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Tag: OAU

  • Missing student: OAU intensifies search, involves police

    Missing student: OAU intensifies search, involves police

    The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, says the Police Command in Osun has been involved in the ongoing search for a female student declared missing since Thursday.

    This is contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ile-Ife by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju.

    Olanrewaju stated that the student, identified as Miss Dorcas Oseghale, of the department of chemistry with matriculation number: CHM/2021/165, was last seen around 8:00 p.m on Aug. 6, 2025.

    According to him, Oseghale, who resides at Adesanmi House, Ibadan Road, Ile – Ife, reportedly went to buy food in front of the students’ village, along Ede Road axis of the university.

    “When she did not return on time, her roommate made several attempts to reach her on phone but surprisingly, her two lines were not reachable.

    “At around 3:00 p.m on Aug. 7, 2025, a report of a missing female student was intercepted on a students’ social media platform.

    “The security unit of the university started tracking the conversation around the incident.

    “But around 6:10 p.m on the same day, the case of a missing student was reported at the institution’s security unit by a group of students from the chemistry department.

    “The group came in company of the roommate, Miss Akinkuade Omobolanle Beatrice, from the department of agricultural extension.

    “Considering the complexity of the case, and its limitations in terms of human and material resources, the security unit decided to report its preliminary findings to the Police,” the PRO said.

    Olanrewaju also said the Police had enough manpower with sound, professional and technical expertise to unravel the mystery surrounding the “disappearance” of the student for further investigations.

    According to him, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the university, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, lauds the students of the university for being their brothers’ keeper.

    “Bamire thanked them for the quick notice that one of them was missing and promptly reporting same to the appropriate quarters.

    “The VC appealed to the Police and other security agencies to do all within their power to help find the missing student,” he said.

  • OAU to immortalise staff killed by lion

    OAU to immortalise staff killed by lion

    The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has promised to immortalise Mr Olabode Olawuyi, a veterinary technologist who was killed by a lion in the university zoo.

    The Registrar of the University, Mr Adetunji Bakare, stated this on Wednesday at a one-day workshop to mark the first anniversary of Olawuyi’s death, held at Pit Theatre, Department of Dramatic Arts, OAU.

    The workshop, organised by the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) was titled “Workplace Safety Awareness”.

    NAN reports that Olawuyi died on Feb. 19, 2024, while attempting to rescue a junior colleague who was attacked by the lion during feeding.

    The registrar stated that people were not gathering to celebrates Olawuyi’s death, “but his heroism.”

    Bakare assured that the university authorities would immortalise the memory of late Olawuyi.

    The registrar saluted Olawuyi’s courage for standing in gap of death of other.

    He assured said that measures have been put in place to prioritise workplace safety for staff and create conducive environment for the staff of the institution.

    Speaking at the event, NAAT National President, Mr Ibeji Nwokoma, said Olawuyi was a martyr who died saving another life.

    Nwokoma, who was represented by the immediate past National Treasurer, Dr Rachel Hassan-Olajokun, urged the university management to rename the zoo in Olawuyi’s honour.

    Similarly, Mr Reuben Temerigha, the Managing Director, Western Diamond Energy Limited(WEDEL), charged every organisation to provide a safe and healthy environment for their staff.

    Represented by Mr Harry Ipalibo, the Manager, Health Safety Security and Environment, WEDEL, Temerigha maintained that workplace injuries and hazard remain a pressing challenge.

    He added that the deceased’s bravery and selflessness served as a stark reminder of the risks many workers face on a daily basis, calling for prioritising safety and implementing measures that would prevent such incident in the future.

    Temerigha identified lack of awareness and training, non-compliance with safety regulations, hazardous work environments, fatigue and human error, and poor safety culture among others as the challenges to workplace safety.

    He suggested comprehensive training programmes, strict enforcement of safety technology, encouraging a culture of safety, regular safety audits and risk assessments, employee well-being programmes as the way out to safeguard the workers.

