OAU students express worry over bat population

OAU students express worry over bat population
•As school re-opens Sunday •No cause for alarm —Mgt


SOME students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, have expressed worry over the large population of ceaseless migratory fruit bats, which had been living in various parts of the university community, including academic areas, for decades.
The university re-opens on Sunday, August 24.
Bats are one of the primary sources of contracting Ebola and the fruit bats are members of the Pteropodidae family of bats, which act as pollinators and seed dispersers and are said to be found in primary or maturing secondary forests.
One of the students, Sodiq Oyeleke, on Wednesday, captured the panic being expressed by his colleagues on the possible temporary shutdown of the school by the Federal Government, in an effort to stop the spread of Ebola.
In an article posted on www.oaupeeps.com, a news blog for students and alumni of the institution, entitled: "Another OAU Shutdown Beckons: We May Return Home Soon," he enjoined his colleagues to refrain from spreading rumour about the possibility of the school being shut again.
Before the article, students of the university had, on social media, expressed panic over the announcement of re-opening of the school, which was shut in July over protest on tuition fee hike.
"If care is not taken, we will be sent home again, not by the school management but by the Federal Government because of Ebola. We have not resumed fully and students have started creating panic about Ebola on campus," the article read in part.
But, reacting to the presence of bats in the institution, during a telephone conversation, on Wednesday, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the institution, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, said "the bats on OAU campus have been there for decades," adding that "despite the large concentration of bats here, we have never experienced any outbreak of any disease over the years - much less Ebola.
"If the bats here could transmit Ebola, then we would all have long been dead. If despite the large concentration of bats, the Ebola case in Nigeria was not discovered here, but in Lagos, why would we have that problem now?
"We are all loco-parentis (surrogate parents) here ourselves. If we have any reason to believe that it is not safe for them (the students), why would we invite them to resume? Those fears are baseless. There is no cause for alarm."
On whether the insitution is considering cutting down the trees that harbour the bats, as a precautionary measure, Olanrewaju asked: "How many trees do you want to cut down?" adding that "there is no cause for alarm."
The management of the university had, in a statement on its website, said: "In view of the colonisation of the university estate by migratory fruit bats, members of the university community and their dependants are hereby strongly advised to avoid all forms of contact with bats."
The authorities issued an alert to those within the premises of the institution to avoid "touching, holding or eating bats," as well as "avoid pathways through which they may come in contact with the faeces/droppings of the bats."
Meanwhile, in a press release signed by Olanrewaju, the Senate of the university had reconvened on Friday, August 15, to announce the re-opening of the institution.
The release, however, enjoined the students to face their studies and conduct themselves in manners that would not truncate the re-adjusted academic calendar.
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http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/13943-ebola-oau-students-express-worry-over-bat-population-as-school-re-opens-sunday-no-cause-for-alarm-mgt/13943-ebola-oau-students-express-worry-over-bat-population-as-school-re-opens-sunday-no-cause-for-alarm-mgt

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Wednesday, September 17, 2014

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Ebola: OAU student quarantined, confesses contact with Enemuo

Ebola: OAU student quarantined, confesses contact with Enemuo

BY FEMI MAKINDE AND SODIQ OYELEKE

Fear gripped students, parents and staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on Tuesday over a report that a patient on admission at the OAU Health Centre was a suspected Ebola Virus Disease victim.

 

Though the management of the school initially denied the development but the Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Temitope Ilori, said the sick student had confessed having contact with the late Port Harcourt doctor, Iyke Enemuo, who died of the EVD after he secretly treated an infected ECOWAS diplomat, Olu-Ibukun Koye, in a hotel in the Rivers State capital.

 

The commissioner said the female student had been put in the isolation ward.

 

Ilori said, "I was told that a student of the OAU who had contact with the doctor who died of the Ebola virus in Port Harcourt walked into the health centre when she was sick.

 

"She was said to have told doctors at the health centre that she had contact with the Port Harcourt doctor and was put under surveillance but she said she tested negative that time.

 

"Now she returned to the OAU to continue with her studies and was sick. She was said to have walked to the health centre and told them everything about her contact with the doctor.

 

"Her blood sample has been taken for another test in Lagos and we are awaiting the result. We pray she is not positive but she has been isolated at the health centre."

 

When one of our correspondents visited the hospital on Tuesday, it was observed that health officials were disinfecting the surroundings of the medical centre and more attention was paid to places where patients sit before being attended to.

 

It was also learnt that top officials of the hospital held an emergency meeting after testing the suspected patient, who was said to have been on admission in the hospital since Monday.

 

Before the confirmation by the commissioner, the Public Relations Officer of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife, Mr. Olu Bello, had denied the report that a suspected Ebola virus patient had been admitted to the hospital.

 

Bello said he also heard that a student of the OAU, who returned from Port Harcourt, was down with the virus but he said the hospital did not have any case of Ebola.

 

"There is no case of Ebola at the OAUTHC. Nothing like that; I also heard something like that but such rumour has been causing unnecessary tension among the people but it is not true."

 

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, said the university would make its findings known to the public later Tuesday night.

 

"It is a suspicion; we don't know yet. We will make our position on it known tonight. We are still working; we are in the office now," he told one of our correspondents on the phone.

 

Olanrewaju later told The Punch that the ailing student had been moved to Lagos.

 

Though, medical officials in the hospital had denied that the said student tested positive to the Ebola virus, they confirmed that the Federal Government Emergency Ebola Team had been contacted.

 

One of the officials, who preferred not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak, said the suspected patient would be made to go through an intensive examination on Wednesday (today) by the EVD team from Lagos.

 

Another official claimed that the symptoms showed by the student "are not too different from fever".

 

The official said, "A patient was brought to the health centre and due to the fact that she hails from Port Harcourt there were fears that it might be Ebola. We have carried out tests on the victim and found that she is suffering from a likely fever. Not satisfied, we pressed further by holding an emergency meeting which finished five minutes ago."

 

When asked why the hospital was disinfecting its surroundings, another staff said, "We are only taking preventive measures. To be 100 per cent satisfied, we have sent a letter to the Ebola Emergency Team in Lagos and the team should arrive by tomorrow (today)."

 

To ensure calmness in the institution, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, urged students to desist from spreading rumours about EVD.

 

He spoke during the 52nd matriculation ceremony for 5,608 newly-admitted students of OAU on Tuesday.

 

He said, "A current issue of concern to us as an institution, which is also related to the judicious use of the facilities in the halls of residence, is maintaining a high standard of personal hygiene to halt the spread of EVD. The virus, which is not airborne, spreads through bodily fluids such as blood, sweat, urine, saliva and vomit. We should all co-operate to halt the spread of this disease by arming ourselves with adequate information about the disease and avoid spreading false rumours that certainly can cause fear and panic.

 

"A committee of experts had been set up in the university and it will step up its sensitisation and enlightenment campaign about the symptoms, modes of transmission and preventive measures of the disease."

