AAUA: NAAS Distributes Palliative For Students Writing Examinations

By Samuel Agbelusi

The Nigerian Association of Agricultural Students (NAAS), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter under the leadership of Comrade Kingsley Iyeawoji, known as Gallant Mopol, alongside the Committee of Helping Hands for the association's students, NAASITES has distributed palliatives for all students writing examination.

This is the first of its kind in the faculty in which the faculty executives ensured that students do not lack during their exams.

This initiative is tagged HELPING HANDS which was borne out of the desire to assist students who might have struggled in fending for themselves during the examination period. 

Speaking at the ceremony held on July 13th, 2023, Iyeawoji noted that the movement was part of his manifestos, stressing his commitment to fulfilling his mandate as well as ensuring the welfare of NAASITES is protected.

Iyeawoji maintained that the main purpose of setting up the committee was to give support to all Agricultural Students who find it difficult to fend for themselves during examinations. 

However, he expressed satisfaction with the program after giving out dozens of items to students. He said “I am happy that we started this project and the items were distributed to all students. This is something I have always wanted to do in possible ways to assist students during these difficult times. We received donations from all levels of the faculty and even alumni of the faculty also helped with donations to make this project a reality. I believed that the project will be sustained in subsequent administration as this is to help our students in need.”

Also, Speaking with Echo Media, the Chairman of the committee Rt Hon Akindoyo Christopher, expressed delight in seeing the project come to reality. He said “I am happy that Gallant Mopol was able to actualize this programme which was very key during his manifesto. As the chairman of this project, I was happy seeing beneficiaries smile when receiving their items as this was a great joy to us all in the committee. I am looking forward to a more impactful program by this administration and I am always ready to assist and help them achieve their goals.”

However, the Financial Secretary of the faculty who is also a member of the committee, Comrade Alabi Dolapo, expressed satisfaction with the whole process and hope for the program to be sustained.

With Rt Hon Akindoyo Christopher as Chairman of the committee, the committee has lived up to his expectations of reaching out to the majority of the students in the faculty and taking care of their basic needs by providing food items.

Meanwhile, Students expressed great pleasure in seeing that the Gallant Mopol fulfilled a key part of his manifesto and ensure a transparent process in the distribution of items. Speaking on behalf of the Students, the Welfare director Comrade Imole, noted that she is glad to be a part of this project and expressed satisfaction with the whole process which has made the majority of the students to be happy. She said “This project is mainly for those who require food items, especially during this examination period. I am glad that the students have seen for themselves that this administration cares about that welfarism and they should be expecting more from us.”

Items such as Rice, Spaghetti, beans, Garri, Groundnut Oil and many more were shared during the program.

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Kidnapping, Accidents Thrive On Ondo Abandoned Road

    The project signage (Credit: Fatimah Idera)

By: Fatimah Idera

In February 2022, Ayo Adewale, now deceased, was on his way back from the farm in Imeri-Ose in Akoko-Edo Local Government of Ondo State when two gun-wielding men dragged him into the bush.

His wife, Christiana Adewale, was waiting to have her husband back home but her expectation was soon cut short as she received a call from the kidnappers who demanded a ransom of N2 million; the family could only raise N100,000

"When we couldn't afford the ransom, he was butchered," Mrs Adewale recounted with tears. "That was how I lost my husband and became a single mother."

Earlier in February, Austin Alonge, another resident of Aiyegunle Akoko-Edo was on his way to his farm in Imeri-Ose to finish his cultivation and planting.

Mid-way to the farm, his bike veered off the good part on the road leaving him injured. At the hospital, where he spent three months, doctors say his knee cap got broken due to the accident.

Mr Alonge, while narrating his ordeal, said that it has been more than five years since the road got bad.

     The bad road (Credit: Fatimah Idera)

Mr Alonge said the road has caused a lot of accidents while lamenting the high rate of kidnapping and all sorts of evil deeds on the road.

He added that kidnapping occurs on the road mostly in the evening, around 5p.m. to 7 p.m. and other times of the day the road is deserted. 

"We don't even know the particular people that do the kidnapping but after the kidnapping, they demand a ransom amounting up to two million or five million and if we can't afford it they succumb to butchering and killing the person.