    Speaking, the Chairman, NAAT-OAU, Mr Matthew Oluwaniyi, said that the programme was to honour the deceased whose demise serves as a solemn reminder of the risks many workers face daily.

    Oluwaniyi emphasised that the late Zoologist left a legacy that demands actions, not just remembrance, calling for Olawuyi’s immortalisation by naming the OAU Zoological Garden after him.

  • OAU reacts as driver crushes final year student to death

    OAU reacts as driver crushes final year student to death

    The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has mourned the tragic passing of a final-year student of the Department of Foreign Languages, Esu Ema.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) learnt that the deceased student was crushed to death by a driver named Lasisi Sodiq, near the university campus.

    Reacting, the University’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju in a statement on Thursday disclosed that the final year student with matriculation number FRM/2019/041, was hit by a Lexus vehicle with the license plate ABJ 427 LQ, driven by Sodiq.

    The statement further added that the unfortunate incident had occurred while Ema was crossing the Ife-Ibadan Road near the campus gate.

    “The members of the Federal Road Safety Corps came to recover the corpse of the student and deposited same at the mortuary of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex at about 12:35 pm while the officers of the Nigerian Police have arrested the driver for investigation and further necessary action,” the statement detailed.

    Also, the Vice- Chancellor of the varisity, Prof Simeon Bamire in reaction to the student’ death prayed that God grant her family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    “It is very sad to lose a domestic animal, how can anyone quantify the loss of a child, most especially a grown-up child who was a young, promising adult with a lot of potential? A final year student for that matter, The Lord will give us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he added

  • Gov Adeleke opens up on collapse of OAU amphitheatre

    Gov Adeleke opens up on collapse of OAU amphitheatre

    Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has promised to pay the medical bills of students injured in the Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU), Ile-Ife, Amphitheatre roof collapse.

    The affected students are receiving treatment at the University Health Centre and the Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife.

    Adeleke, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, sympathised with the management of the University and parents of the affected students on the unfortunate incident.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, in Ile-Ife on Saturday.

    The commissioner was conducted round the scene of the incident by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, and other principal officers of the University, and visited the two health facilities where the students are receiving treatment.

    He expressed happiness that the affected students are responding to the treatment.

    Eluwole lauded the university management for its quick response to the emergency and prompt medical attention given to the students.

    Speaking to the four students being treated at the University Health and Medical Centre, the commissioner commended their bravery and wished them quick recovery.

    At the Neurological ward of the University Teaching Hospital where two other students are being treated, Eluwole pleaded with their parents to see what happened as a natural occurrence.

    He, thereafter, informed the vice chancellor that the Gov. Adeleke pledged to bankroll all medical expenses that may be incurred in the course of the treatment of the students.

    Responding, the vice-chancellor thanked the governor for being so kind and loving, stressing that his fatherly role to the students and the good people of Osun is commendable.

    A torrential rain on Thursday morning, accompanied with a whirlwind affected a part of the ceiling of the Amphitheatre as it fell off and injured some students.

  • OAU amphitheatre ceiling falls, injures students during lecture

    OAU amphitheatre ceiling falls, injures students during lecture

    A part of the ceiling of the Amphitheatre of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, collapsed on Thursday injuring eight students.

    According to reports, students were at the time of the incident receiving a morning lecture at the venue at Oduduwa Hall.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Union Government, Elijah Omisore, speaking with NAN, debunked earlier speculations that the entire roof of the amphitheatre collapsed.

    According to him, only a part of the ceiling collapsed on eight students, who are now receiving treatment at the university health centre and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC).

    He said he was, however, grateful to God for not recording any death.

    Omisore urged the school management to continue monitoring to ensure the maintenance of lecture buildings and hostels for the safety of staff and students.

    Meanwhile, the management of OAU has, in a statement, appealed to students and staff to remain calm and go about their academic and administrative activities without fear.

    The statement, signed and issued on Thursday by the spokesman of the university, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, attributed the incident to the day’s windy rainfall.

    “The wind affected the ceiling of the amphitheatre as it fell off and injured a few of the students,” it read.