 

 

http://www.punchng.com/news/oau-student-quarantined-confesses-contact-with-enemuo/

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Wednesday, September 17, 2014

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OAU Ebola suspect’s second sample tests negative

[UPDATE] OAU Ebola suspect's second sample tests negative

SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 BY FEMI MAKINDE & SODIQ OYELEKE
Update:

The female student of the Obafemi Awolowo University  who was suspected to have the Ebola virus and moved to Lagos State has tested negative to the virus for the second time.
The result of the second Ebola virus test carried out on the blood of the female student on Thursday was said to come out negative again.
The female student have been tested two times since she was moved to Lagos and the two results were negative according to the Public Relations Officer of the OAU, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju.
The PRO said that the result of the third test would be out today and doctors from the school were optimistic that it would be negative.
He said, " The result of the second test has come out and we were told it is negative.
"It remains the third test which is the final. We hope and pray that also will be negative. Expert said that the third test is just to fulfill all righteousness since the first and second tests are negative."
A government source told our correspondent that Governor Rauf Aregbesola was very happy on hearing  that the second test was negative.
The source who pleaded anonymity said the governor had expressed concerned that the state did not have the resources at this time to battle the virus.
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Sep 11, 2014 @ 8:53

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, has said that the female student of the institution who was suspected to have the Ebola virus and moved to Lagos State has tested negative to the virus.

The Public Relations Officer of the OAU, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, said this in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday.

He said, " The preliminary result of the girl is out and she tested negative. Another test will be done tomorrow. The university will issue a statement on this later today."

The female student of the university who hails from Port Harcourt, Rivers State was said to have had contact with Dr. Iyke Enemuo who died of the Ebola virus after treating an ECOWAS diplomat in a hotel room.

The OAU student was said to have been put under surveillance in Port Harcourt for 21 days before she was certified okay having tested negative to the virus.

However, on her return to the OAU to resume her studies, she took ill again on Monday and she walked to the university's health centre where she was admitted.

He confession to have had contact with the late doctor and the symptoms similar to the EVD triggered rumour that she had the virus and the whole university community was thrown into panic.

Some students told our correspondent that the lady was bleeding and showing signs of the Ebola virus.

But the result of the second test now would calm students of the university who had been thrown into panic since she fell sick and was moved to Lagos.

http://www.punchng.com/news/oau-student-tests-negative-to-ebola-virus-management/

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Wednesday, September 17, 2014

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Oritsejafor Not an Arms Dealer -CAN

Mu'Sodiq Adekunle

The Christian Association of Nigeria on Tuesday reacted to the alleged involvement of an Aircraft said to be owned by its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor for an alleged illegal arms deal in South Africa saying although the aircraft in question is owned by Eagle Air Company, of which the cleric is an interested party, it has been leased to Green Coast Produce Limited since August 2 2014.

The Director of National Issues in CAN, Mr. Sunny Oibe in a statement issued in Abuja said Oritsejafor doesn't deal on arms.

According to him, further enquiries about the said aircraft should be directed to both firms.

The association also said the report carried by an online portal was sponsored by some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress including a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and the party's National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to blackmail Oritsejafor "because of his support for President Jonathan".

The statement entitled: "Re: ORITSEJAFOR AIRCRAFT & ALLEGED ARMS DEAL: CAN REACTS" reads:

"Our attention has been drawn to the desperation of some elements working for a particular political party within our society to tarnish the image of the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. They are working for the All Progressives Congress and they are not unknown to us. Let Nigerians have this background for them to judge themselves.

"These shameless characters including a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, went to UK to embark on an image laundering for their political party, the APC. El-Rufai had once said there are three sets of Boko Haram in Nigeria: Islamic Boko Haram, Politicians' Boko Haram and Christians' Boko Haram which he said are being funded by President Goodluck Jonathan and coordinated by CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. He went further to claim that the CAN President has been given N50 billion by the President and a Jet.

"The same characters, went ahead to sponsor a negative report in Saharareporters. I had expected that by now no sane mind will take any report by Saharareporters serious because it is an online news medium which thrives on falsehood and survives on false propaganda and blackmail."

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Wednesday, September 17, 2014

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Ebola: Parents call on OAU students to take caution

Ebola: Parents call on OAU students to take caution

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 BY SODIQ OYELEKE

Following reports that a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife was suspected to have the Ebola Virus Disease, parents on Wednesday made calls to their wards to be cautious.

It would be recalled that a female student of OAU was on Tuesday quarantined after she allegedly confessed that she had a contact with the late Port Harcourt doctor, Iyke Enemuo.

Enemuo died of the EVD after he secretly treated an infected ECOWAS diplomat, Olu-Ibukun Koye, in a hotel in the Rivers State capital.

When our correspondent visited the school, normal academics activities were ongoing.

It was observed that social activities among the students reduced, as many of them were seen avoiding handshakes and hugs.

It was learnt that some hostels within the university have begun sensitisation and identification screening before granting students entrance.

Banks within the campus also screened before letting them into the banking hall.

Some of the students, who spoke to our correspondent, commended the school management for its proactive effort.

They claimed it was worthy that the suspected student was evacuated and taken off the campus, adding that information was not hidden from them.

One of the students, identified as Lateef, said his mum has warned him to proceed home "if the case is out of control."

"My mum called me and warned that I should be careful. She said I should come home before the case goes beyond control. I just told her that all is well and we are safe," he said.

Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Biodun Olarewaju, said the suspected students narrated the circumstances surrounding her illness.

He emphasised that there was no need for fear nor panic, noting that the suspected student resides off campus.

He said, "We did not ask her. She voluntarily walked into the hospital to complain of illness and told the medical experts everything that happened to her. She should be commended for that and our sensitisation continues. Our campus is safe and students are going about their daily activities with no problem."

Olarewaju, in a statement, said the female student, who  is suspected to be a secondary contact of EVD, has been evacuated to Lagos for proper attention.

The statement said, "A female student of the OAU, Ile-Ife who is suspected to be a secondary contact of the Ebola Virus Disease in Port-Harcourt, presented sick at the University Health Centre.

"After a clinical assessment by the Ebola Surveillance Preparedness and Response Committee of the University, the authorities thereafter contacted the State Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation(WHO)."

While emphasising that the student illness was not a confirmed Ebola case, Olarewaju said appropriate measures have been taken to ensure safety.

Punch:
http://www.punchng.com/news/ebola-parents-call-on-oau-students-to-take-caution/

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Thursday, September 11, 2014

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OAU traces suspected patient’s contacts

OAU traces suspected patient's contacts

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, may have begun contact tracing of a female student of the institution who is a suspected to have the Ebola virus disease.

A competent source, who was part of the team that held a meeting to deliberate on the case, told our correspondent in confidence that a team of doctors from Osun State Government met with the management of the OAU.

The source, who pleaded not to be mentioned, said that the management had started contact tracing to know how many people the suspected student had contact with since she came back to school.

The OAU student was said to have had contact with the Port Harcourt doctor who treated an ECOWAS diploma and later died of the virus.

The source said, "The lady had been moved to Lagos and we are all awaiting the result of the test. The Minister of Health will be the one to announce the result of her test.

