PERFECTING THE COLLAPSE OF HEMORRHAGING ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER by Olumide Awoyemi

GerontocracyFollowing the directive of the Visitor that the university senate convenes a meeting to nominate an acting vice chancellor, I have found myself in a deep moral quandary as I reflect on the probable evolution of scenarios and their implications for the sanity of an environment otherwise consecrated for learning. It is a dilemma between my idealistic love of democracy and the practicality of deliberate gerontocracy as we rummage through this mud; a huge shame that the University finds itself dancing shoki naked in the village square.

The unprecedented nature of this challenge in the annals of university administration in Nigeria and the particularities of Obafemi Awolowo University senate incite fear and anxiety that the whole exercise could turn out to be the beginning of another journey through a labyrinth. It offends one’s republican ideal that most of the decisions, which have almost brought the University to its knees are democratically taken in an avowedly democratic institution constituted by men and women of highest learning. Continue reading PERFECTING THE COLLAPSE OF HEMORRHAGING ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER by Olumide Awoyemi

OAU Crisis: Buhari Directs Appointment Of Acting V.C • Channels Television

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State to immediately recommend a qualified person for appointment, as an acting Vice Chancellor for the university. In a letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, the President directed the Senate not to consider any of … Continue reading OAU Crisis: Buhari Directs Appointment Of Acting V.C

Source: OAU Crisis: Buhari Directs Appointment Of Acting V.C • Channels Television

Rejoinder: Obafemi Awolowo University, between Wumi Raji and Adediwura Alawode by ‘Kunle Jaiyesimi

oau-logo It is no longer news that Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria is in crisis, as reported by various platforms. Wumi Raji, an Associate Professor in the Department of Theatre Arts of the same University wrote that the University “is in deep crisis” and has a lot to say about it, http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2016/07/crisis-in-obafemi-awolowo-university-ile-ife/”.

On the 15th day of July, 2016, a hitherto Google-unknown character, in person of Adediwura Alawode, brilliantly wrote a rejoinder to Wumi Raji’s piece, http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2016/07/rejoinder-obafemi-awolowo-university-crisis-and-falsifiers-at-work/“. The choice of the tag “hitherto Google-unknown character” in describing Adediwura Alawode was a result of the fact that while Wumi Raji provided his full identity, including his department, designation and a bold picture in the piece he wrote, the rejoinder writer only went as far as stating at the end of his piece, “Adediwura Alawode writes from OAU”.

Inasmuch as no one is to immediately presume that the referenced OAU stands for Organisation of African Unity, Continue reading Rejoinder: Obafemi Awolowo University, between Wumi Raji and Adediwura Alawode by ‘Kunle Jaiyesimi

WS@82: “POLITICALLY CORRECT IDEAS VS. CULTURAL OPENNESS” by Kunle Jaiyesimi

wsssWS,

Your sundry hoary strands

Stand as beacons

To navigators

cruising from all seafronts

To the island of bliss, astuteness, scarred proficiencies

and maneuvers that beat fulfillment

without animosity, without lust

with the stoical

expression of tunes, that take flight

on the fins of watered units.

 

For the umpteenth time, controversies have trailed the appointments made by Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, which have been adjudged lopsided. It has happened again and again, the most recent being the appointment of Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) along with three other appointments.

However, at all such time-points in the history of Nigeria, there have been Nigerians similarly against and in favour of the appointments on the altar of tribalism, on one hand and competence, on the other; with both parties churning out their petty or Continue reading WS@82: “POLITICALLY CORRECT IDEAS VS. CULTURAL OPENNESS” by Kunle Jaiyesimi

Right Versus Wrong by Pope Jay

“The Problem in Nigeria is not about the north versus the south, it’s not about Christianity versus Islam, it’s not about APC versus PDP. The Problem in Nigeria is Right versus Wrong”

Ben Murray-Bruce (2016)

rightWhen I first saw the theme of the Great Ife Writer essay contest 2016, “What is the Most Challenging Issue in Nigeria and how would you solve it?”, the well applauded words of the “Common Sense” advocate, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, at the Silverbird Man of The Year 2014 were what came to mind. Many friends have asked why I did not submit an entry for the contest and my major reason was that the topic, though greatly depending on objectivity, is too subjective to just write what any judge wants. Continue reading Right Versus Wrong by Pope Jay

Welcome to America; bye bye, Nigeria by ´Kunle Jaiyesimi

“Until you know how African you are,

you don’t know how American you are”

– Robert Farris Thompson

As a newbie in the nation of Samba, there was the expected need for mutual introductions. At that time, repeatedly so, owing to the fact that this is a non-English-speaking country, I found myself needing to come up with a name that will resonate with, is convenient for and easy to pronounce by my new acquaintances.

My choice was as easy as saying “hello” to the Brasileiros, which is a literal translation of the Portuguese “Ola” and a fitting subject to “Olakunle”, the first, intangible tag that I acquired as a being. In my more recent existence as “Ola”, I was always confronted by Continue reading Welcome to America; bye bye, Nigeria by ´Kunle Jaiyesimi