    According to the statement, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Simeon Bamire, led other principal officers to the Medical and Health Centre of the university, ensuring the injured students were adequately attended to.

    In addition, the statement said the VC followed two other students with cases demanding more medical attention to OAUTHC.

    It explained that the Chief Medical Director (CMD), OAUTHC, Prof. John Okeniyi, physically supervised the proceedings.

    “The Vice-Chancellor has, therefore, appealed for calm and urged students and staff to go about their academic and administrative activities without any form of untoward action.

    “Meanwhile, the management of the university has sealed off the amphitheatre, the venue of the unfortunate incident, until further notice,” it read.

  • Six students injured as Amphitheatre roof collapses at OAU

    Six students injured as Amphitheatre roof collapses at OAU

    No fewer  than six students of the  Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State were injured  and later rushed to the hospital after the roof of the iconic Amphitheatre came down during a class on Thursday morning.
    TheNewsGuru.com  gathered that the incident was caused by a whirlwind which destroyed some parts of the roof of the Amphitheatre during SER 001 class scheduled to hold from 8 am to 9 am.

    It was further gathered that one of the injured students is the general class representative of the course.

    He was reported to be unconscious as at the time of conveying him to the hospital for treatment.

    One of the students who witnessed the accident but spoke on condition of anonymity said there was chaos and confusion as students scrambled to safety amidst the falling debris.

    “The sudden collapse left at least six students injured, prompting emergency response efforts. Some students sustained minor injuries, while others were more seriously affected by the incident. Emergency medical personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to provide assistance and transport the injured to the hospital,” the student said.

    It was learnt that the university officials have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the roof collapse and assess the structural integrity of other buildings on campus.

    Meanwhile, the Amphitheatre which can accomodate about 5,000 students at the same is under lock and key for now according to the school management.

     

  • BREAKING: Lion attacks, kills zookeeper at OAU

    BREAKING: Lion attacks, kills zookeeper at OAU

    Mr Olawuyi Olarewaju, a veterinary technologist with Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun,  has been killed by a Lion.

    It was learnt that Olarewaju, who had been in charge of the OAU Zoological Garden for over a decade, was attacked by a nine -year-old male lion on Monday.

    He was said to have been attacked while feeding the  lion at the zoological garden of the university.

    Confirming the incident, Mr Biodun Olarewaju, the OAU Public Relations Officer, said the management of the university had been thrown into mourning following the incident.

    Olarewaju, in a statement in Ile-Ife, said that  other members of staff of the university, who were at the scene of the incident did everything within their powers to rescue the deceased  but the wild cat had already caused severe fatalities.

    He said that saddened by the tragic event, the aggressive lion had been euthanized.

    “On hearing the sad news, the management team, led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, abruptly ended an on-going meeting for an on-the-spot assessment.

    “The vice chancellor was informed  on arrival by the Acting Director of the University Health and Medical Centre, Dr Tirimisiyu Olatunji, that all first aid and medical efforts to save the life of the victim failed.

    “The deceased has been taking care of the lions since they were born on campus about nine  years ago but tragically, the male lion killed the man who had been feeding them.

    “The university management has sent a delegation to the widow and children of the deceased, imploring them to take solace in God who gives life and also has the power to take life,” he said.

    Olarewaju said that the management had ordered a comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident.

  • 20 universities storm OAU for WAUG championship

    20 universities storm OAU for WAUG championship

    Ahletes from 20 universities in Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal are participating at the ongoing West African Universities Games (WAUG) championship holding at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun.

    Events being competed for at the games include table tennis, athletics, tennis and basketball.

    The Director of Sports, OAU, Alhaja Omobola Tijani, on Tuesday in Ile-Ife, said that the ongoing games is WAUG Championship, which is different from WAUG proper.

    “The WAUG we are hosting is the championship and it is called TATB (Table-tennis, Athletics, Tennis and Basketball).

    “The WAUG proper consist of the 16 Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) sports.