"We met to decide on what to do if she test negative or if the result is positive. There is no cause for panic now. We all just have to be vigilant and do the needful. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water and avoid travelling to places where victims of the virus are."

There were rumours that three students who were close to the female student had been moved to Lagos State.

Specifically, it was said, they were taken to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex for examination.

However, the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr. Olu Bello, debunked the rumour.

He said that the hospital had no Ebola patient and people should stop peddling rumour which could cause panic in the town.

He said, "We have been carrying out seminars and enlightenment on EVD, especially on what people should know and what they should do in case they see anybody suffering from the disease."

But the Public Relations Officer, OAU, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, said he was not aware of any meeting over Ebola case on the campus.

He said that there was no case of Ebola at the OAU, saying that students and their relatives should not panic.

Meanwhile, Osun State Ebola Monitoring and Prevention Committee has organised a sensitisation workshop for leaders of transport unions in the state with a view to preventing the scourge from spreading to the state.

The Director of Primary Healthcare and Disease Control, Dr. Kayode Ogunniyi, advised transporters to be cautious in moving dead bodies from outside the state without requesting for its death certificate.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health in Osun State, Dr. Temitope Ilori, said the essence of the workshop was to teach the officers of the union how to prevent the scourge from getting into the state, being the gatekeepers that conveyed people out and into the state.

Punch:
http://www.punchng.com/news/oau-traces-suspected-patients-contacts/

SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 BY FEMI MAKINDE AND SODIQ OYELEKE

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Thursday, September 11, 2014

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Teachers threaten strike over schools’ resumption date

Teachers threaten strike over schools' resumption date

The Nigerian Union of Teachers has threatened to go on strike if the Federal Government fails to put in place measures to protect its members and pupils from contracting the deadly Ebola Virus Disease before the   resumption of schools.

But the Federal Government says there is no going back on the date since there is no scientific basis for schools to remain shut beyond the September 22 resumption date announced by the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau.

The NUT National President, Michael Alogba, in a telephone interview   with one of our correspondents on Wednesday, stated that the union would not allow   any of its members to teach until it was scientifically and medically proven that the country was out of the Ebola scourge.

The Federal Government initially fixed October 13 as schools' resumption date but it later announced the new date , saying that the country was almost Ebola-free.

But the new date drew criticism from doctors, activists and civil society groups who alleged that the government was stampeded into announcing it by some powerful school proprietors.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives directed its Committee on Education to take another look at the September 22 resumption date in view of the fact that the EVD had yet to be contained in the country.

Before Alogba spoke, the committee Chairman, Aminu Usman, told The PUNCH in Lagos on Tuesday that the committee would meet with the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association and the Federal Ministry of Education over the September 22 date.

During the interview with The PUNCH, Alogba said the NUT   had already written the Federal Government about its position on the September 22 date.

He   warned that   if the new date was not extended by Monday, the NUT national executive council would meet on Tuesday in Abuja to take a drastic action.

The NUT chairman said, "In any sane society, decision such as this will not be taken until the government and all stakeholders have met and discussed the issue at stake and are sure that the nation is scientifically and medical free from the scourge.

"But this is not the case in our country. When they arrived at the early October 13 date, they wrote us and we agreed with their argument but when this new date was given, they did not because of the influence of some powerful school owners who put pressure on them (Federal Government) to announce the September 22 date.

"Anyway, we have written to tell them that if the   Federal Government does not shift the date and provide all necessary safety measures in schools before Monday next week, all NUT leaders will meet in Abuja by 9am on Tuesday to decide our fate by ourselves. "Though I don't want to preempt the outcome of the meeting but as teachers who have families and who should protect our future, I mean our students, we will shun the classes; we will call for strike.

"What kind of government is this, don't they know that children can never be as hygienic as adults? Don't they know that the immunity level of children is not as high as that of adults? Why do you want to open schools when you have not cleared out the virus; when you still have about 400 people under surveillance in Port Harcourt and Lagos?

"You are aware of what is happening at the Obafemi Awolowo University. How are we sure that there is no primary or secondary school pupil that has had   contact with an Ebola patient.

"It's good that the   NMA (Nigerian Medical Association) has spoken and we have told them too that we would not cooperate with them. That   is why we are going to take a drastic action on Tuesday to protect ourselves and our children.

"I can tell you that we will shun schools; we won't cooperate with them. In other words, we will embark on strike."

Also, the Media Concern Initiative for Women and Children said there was no need for the government to rush into the reopening of schools.

Its Executive Director,   Princess Olufemi-Kayode, therefore urged the government to discard the latest resumption date.

She said, "How many children will be able to do proper hygiene in schools? It is like creating a nuclear weapon in our nation. Who are the schools opening for?

"The government is   not being factual with us because there are new cases. For me, my child is not going back to school."

The Education Rights Campaign and Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit also faulted the directive by the government.

The President of the ERC , Hassan Soweto, who accused the government of   attempting to risk the lives of pupils, alleged that the goal of the directive was to justify political rallies and gatherings by supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said, " EVD is a great crisis but it is not one that should affect the pupils alone. If the Ministry of Education has decided to fix a day for resumption, it must therefore mean that all the mechanisms needed to ensure the safety of pupils are in place in   schools.

"Facilities approved by the World Health Organisation   for the prevention of EVD have to be provided accross the nation, whether it is private or public.

The President of the MSSN , Lagos State Area Unit, Kamil Kalejaiye, warned that it was dangerous to expose   pupils to risk.

He described the decision to reopen   the schools as "hasty ", saying no visible measures has been put in place to curtail the disease.

Kalejaiye said, "If the pupils resume on september 22, what are the measures that the government has put in place to ensure that EVD will be curtailed. Presently, the government is not telling us the measures. They are only bothering us with the resumption of the pupils. Things must be put on the ground and the risk of allowing the pupils back to school must be assessed."

The Lagos State Chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Mr. Yomi Otubela, however denied that the Ministry of Education was lobbied to change the resumption date to September 22.

Otubela said there had yet to be a scientific basis for schools to remain shut till next month.

FG defends resumption date, warns against irrational fear

In Abuja, the   Federal Government through the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said that the calls for the postponement of schools resumption were caused by "irrational fear."

Chukwu told journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, that the "irrational fear "   lacked scientific basis.

He said, "First unlike other countries, there is no community transmission of the disease in Nigeria; not one yet. But we have taken precautions, what we are doing, we may as well have said everybody should just be moving about, but we are taking precautions.

"There is no scientific basis for school resumption to be postponed. There is no community transmission of the disease in Nigeria. That is what separates Nigeria from other countries. It is what I call irrational fear; we don't need to be irrational about this."

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Education has said   its meeting with the NMA and   the Federal Ministry of Education on September 15 would address the appropriateness of a review of the September 22 resumption date.

Its chairman   stated that the concerns raised by the NMA over the new resumption date would not be brushed aside.

Usman, who was on a   visit to the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos alongside members of the committee, said since the NMA   had kicked against the new resumption date,   it would be wise for the House   to meet with key stakeholders.

He said, "The NMA has advised government not to allow   students to resume on 22nd of this month. The NMA is made up of professionals and there are certain things they could have seen which may be unclear to us.

