) thinking that Mr. Gbenga will show up but he didn’t and we let go of the wife and the little child. On the day of matriculation we were in his house unexpectedly and he wasn’t around but we met two students in matriculation gown waiting for him and the also were his victims who he had deceived. Few days later, we were fortunate to have his picture and we informed the Landlord association who were also of help and we were directed to his fathers’ house. When we got there he was signing an undertaking for someone and was about leaving. Others like Alabisma, Dr. Sam, Waro and Murphy are some of those he confessed to be in this with him and we also have information about them.’
Mr. Gbenga Agboola confessed to have collected the money from the students that reported to the students union. He promised the nine students he collected a total of 1,135, 600 naira from admission. While Atolagbe Temitope paid 112,300naira, Adedeji Babatunde paid 100, 000 naira, Tifase Monisola paid a total of 120, 000 naira, Hope Godwin paid 150, 000naira, Ayodeji Ogunleye paid 59, 000naira, Gift Lucky paid 195,000, Adigun Rashidat paid 132,000 naira, Aham Okehie paid 150, 000 and Adedeji Ayodele paid 117,300naira. Speaking with Mr. Agboola, campuslife man gathered, ‘I did collect the money, they are nine students for now. I know others that are involved in this kind of business. One of us is Alabisma, whose office is opposite Ade Sunny Kelly close to Lagere. We are not an association but we are in this together. I issued Identity cards for my students which I made on my own and using the original as sample. Other admission documents including admission letters were also falsified by me. My business is to sell scratch cards for external exams like WAEC, NECO, JAMB and so one and when people fail they come to me for help.’
Speaking with Campuslife one of the students that were fiddled, Atologbe Temitope, told campuslife that, ‘I scored three marks short of the cut off mark and I was introduced to Mr. Agoola who claimed to be a lecturer and he collected a sum of 137,300 naira from me.’
Adedeji Babalola a victim recounted to campuslife that, ‘Mr. Gbenga Agboola collected 50, 000 naira from me in order to advance the JAMB result of Adedeji Ronke my daughter who score 57 marks in the Pre-degree programme last session, and scored 196 in her JAMB and we were told that the requirement for admission after pre degree programme is 200 in Jamb at least. He also collected another some of 100, 000 naira and did nothing and Ronke wasn’t admitted.’
‘I gave Mr. Gbenga and Mr. Darlinton money for admission. Mr. Darlinton came to Lagos to collect 15,000naira cash from me and I sent 30,000 naira to to Mr. Gbenga’s bank account. They promised me admission into University of Ade-Ekiti which didn’t materialize. I did OAU’s post ume and didn’t above the cut off mark, and then 35,000niara to help me increase my post ume scores and he didn’t because he said he need another 15,000naira. He later requested for 10, 000 naira for NECO registration because he said my results were not good for admission and 25,000 naira for accommodation. All these amounts to the sum total of 120,000naira and nothing is done.’ This was the dirge of Tifase Monisola another butt of Mr. Agboola.
Speaking with the Public Relation Officer of Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, he said to campuslife man, ‘We have heard the rumours too, but we haven’t gotten any report from any victim. We are investigating the matter and a report will give us headway. The reason admission frauds persist year in year is because people do not report. If you know any of them tell them to report.’
Mr. Agboola when asked by campuslife man if any member of the university management is part of his dealing said, ‘No, I don’t have any connection in senate building or Centre for Distance Learning organizers of the Pre-degree programme, although I tell my clients that I am a special adviser to the vice chancellor or that I work in exams and record among others. All these I say in order to facilitate payment from my clients.’
A student of the Department of Educational technology, Abimbola Michael, 300 level responding to the situation said, ‘Admission fraud is something that is common in other universities but not pronounced in OAU. This is a wake up call to all prospective students that you don’t pay your way through to OAU. The bulk of the blame should be passed to the students who score below merit and yet want to be admitted. Our prospective students should be asked to buckle down and work harder especially now that post ume is just two days away. They should be told, that no matter how much they have, if they score 199, they obviously will not be admitted. Should they fall below the cut off mark; they should just wait for the following year in order not to end up in the hands of the likes of Mr. Agboola the charlatan.’
The Students’ Union President Paul Alaje a 400 level student of Economics told Campuslife that, ‘For me I will blame five persons, first is the parent of the students and they should share the largest portion of the blame because some of our parent behave like desperadoes, they want their children to get admission at all cost all because they want to boost that their children are in university. The second is the children themselves who know the normal rout but they want to cut corners. Third is the management of the university who has left loopholes in their system for these miscreants to break through. Fourthly is the government the day that has made admission to be relatively scare such that the gap between the candidates seeking admission and the space available in universities is at a deficit are to blame for under funding education. Lastly are these miscreants who perpetuated the evil by stealing a whole lot of money from the desperate students. They are criminals and they are not welcome in Ife.’
Afolabi Oni OAU Campuslife The Nation correspondent 08036126690
I will be most grateful if this can be published this week in order to serve as an advise to prospective students writing their post ume this Saturday. We do paste the photocopy run campus for all to read.
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