    “The WAUG championship  will be closing on Dec. 22 with just 20 universities from Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria participating in the games

    “At the end of the games, our students will have international recognition, will be making new friends and the game will provide OAU the opportunity to upgrade its facilities”, she said.

    Tijani said that  OAU was one of the universities in Nigeria that had its sports facilities within the university .

    She said that the management of the institution had upgraded its sports facilities to international standards for the games.

    Commenting on security arrangements for the games, Tijani said that  the university security unit with the assistance of the police and other law enforcement agencies were on ground to provide security.

    She said that CCTVs have also been installed for surveillance on the university campus and in particular at the venues of the games.

    “We have adequate security in place to ensure the safety of our students and guests”, she said.

  • Suspects arrested over ritual killing of 18-year-old OAU student

    Suspects arrested over ritual killing of 18-year-old OAU student

    The police command in Ogun says it has arrested two persons, Akeem Usman and Niyi Ifadowo, for allegedly killing 18-year-old 100-level Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) student, Quadri Salami, for rituals.

    SP Omolola Odutola, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), disclosed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

    Odutola stated that Salami’s father, on November 14, reported at Kemta Police station, Abeokuta, that his son had been missing since November 8.

    She quoted the father as saying he had not set his eyes on his son and all efforts to locate him proved abortive.

    The PPRO said that the Commissioner of Police in Ogun, Abiodun Alamutu, on Wednesday, personally led a team of Tactical Squad to Mile 6 in Ajebo area of Abeokuta.

    “The commissioner went with the team to a shallow grave to exhume the decomposing body parts of the deceased after a tracking clue beamed at Usman who was arrested in possession of the victim’s phone.

    “He implicated Ifadowo that both of them committed the heinous crime by slaughtering the victim and dismembered his vital parts for ritual purposes.

    “Ifadowo went away with the deceased head and his two wrists, and paid the sum of N100,000 into Usman’s account as proceeds from the sale of Salami’s other body parts.

    “The suspects thereafter continued to sell the victim’s other body parts on demand to Internet fraudsters.

    “They buried the heart, two legs, and flesh inside a plastic rubber for rituals and used the remaining parts for a crime against humanity,” the PPRO said.

    Odutola explained that in their confessional statement, the duo admitted that they had used four other human heads for money rituals.

    She added that the suspects were now in Eleweran at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for continuation of discreet investigation, saying that they would be prosecuted.

    The police spokesperson said that the CP remained committed to ensuring that justice was served and would continue to investigate further to bring all perpetrators to face the full extent of the Law.

    She said that such criminal involvement endangered innocent lives, urging parents to collectively work together with the police by volunteering information to eradicate such nefarious practices.

  • 158 students bag first class as OAU holds 47th Convocation

    158 students bag first class as OAU holds 47th Convocation

    No fewer than 158 students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, bagged first class degrees at the institution’s 47th Convocation programmes.

    The Vice-chancellor of the University, Prof. Simeon Bamire, made the disclosure on Monday while addressing journalists at the university’s campus in Ile-Ife.

    Bamire explained that in Bachelor Degrees, classified, 158 made first class(Honours), while 1,970 made 2nd class(Honours, Upper Division).

    According to him, 2,906 made second class(Honours, Lower Division), while 942 in 3rd class(Honours) category and 65 graduands are on pass category.

    The vice-chancellor stated that the school has a total of 7,986 graduates for its 2023 convocation ceremonies.

    “For the postgraduate graduands, we have 56 under postgraduate Diploma, 444 under Professional Master, 92 for Master Degrees, 415 under Master of Science, 22 under Master of Philosophy.

    “And the total number of our Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) graduands is 247. In all, we have 1,276 graduands under this category,” he stated.

    Bamire stated that the institution will honour Dr Anastasios Paul Leventists and Prof. Toyin Falola with Doctor of Science(DSc, Honoris Causa) and Doctor of Letters (D. Litt,Honoris Causa) respectively.

    He commended teaching and non-teaching staff for their commitment in achieving the rare academic feat by the university.

    Bamire appreciated parents and guardians for investing in the education of their children and wards.