"We have invited the officials of both the NMA and the Federal Ministry of Education for a meeting on   Monday for us to look into the issues of Ebola once again. We are going to look into the demands of the NMA and come up with a decision in the best interest of the country."

PUNCH:
http://www.punchng.com/news/teachers-threaten-strike-over-schools-resumption-date/

SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 BY SEGUN OLUGBILE, CHARLES ABAH, FOLASADE ADEBAYO, ADE ADESOMOJU AND SODIQ OYELEKE

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Thursday, September 11, 2014

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OAU female Ebola Virus suspect moved to Lagos

OAU female Ebola Virus suspect moved to Lagos

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 BY SODIQ OYELEKE


The authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife have said one of its female student is suspected to be a secondary contact of Ebola.

This was contained in a statement by the Public Relations of the university, Mr. Biodun Olarewaju late on Tuesday.

He explained that the suspected student has been evacuated to Lagos for proper attention.

It said, "A female student of the OAU, Ile-Ife who is suspected to be a secondary contact of the Ebola Virus Disease in Port-Harcourt, presented sick at the University Health Centre.

"After a clinical assessment by the Ebola Surveillance Preparedness and Response Committee of the University, the authorities thereafter contacted the State Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation(WHO).

"The female suspected secondary Ebola contact has since been evacuated to the appropriate facility in Lagos for further investigations to confirm her status."

While emphasising that the student illness was not a confirmed Ebola case, Olarewaju said appropriate preventive and protective measures have been taken.

He added, "In the meantime, the National team and the World Health Organisation team on Ebola Control have promptly decontaminated the University Health Centre despite the fact that the case is yet to be confirmed.

"The University authorities wish to emphasise the fact that the case is not a confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease and therefore request all members of the University Community to remain calm as the situation is fully under control."

http://www.punchng.com/news/oau-female-student-ebola-virus-suspect-moved-to-lagos-2/

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Wednesday, September 10, 2014

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Ebola: OAU student quarantined, confesses contact with Enemuo

OAU student quarantined, confesses contact with Enemuo

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 BY FEMI MAKINDE AND SODIQ OYELEKE

Fear gripped students, parents and staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on Tuesday over a report that a patient on admission at the OAU Health Centre was a suspected Ebola Virus Disease victim.

Though the management of the school initially denied the development but the Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Temitope Ilori, said the sick student had confessed having contact with the late Port Harcourt doctor, Iyke Enemuo, who died of the EVD after he secretly treated an infected ECOWAS diplomat, Olu-Ibukun Koye, in a hotel in the Rivers State capital.

The commissioner said the female student had been put in the isolation ward.

Ilori said, "I was told that a student of the OAU who had contact with the doctor who died of the Ebola virus in Port Harcourt walked into the health centre when she was sick.

"She was said to have told doctors at the health centre that she had contact with the Port Harcourt doctor and was put under surveillance but she said she tested negative that time.

"Now she returned to the OAU to continue with her studies and was sick. She was said to have walked to the health centre and told them everything about her contact with the doctor.

"Her blood sample has been taken for another test in Lagos and we are awaiting the result. We pray she is not positive but she has been isolated at the health centre."

When one of our correspondents visited the hospital on Tuesday, it was observed that health officials were disinfecting the surroundings of the medical centre and more attention was paid to places where patients sit before being attended to.

It was also learnt that top officials of the hospital held an emergency meeting after testing the suspected patient, who was said to have been on admission in the hospital since Monday.

Before the confirmation by the commissioner, the Public Relations Officer of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife, Mr. Olu Bello, had denied the report that a suspected Ebola virus patient had been admitted to the hospital.

Bello said he also heard that a student of the OAU, who returned from Port Harcourt, was down with the virus but he said the hospital did not have any case of Ebola.

"There is no case of Ebola at the OAUTHC. Nothing like that; I also heard something like that but such rumour has been causing unnecessary tension among the people but it is not true."

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju,   said the university would make its findings known to the public later Tuesday night.

"It is a suspicion; we don't know yet. We will make our position on it known tonight. We are still working; we are in the office now," he told one of our correspondents on the phone.

Olanrewaju later told The Punch that the ailing student had been moved to Lagos.

Though, medical officials in the hospital had denied that the said student tested positive to the Ebola virus, they confirmed that the Federal Government Emergency Ebola Team had been contacted.

One of the officials, who preferred not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak, said the suspected patient would be made to go through an intensive examination on Wednesday (today) by the EVD team from Lagos.

Another official claimed that the symptoms showed by the student "are not too different from fever".

The official said, "A patient was brought to the health centre and due to the fact that she hails from Port Harcourt there were fears that it might be Ebola. We have carried out tests on the victim and found that she is suffering from a likely fever. Not satisfied, we pressed further by holding an emergency meeting which finished five minutes ago."

When asked why the hospital was disinfecting its surroundings, another staff said, "We are only taking preventive measures. To be 100 per cent satisfied, we have sent a letter to the Ebola Emergency Team in Lagos and the team should arrive by tomorrow (today)."

To ensure calmness in the institution, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, urged students to desist from spreading rumours about EVD.

He spoke during the 52nd matriculation ceremony for 5,608 newly-admitted students of OAU on Tuesday.

He said, "A current issue of concern to us as an institution, which is also related to the judicious use of the facilities in the halls of residence, is maintaining a high standard of personal hygiene to halt the spread of EVD. The virus, which is not airborne, spreads through bodily fluids such as blood, sweat, urine, saliva and vomit. We should all co-operate to halt the spread of this disease by arming ourselves with adequate information about the disease and avoid spreading false rumours that certainly can cause fear and panic.

"A committee of experts had been set up in the university and it will step up its sensitisation and enlightenment campaign about the symptoms, modes of transmission and preventive measures of the disease."

http://www.punchng.com/news/oau-student-quarantined-confesses-contact-with-enemuo/ - OAU student quarantined, confesses contact with Enemuo

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Wednesday, September 10, 2014

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15 injured as LAUTECH students nab alleged rapist

15 injured as LAUTECH students nab alleged rapist

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 BY SODIQ OYELEKE

No fewer than 15 students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology escaped death by a whisker after an accident involving them and an alleged rapist.

It was gathered that the accident happened when the students were taking the suspect to the police station.

One of the students, Fawole Isreal, told our correspondent that the suspect caused the accident by struggling with the students in the bus.

He said, "On Saturday, there was uproar in the Adenike area of the campus after a notorious armed robber and suspected rapist was caught while breaking into a particular students' hostel.

"After the union leaders arrived at the scene, they said he should be taken to the police station. On the way, he struggled with them in the bus and that resulted in an accident. The bus tumbled about five times. The students got different degrees of injuries."

It was learnt that other LAUTECH students got angry when they heard that their colleagues were involved in an accident triggered by the suspect.

To register their displeasure, they protested and paraded the alleged criminal at the Soun of Ogbomoso's palace, Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi.

The protest was led by the LAUTECH Students' Union President, Areo Ajibola, and another student, Bolarinwa Sheriffdeen.