“If the road is not abandoned, the high rate of kidnapping and accidents of the villagers and farmers along the Imeri-Ose axis would not exist, as many villagers have left for a peaceful abode,” Mr Alonge said.

A smooth road would have solved part of the problem and there was a project to that effect.

The possibility

In 2020 N223, 250,000 was budgeted for the construction of a 15km interstate road from Aiyegunle-Akoko Edo LGA Edo State to imeri ose LGA in Ondo State.

In 2013 the same road also had N100,000,000 budgeted. In total, N415,000,000 was released. The project is a Federal Government capital project as indicated in the signage. The project was under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. 

Although farmers were optimistic that the road construction would boost economic activities, all hopes have since dropped, following the high rate of kidnapping and accidents on the axis.

When this reporter visited in April, she found the road in a deplorable condition, nowhere near completion. Several portions of the road now have deep potholes, frustrating movement. The bad road has given kidnappers breeding space to carry out their obnoxious acts.

Deborah Adeoti, 56, shared the story of how her son died in a fatal accident after smashing his head on a rocky terrain, she was badly injured during the same accident.

"It's sad, telling the story that I lost my son along the imeri-Ose narrow road because of the bad condition of the road and due to insecurity.

It all started when we were coming back from the farm in the evening on our bike and he needed to drive speedily for us to avoid kidnapping or any assault from the kidnappers as we are a bit late, then the bike front tyre hit the pit and made us somersault from the bike and my son head landed on the stone as blood gushes out freely.

At first I found it hard to stand up too because I also sustained injuries, but I managed to as I struggled to save my child's life by rushing him to a local hospital at Aiyegunle Akoko-Edo but we were referred to Federal Medical center in Owo (FMC)." narrated Mrs Adeoti.

Mrs Adeoti, after narrating how her son died on their way to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo, bemoaned how the government’s non-negligence put users' lives at risk.

"Even if it's an abandoned Federal government road, our lawmakers who are representing us both at the state and federal government level should have not abandoned us to this deadly road because it's consuming lives and also makes it easier for kidnappers to take out their activities," she said.

When this reporter visited this community in April, 2023, she had an accident on her way to Aiyegunle Akoko-Edo from Imeri-Ose road and incurred an injury from a bike silencer.

     The bad road (Credit: Fatimah Idera)

This happened after the motorcycle boarded by the U-monitor embarked on a two hours journey from Oka-Akoko to Aiyegunle. On the way, the motorcycle's front tire hit a rock, capsizing it and leaving the rider and his passenger injured.

Meanwhile, UDEME contacted the Ministry of works and housing on mobile and was responded to by Mr.Lawal Olawale who asked UDEME to send mails as they are better to answer the questions but no response and mails were also sent to the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Also, Several online word checks and the use of a Google Advanced search revealed no related responses to this project title.

UDEME has sent FOI to the Ministry of works and housing since the past 29 working days and no responses. 

The contractor details were not available on the project signpost and several searches to get their mails and phone were abortive as the company doesn't have a website nor social media handles of theirs.

In a several search the list of the ongoing Federal highway document by the federal ministry of works and housing revealed the contractor of this project to be Fame Highway Company and the consultant to be Selihin Consult Nig. Limited.

This report was produced under the UDEME project of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).

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AAUASU Gives Dangote Group 14-days To Fulfill Promise Made To Families Of Slain Students

By: Samuel Oyolola

The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko Students' Union (AAUASU), has given Dangote Group a 14-days ultimatum to fulfill its promise made to the families of slain students of the institution.

AAUASU in a statement by its President Adekanye Mayomi, known as INEC noted that the company should as well immortalize the victims of the accident with immediate effect.

Recall that the Dangote Cement truck on January 23, 2021, was involved in an accident at the school's big gate claiming the lives of students including the then SUG President of the institution, Samuel Adesomoju (SAMPRAISE). 

According to AAUASU, failure on the part of Dangote Group to fulfill the promise will lead to actions detrimental to its economy.

The statement read in part: "It’s quite derisory and acidulous that the largest industrial conglomerate in West Africa, Dangote Group has failed the spirits of the dead and as well failed the entirety of the students of ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY AKUNGBA AKOKO ONDO STATE which of course is a disappointment to the body of all Nigerian Students.