Ajibola said the protest was to register the grievances of students against the frequent criminal activities in the university.

He said, "With the intervention of our respected school authorities, the aggrieved students and sympathisers were calmed, but they refused to hand over the man to the police. We ensured that the suspect was taken to the Soun's palace. On getting to Iyana Owode, a police barricade obstructed and redirected our initial destination to Owode Ogbomoso Police Station. The police assured us that justice would be done."

A top management staff in LAUTECH confirmed the incident, saying "everything is now under control."

http://www.punchng.com/news/15-injured-as-lautech-students-nab-alleged-rapist/
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Airtel Nigeria.

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Tuesday, September 09, 2014

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Defeat by Ghana Journalism Students Not Profit Made Me Start Newstrawl - Oye

Defeat by Ghana Journalism Students Not Profit Made Me Start Newstrawl - Oye

Sodiq Oyeleke, popularly called OYE @newstrawl, is a young and energetic communication experts. He is the founder of newstrawl update. In this interview, he speaks about what motivated him to starting a news update platform.

What's your growing up like?

It has always been a rough one for me. I grew amidst numerous challenges but I tried as much as possible not to let those things weigh me down. Thank God for standing by me. I grew up in an area you will hardly expect people to excel academically. When I preach to people to change, I usually tell them I grew up with the worst set of people. I have smokers, gamblers, humanisers and homeless people as friends but God's willing I was not influenced. Those were things I hate most. Right from time, my friends know me for who I am, they know our differences and areas of similarities. I won't just do certain things not because I was told not to do it, but because I can detect them to be wrong. I think that is one thing my friends respect me for - that despite all their rough lives, I didn't leave them but didn't join them. Today, most of them have changed as they can see that I didn't do those things and I am growing. My experience made me a grassroot person. I love the paupers because I am one of them, I grew with them and I would not because of education leave them. I still go home. I still visit them in our 'jungle' and I hope that others that are still living a rough live will change.

What gives you the courage...any mentor?

I must sincerely say I was hurt with my background but all thanks to God. It is just God not anyone, I have no human mentor then, I still don't have up till now and I am not planning to ever have because It must just be God. He is enough for me.

My research about you shows that you have struggled a lot, Am I right?

Sigh!!... Hmmm. I have. But that is not unique to me. Every human being struggles for survival. I am struggling to survive and God is granting my hustle. Or I won't say i really struggled, I will say I was hardworking and prayerful. I did quite a number of what people called dirty jobs in dirty areas but with legality (religious and constitutional). The struggles still continue, it has not ended. I say struggles because it's not all about earth struggle, one must also struggle to secure a place in heaven. I just advise youths to be calculative regardless of the job they do. I did all manners of job and was even asked to come and be a 'gateman' at a point. Sincerely, struggle is part of life. It makes one wiser and experienced, you obviously see beyond others and you easily compete favorably with people that are older than you.

You founded the popular news blog @newstrawl, what do you want to achieve with it?

I did not start @newstrawl because of profit, it was product that emanated from defeat. It is a response from the embarrassing defeat I got from some students at Ghana Institute of Journalism. I wish I met those guys again, they really challenged me and made me look like a local champion

How?

One day, GIJ students came on tour to Nigerian Institute of Journalism. On their arrival, they met some few guys and I under the coconut tree. And at a point, we started discussing about happenings around the world, Africa and even Nigeria. For a long while, none of us from NIJ could say a word, the GIJ students seem to be better informed than us. Most embarrassing was that they knew Nigeria better than us. They told us things we don't know about our country. I was so ashamed of myself and I thought about how the situation can be corrected. I realised that Nigeria youths are too busy to read newspapers and in some cases poor to buy. Of course, one won't expect a person that can't buy a newspaper to buy a television, where is the power? As a remedy, I thought of creating a platform where at least headlines update can be viewed with a mind of getting people current. I never knew @newstrawl would go so far as it has gone. The objective still stand and I pray it won't change.

Do you think @newstrawl as achieved its goal?

Yes, it is achieving its goal. Many youths are glued to me. I have got a lot of advice on how to commercialise the platform but I refused. I only advertise young entrepreneurs at no cost. But I thing I have more people on Facebook. I am trying to make the twitter handle more popular. It's really tasking but I see it as my own charity and way of contributing to humanity.

About September 4..?

Smile...that's my birthday. I thank God for keeping up till today. I wish to live longer as a pious being and in good health. A day to cry and laugh. A day to remember grave calls and the judgement galleria. It is a great day. I wish I don't grow older but death is inevitable. I hope it meets me in good health. I am a product of chance and every moment is worth being appreciated, celebration is not really necessary here. I have just got to reflect.

How true is it that you are nominated as one of the most religious in OAU English Department?

It is true in a planned class award, but I don't like that. I have pleaded with the organisers to remove my name from that category. Being Religious is not something you can easily measure, you can't judge anyone. I serve my God to my best of understanding but won't accept that I am religious. I think they are taking some characters of mine for being religious. Maybe because of my decency and that's due to my humble background.

END
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Airtel Nigeria.

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Thursday, September 04, 2014

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With Ebola, OAU bats now a source of concern

Outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus puts pressure on the relationship between members of the Obafemi Awolowo University community and a large colony of bats on campus, SODIQ OYELEKE reports
Before a Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, practically imported the Ebola Virus Disease into Nigeria, not many Nigerians really liked bats. Many associated the winged nocturnal mouse-like animals with bad omens and so they rarely attracted positive commentaries.
But that was not the perception at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Hitherto at the university, bats were creatures that many students and members of staff found very fascinating. No wonder, they classified them as one of the prides and wonders of the 52-year-old university. Almost every big tree on campus is a home to these mammals.
But with the EVD scare that hit the country last July, that perception has changed. Nowadays, only a few members of the varsity community are comfortable with the bats.
Many people now see the creatures as enemies. They see the rich bat protectorate as a leprous colony with only a few people summoning courage to pass under the big trees that host them.
Of course, their fears are justifiable. Many believe bats, monkeys and some other undomesticated animals have links with the spread of the dreaded EVD. The disease, with no known cure so far, has killed no fewer than 1,500 of the 2,500 infected persons in Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Congo. In Nigeria particularly, Ebola has consumed the lives of no fewer than six persons in less than two months.
Thus, seeing bats fly in their thousands has now become a source of concern in OAU. But some people insist there is no cause for alarm.
Some of such people who spoke to our correspondent said the bats were harmless. According to them, there is no reason to fear them because they have been around for many years. In fact, they say the animals still deserve respect, love and good neighbourliness.
For a student, Sola Mosobalaje, the presence of the animals is no longer strange to him, especially as they are almost in every nook and cranny of the university.
He said, "Initially, as a fresh student in the university, I was scared of them because of their huge population. Today, however, that is no longer the situation. I am no longer scared. I have been here for long and nothing has happened to anyone.
"We know when they fly and when they do not. That we now no longer pass under the trees that quarter them is merely because we want to be careful. It is not because of the fears many other Nigerians associate with animals due to the Ebola outbreak. So what we do now is to take alternative routes."
Another student, Sanmi Aina, who resides off campus, said the bats were a common sight in the city. Aina noted that if they were as dangerous as now feard,, no individual would be alive in the ancient Yoruba city.
He said, "If anything will happen, it will likely start from town and not on campus. They will have to send all the residents of Ile-Ife away and everyone would have been dead by now if bats automatically transmitted Ebola virus. But I can assure you, there is no tension here. We are taking our time as literate people."
The Head of Zoology Department in the university, Prof. Sylvester Ogbogu, also assuaged the fear of many, saying the school was safe, in spite of the huge bat population.
Ogbogu, a professor of Aquatic Entomology, also dismissed the call for the cutting down of the trees over what he described as "unconfirmed information" that bats spread EVD.
He said, "One thing with the transmission of diseases between animal and man is that it only occurs when the disease is endemic. Such is the case with river blindness. River blindness is associated with certain insects. Those insects that transfer the river blindness pathogens are dominant in the middle belt area of the country. It is because the pathogens and the insects are there that we have high incidence of river blindness in that region.
"If Ebola virus goes endemic in Nigeria, it is possible for the fruit bats we have on campus to have it. But we have been staying with these bats and people have been hunting them to feed animals and we have not recorded any case of Ebola."
The don, who said the bat settlement on campus predated the establishment of the university, warned against 'hasty generalisation'.
He added, "The few bats that may be present in some of these West African countries, such as Sierra Leone or Liberia, may have Ebola virus, which needs to be investigated. But the ones we have here are relatively safe. When students are around, they move to the fringes of the university campus because of human movement and disturbance.
"The cutting down of trees is the most terrible thing to do. Why should we kill the animals or cut down trees? The community has been with these bats for ages. They migrate and come back occasionally. Their number has been increasing over the years. So far, there is no fear, there is no apprehension about their presence."
A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Eyo Okon, said there was the need for a research to conclude that bats were major carriers of EVD.
Okon, a specialist in bats biology, while urging Nigerians not to panic, said, "It is important to remember how Ebola came into the country. If it had come through forest animals, such as monkeys, and bats, then that kind of link with bats can be rational. People are just mentioning bats. I have done studies on bats and nobody talked of bats spreading disease.
"In fact, people even worship bats in a part of Warri. There is a tree there where people congregate and worship because they believe good things come from bats. Most talks about bats are myths. Bats are very useful animals and are one of the biggest pollinators among mammals.
"It is possible that bats are carriers of the virus but that has to be proved. Science and knowledge always begin with speculation and guess work, but we need to go into research for proof.
"A report by experts coordinated by World Health Orgainsation says fruit bats are considered (not a certainty) natural hosts for Ebola virus; meaning that it is a speculation with little evidence and not yet conclusively proved. We must begin to prove things conclusively in this country and I think OAU is a very good place to do that because it has a large constituent of bats."
The former VC also frowned on the idea of exterminating the bats, saying it would have both biological and environmental implications. According to him, killing bats will not end Ebola.
He said, "The research aspect is very important because that is what will pinpoint the source and how it spreads. Universities and other research institutions can combine and go into this research. Stopping Ebola does not end with killing of bats and cutting down of trees. Government must step up research."
Nonetheless, the authorities of the university are not taking anything to chance. The university Public Relations Officer, Biodun Olarewaju, who said the campus was safe, however, stated that there was ongoing sensitisation campaign on EVD.
Olarewaju added, "Members of the community are safe. There is no cause for alarm over Ebola here."


SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 BY SODIQ OYELEKE
Punch: http://www.punchng.com/education/with-ebola-oau-bats-now-a-source-of-concern/

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Tuesday, September 02, 2014

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Nigerian definition of terrorism

SODIQ OYELEKE

Whether it is a bomb going off in a marketplace, school, religious centres, or the hijacking of an aircraft where innocent people are held at ransom to achieve political ends, we live in an age, where the manipulation and loss of innocent lives have become commonplace. Such is the all-pervasive nature of indiscriminate violence, that “terrorism” is considered as one of the prime threats to peace and security in our societies.

Rightly or wrongly, majority of Nigerians today are not happy with the bombings in the country. For sure, anyone who understands the teachings of Islam will not relate the distinctive characteristics of the times we live in – the overwhelming presence of violence in our societies — to an Islamic mission. But it has been surprising to read of the Boko Haram sect claiming responsibility for several bombings, purportedly in an attempt to make non-Muslims accept Islam.

However, the word terrorism came into wide usage only a few decades ago. One of the unfortunate results of this new terminology in Nigeria is that it limits the definition of terrorism to that perpetrated by small groups or individuals mistaken to be fighting for the cause of a religion.

It is this narrow definition of terrorism that implicates only individuals and groups, that has caused Muslims to be associated with acts of destruction and terror, and as a result, to become victims of hate, violence and terror themselves.

Could it be possible that Islam, whose light ended the Dark Ages in Europe, marked the advent of an age of terror? Could a faith that has over 1.2 billion followers the world over, and over seven million in America, actually advocate the killing and maiming of innocent people? Could Islam, which stands for “peace” and “submission to God,” encourage its adherents to work for death and destruction?

For too long, we have relied on popular images in the media and in Hollywood films, for answers to these pertinent questions. It is better to look at the sources of Islam, and its history to determine whether Islam does indeed advocate violence.

The religion in its preaching of sanctity of human life says, “…take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom.” (Al-Qur’an 6:151).

Islam considers all life forms as sacred. Thus the sanctity of human life is accorded a special place. The first and the foremost basic right of a human being is the right to life. The Qur’an says: “…if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” (Al-Qur’an 5:32).

Such is the value of a human life, that the Qur’an equates the taking of even one life unjustly, with the killing all of humanity. Thus, the Qur’an prohibits homicide in clear terms.

Wonder where the Boko Haram sect get their backing from, because relating their actions to common law, the taking of a criminal’s life by the state in order to administer justice is required to uphold the rule of law, and the peace and security of the society. Only a proper and competent court can decide whether an individual has forfeited his right to life by disregarding the right to life and peace of other human beings.

Even in a state of war, Islam enjoins that one deals with the enemy nobly on the battlefield. It has drawn a clear line of distinction between the combatants and the non-combatants of the enemy country.

As far as the non-combatant population is concerned such as women, children, the old and the infirm, etc., the instruction of the Prophet is that: “Do not kill any old person, any child or any woman. Do not kill the monks in monasteries and do not kill the people who are sitting in places of worship.”

Unfortunately, Islam in general is misunderstood in the western world. Perhaps no other Islamic term evokes such strong reactions as the word ‘jihad’. The term ‘jihad’ has been much abused, to conjure up bizarre images of violent Muslims, forcing people to submit at the point of the sword. This myth was perpetuated throughout the centuries of mistrust during and after the Crusades. Unfortunately, it survives to this day.