"The mass media are our witnesses and we all can recall vividly, that on 21st January, 2021 a gory and infelicitous accident stroke like a thunder at the now closed University’s Main Gate of the above mentioned university which claimed the life of over 10 students of the university. 

"One of the victims of this regrettable incident was a final year student of law and the then Students’ Union President of the same university whose name was “ADESOMOJU SAMUEL” with the sobriquet “SAMPRAISE” on campus which of course is a huge loss to the league of vibrant ALUTA COMRADES. 

"It’s a settled and undisputed fact that compensation no matter how enormous cannot equate the lost lives of the deceased.

However, the compensation promised by Dangote Group to the families of the deceaseds has not been fulfilled which is tantamount to idleness and frivolousness to an extent which amounts to irresponsibility on the part of Dangote Group. 

"In lieu of the above, the students’ union representing over 25,000 students of ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY AKUNGBA AKOKO ONDO STATE wish to remind DANGOTE GROUP that the fulfillment of her promise made to the families and as well immortalize the victims of the accident with immediate effect is now inevitable and should be seen to be done within a time range of two weeks 

"Subsequent failure on the part of Dangote Group with respect to this subject matter will lead to actions detrimental to the economy of this said industry.

"Flowing from the above aforementioned, we join our voices with the voices of our sister students body, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to join in executing actions detrimental to Dangote Group at large. 

"Our intentions are clear as our demand hence, we flow with the Latin Maxim “res ipsa loquitur” i.e the facts speak for themselves."

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Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, or transmission of any part of this website or its content is strictly prohibited and may result in severe civil and criminal penalties under applicable laws.

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ECHO MEDIA Editor-in-chief Selected For WAJIC 2023 In Abuja

By: Our Reporter 

The Editor-in-chief of ECHO MEDIA [a long-serving media outlet in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, AAUA], Friday Omosola has been selected to participate in the maiden edition of West Africa Journalism Innovation Conference (WAJIC 2023) of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in Abuja. 

Omosola who doubled as the President of the Nigeria Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ) AAUA chapter will join the 300 delegates at the conference which will take place between July 24-26, 2023 in the city of Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria.

The conference starting with an Art Exhibition on the evening of 24th July will convene the largest body of journalists, media professionals, the academic community, policymakers, government institutions, and other relevant stakeholders across West Africa to discuss the state of accountability journalism in West Africa and how innovation is impacting its evolution, values, and principles.

 

The conference will feature workshops, and expert panels, and explore media innovations and technological tools that can fortify journalism practice in the African region. 

It will also foster networking opportunities and collaboration that can improve accountability journalism in ways that meet the yearnings of democracy and development in the interest of Africa.

Omosola with other 300 expected delegates will together explore innovative approaches to accountability journalism along these thematic areas: the Future of Journalism Education, Advancing Investigative Reporting for Democratic Accountability, Driving Accountability with Data Journalism: Methods, Analysis, and Visualization

Solutions Approach to Journalism, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Technology, and Journalism Interface, Press Freedom and Shrinking Spaces, Media in West Africa Elections: Observation, Reporting, and Polling Media and Society, Information Disorder in the Digital Age, Exploring Funding and Sustainability Models for Newsrooms. 

Speaking with Our Reporter, Omosola said his selection to participate in such a prestigious event will help him to learn, network as well as grow his journalistic career. 

He added that he was filled with excitement and anticipation for the knowledge and experiences that lie ahead in the conference.

"Being selected among individuals to attend the conference was a chance for me to connect with other professionals in my field — because the conference will provide a platform for meaningful discussions, networking, and collaboration.

"It's of no doubt that conferences like these bring together a diverse group of professionals, each with their unique perspectives and experiences which will be a great one for me to participate in."

He appreciated CJID for finding him worthy to attend the conference which will provide him with a cultural experience. 

All right reserved: No part of the content may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, or transmission of any part of this website or its content is strictly prohibited and may result in severe civil and criminal penalties under applicable laws.

For permission to use any copyrighted material from this website, please contact ECHO MEDIA.

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