September 6, 2012 by SODIQ OYELEKE 

PUNCH: http://www.punchng.com/opinion/nigerian-definition-of-terrorism/

•Sodiq Oyeleke is(was) a student of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Monday, September 01, 2014

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I Never Knew My Education Would Go Beyond Secondary School

I Never Knew My Education Would Go Beyond Secondary School - NIJ Best Graduating Students

Sodiq Oyeleke was not born with the proverbial silver spoon. Growing up was tough, being able to attend school was tougher.

Despite the rough path, he still graduated as the overall best student, noting that he didn’t see his poor background as hindrance to achieving his goal. Born by a trader mum and a fashion designer dad, they couldn’t give him the financial support expected of parents. Sodiq, however, is of the opinion that he cannot blame his parents for what they are unable to provide.
After his elementary education, he gained admission into the secondary school and came out with good grades in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
“When I graduated from the secondary school in 2008, I never knew I would be able to continue my education.” Sodiq told National Mirror in Lagos at the fourth convocation ceremony of the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, NIJ, recently. He is one of the 85 students who graduated with the National Diploma from the institution.
“An unknown parent actually gave me five thousand naira while I was making the graduation speech as the senior prefect of my school. It was that money that I started a small business with.” He explained further that after he lost the two admissions he was offered, he lost hope. But as fate would have it, he got another admission at NIJ and it was a friend of his who sacrificed her school fees for him to be able to pay.
At the same time, adding the little money he got from the catering job he engaged in to clear some other expenses. It didn’t stop there; Sodiq revealed that there are times he slept under the Ikeja Bridge as he didn’t have the transport fare to take him back to Ebute Metta where he stayed with a friend. “I believe one can still make it no matter how worse things are. I never bought textbook during my stay in school.
I can also remember a day one of my lecturers asked me to stand up in class and he asked my classmates to contribute money for me because I used to wear a shirt for one week. I just thank God for everything.” None of Sodiq’s family members was able to attend the convocation ceremony.
He was cheered by friends and colleagues. Despite all odds, Sodiq never relented. He gathered money during his internship and was able to write another UTME and now a student of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, where he is studying English Language. Of a similar experience is the 2010/2011 overall Best Student, Ganiyat, Owolabi who claimed other four awards on this day. She believes there is no successful journey that was smooth from the beginning. She noted that there is no student that is not meant to be successful, all it takes is determination.
“I can remember not having the transport fare to take me to my UTME center. I had to beg for money that day. I got to the examination hall late and I couldn’t finish and I scored 194 in that examination. That was why I opted for Nigeria Institute of Journalism,” she told National Mirror Both Sodiq and Ganiyat urged their fellow students never to be discouraged no matter the situation they find themselves.

by AISHA TITILAYO on Mar 27, 2014 | No comments
Posted under: Education

NATIONAL MIRROR - Classmates contributed money to buy him clothes _ National Mirror.htm

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Monday, September 01, 2014

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Poverty Aided My Emergence as NIJ Best Student – Sodiq Oyeleke

Hunger, Poverty Aided My Emergence as  NIJ Best Student – Sodiq Oyeleke

Sodiq Oyeleke

“being intelligent is all about being poor; it is about denials; it is about knowing how to read in the traffic of Lagos. It is about hunger and mostly importantly God. All these combined is what made me achieve this.My first 9 months in NIJ was tug of war, I survived it and it’s made me a better person…”
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Sodiq Oyeleke is a student at the department of English Language, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. In 2009, he was working as a sachet water car washer as at the same time he was undergoing a National Diploma programme at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Lagos. Five years after, he became the best graduating student.

Last week, he was the cynosure of all eyes as his name was announced as the overall best graduating student at diploma level of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism. The Omupo, Kwara State born student, tells Sikiru Akinola, 400 level, Political Science, OAU, how he didn’t allow poverty deter him from achieving success.

After his graduation from secondary school, Longford International School in Ebute Meta, Lagos Mainland, in 2008, all hope of furthering his post secondary education were dim due to harsh economic situation.

He explained that an unknown parents, moved by his speech as head boy, gave him N5,000 during the school’s valedictory service. He used the money in setting up a business centre.

He, however, noted that the business died when the profit made from the venture became insufficient for nurturing the business as he wanted.

His word: “So in 2009, I went to work with a pure water company as a car boy and loader to distribute to customers. I later stopped because a customer treated me like a slave. I cried all night that day and decided to find a new job. I went into teaching and later, it looked too dull to me because I had no time for my business and the salary was meagre. After that, I went into GSM engineering, private teaching among others”.

He was learning computer engineering when he gained admission into the Nigeria Institute of Journalism. Again, the fee was too much for him to pay. He had lost hope of registering when fortune smiled on him. A lady, Agbaje Esther, sacrificed her Journalism career for Sodiq.

He said that the lady actually got admission into University of Lagos and NIJ simultaneously but she transferred her NIJ school fees which she had already paid and opted for UNILAG whose admission she had her earlier rejected for a degree in Russian Language studies.

“The award came with higher responsibilities, it’s a challenge for me to do more as this is not the first time he will be awarded. It is a call to duty and I always want to justify that I merit the awards”, he says.

On how he achieved the feat, he said that “being intelligent is all about being poor; it is about denials; it is about knowing how to read in the traffic of Lagos. It is about hunger. All these combined is what made me achieve this”.

“My first 9 months was tug of war, I survived it and it’s made me a better person.
“I usually go and do ‘Service Boy’ during the weekends and I manage the money for one week sometimes two depending on whether or not there is job. Sometimes, I get money by helping people out with their assignments. If I don’t have enough transport fare, I trek home and on two occasions I have got to sleep at Ikeja under bridge. I eat when there is food and I starve when there is none. I see all these as advantages to me because they gave me reasons and opportunity to read well”.

He said that he won’t forget the day a lecturer jokingly embarrassed him in the class. The lecturer had asked Sodiq’s classmates to contribute money for him to buy clothes, “saying that I don’t wear good outfits. He also narrated how a friend, Wasilat Kabiawu used to bring food to him from her parents house and how he usually go and hide in the toilet to read so that his friends won’t disturb him.

He said it became tough when he was appointed president of Muslim students; we prayed in a mosque that had no cover. “The whole experience I gained during my internship in Punch Newspapers is also a cool one to always remember”.

When this reporter asked where his parent was when all these were happening, he said that his parents are alive but “they are not just capable. I am sure they would have done something if they are capable. At least, I can beat my chest for my mother. She really tried to have seen me off secondary education”.

Fortunately, after graduating from NIJ, he gained admission to study English Language in OAU and “that is what I am battling with now. I would have loved to continue my Higher National Diploma in NIJ but for the lack of fund but I thank God I didn’t anyway, because it is just too nice to be in OAU. Just as no school can beat NIJ in Mass Communication, OAU is outstanding among other universities in Nigeria”.

About his future aspiration, he said God will decide for him. His dream is just to be successful in life.

When he was asked to advise the youths, he said: “why advise youths and not government? How do you want the youths to create job in this challenging situations we find ourselves in this country?. Lack of adequate electricity supply killed my business center. Creating jobs is technical and not political. Let the government perform their duty and you will be surprise to see that Nigerian youths are more vibrant than their counterparts in any part of the world”.

By Sikiru Akinola 

http://acjoau.com/i-slept-at-ikeja-under-bridge-to-emerge-nij-best-student-sodiq-oyeleke/

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Monday, September 01, 2014

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Unfazed by poverty, student emerges overall best

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SODIQ WITH LATEEF JAKANDE

SODIQ WITH LATEEF JAKANDE

Sodiq Oyeleke, has emerged as the best graduating student of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, at the institute’s last convocation ceremony.

The student, a holder of National Diploma (ND) certificate epitomizes perseverance, doggedness and a true representation of hustler, who is determined to attain his goal in the face of all odds.
Though, going by his background that presented him a little chance for survival, Sodiq throughout his programme in the institution kept on wading through the muddy waters of life. The second child of a family of four was the cynosure of all eyes at the institution’s convocation ceremony when he was adjudged the best graduating student among the 2012 class, by coming out in Distinction.
Basking in the euphoria of his success, Sodiq, who is currently studying English Language at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), said the journey to his success was riddled with difficulties, as he had to battle poverty, hunger and want, to survive the humiliation he suffered several times in the course of the programme. He explained: “The experience was bitter and very unpleasant too.
I grew up in the densely populated Ebute Meta area of Lagos. My father is a tailor, and mother a petty trader, who had difficulties in raising us. I struggled to complete my secondary school education by engaging in menial jobs including serving at parties and hawking of sachet water, among others.”
He, however, recalled: “Fortune smiled on me when on the day of my graduation ceremony at Longford International School, Ebute Meta in Lagos Mainland in 2008, when I delivered an emotion laden speech as the school’s head boy. One woman I never knew just approached me from the crowd and squeezed something into my hand, which I later discovered later to be N5,000.”
According to him, his joy knew no bound and that was the money he used to set up a recharge card business and telephone calls in Makoko, a slum in Lagos.
“But the business never lasted more than months as debtors ran me out of business,” he recalled, saying undaunted by his socio-economic challenges, he enrolled for GSM repair training at Okam Solutions, also in Makoko, where he learnt phone and computer repair works. He hinted that it was part of the money he saved as an apprentice that he used to obtain admission forms into the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.
Sodiq said: “Even when I secured admission all efforts to raise the school fees proved abortive, until a fellow classmate, Agbaje Esther, who decided to forgo her admission into the institute to resume to the University of Lagos to study Russian Language, transferred to me the school fees she paid. That was the saving grace.”
Meanwhile, having completed his phone repair training, Sodiq spoke of how he partnered a friend, Afeez, to start their phone repair business, but which was never a smooth ride as erratic power supply posed serious difficulty.
Thus, in order to meet up with his school needs, Sodiq joined a sachet water factory, D-Truth Pure Water, in Ebute Meta, where he was deployed to supply water to customers. From here he joined the A3 Water in Agege area, apparently to move close to his school.
“I could remember how Wasilat Kabiawu would bring me foodstuff from home, and I dash for helping some students in their assignments,” he recalled, adding that sometime he had to sleep at Ikeja bus stop any day he was unable to raise the required transport fare to take him home.
When asked about his major unforgettable period in his course of study, Sodiq recalled the day he was embarrassed by a lecturer in class, who asked his classmates to contribute money so that he can buy good clothes.
He said: “One day, the lecturer wondered that I do dress shabbily and so he asked the class to contribute money for me. It was so embarrassing that I had to cover my face in shame. That is to tell you the irony of life, where the child of a tailor cannot wear good clothes.”
But today, Sodiq said he is grateful to the Almighty God and his parents, who he said genuinely showed interest to help, but that they are incapacitated. Especially my mother, I must be grateful to her because she really tried to see me through secondary school education.”
Today, as a student of OAU, Sodiq said his aspiration in life is to serve God and humanity, by bringing smiles to the faces of the less-privileged through whatever forms of assistance he can render.


New Telegraph – Unfazed by poverty, student emerges overall best.htm

Apr 02, 2014Akinola SikiruEducation0

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Monday, September 01, 2014

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Abandoned at one, emerges best pupil at 17

Abandoned at one, emerges best pupil at 17

AUGUST 15, 2014 BY SODIQ OYELEKE

A 17-year-old boy, Ismail Razaq, abandoned by his mother when he was one, has emerged the best pupil in mathematics and sciences in his school.

Razaq is among the 2014 graduating pupils of the International College, Ibefun, Ogun State.

Razaq, who repeated Senior Secondary School one because of his poor performance in Mathematics and English, was the star of the pack during the recent graduation of the school.

Appreciating the efforts of his grandmother, who sponsored his education, Rasaq said he would love to see his mother.

He said, "It will be my joy to see my mother. I do not know her. I cannot identify her and I know she should be alive. I am always sad when I remember my past but I have learnt not to allow that to distract me.

"It has not been so easy to live without my mother but my grandmother has been one in a million to me. She is indeed a saviour and she has been very encouraging. I will do anything to make her proud. She gave me what she did not have. She is not educated but insisted that I must be educated."

Razaq, while advising other pupils, enjoined not to allow challenges to deter them from accomplishing their life desires.

"When I repeated class, my friends made fun of me and I prayed to God to give me the courage to surmount my challenges. I have learnt many lessons from that, part of which is that when a person repeats a class, he should not give up; instead, the person should work harder.

"It was a very bad experience. I repeated class because I failed Mathematics and English Language. But today, I have emerged as the best student in one of the subject."

The Director of the school, Dr. Patience Osinubi, said her father, Pa Babatunde Taiwo, established the college to support the education of the less privileged children in the area.

She said, "My father sees every child in Ibefun as his child and wants to give them qualitative training. He believes that material things will perish but good legacy will not. He painfully trained himself from six years old and made many sacrifices. Seeing pupils graduating out of the school today is a success story. They are the first set and we are proud of their performance."

She, however, urged the graduating pupils to worker harder, promising to offer scholarship to those of them who secure admission to the university.

http://www.punchng.com/education/abandoned-at-one-emerges-best-pupil-at-17/

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Monday, September 01, 2014

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Campus bats no threat to us —OAU students

Campus bats no threat to us —OAU students

AUGUST 28, 2014 BY SODIQ OYELEKE


Students and staff of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, have said they were not in fear because of the presence of bats in the institution.

They warned that speculation that bats would cause the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease in the campus should be disregarded.

There is said to be a concentration of bats, which is suspected to be one of the carriers of teh EVD, around the OAU campus.

Some of the students of the university, who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday, said they had been properly sensitised on how to prevent the disease.

They claimed that the bats posed no threat to them.

One of the students, Bukola Ayoola, described the presence of the bats on the campus as a wonder, saying that unnecessary fear should not be created in the university community.

"Why all these rumours? We are safe here, nothing is wrong with us. We are in perfect situation. We are students and we don't eat bats. We even prefer fish. The bats are not posing any danger. I wonder if Ebola is a virus that just jumps on people. We take caution and we are very careful," she said.

http://www.punchng.com/news/campus-bats-no-threat-to-us-oau-students/

By: NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE On Monday, September 01, 2014

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