A statement by the Dean Faculty of the Social Sciences University of Ibadan, Professor Ezebunwa Nwokocha explained that the researchers are coming from the United States of America, South Africa, and Universities across the country to provide evidence-based solutions arising from their research on the problems confronting Nigeria’s development.

According to Professor Nwokocha, the opening ceremony which starts on Tuesday 5 March 2024, will feature a keynote address by a Trustee, of the Social Science Academy of Nigeria, Professor Lai Erinosho while the lead paper presenter is Professor Augustine Okereke immediate past Senior Vice President and Provost, Medger Event College, City University of New York, United States of America.

Professor Nwokocha stated that the University of Ibadan Social Sciences had played critical roles in the formulation of policies and guiding the government on the right policies to adopt that will drive the growth and development needed in Nigeria, adding that this conference is aimed at ensuring that Ibadan Social Sciences take the leadership again.

He added that the conference theme which is “Social Science, Contemporary Social Issues and the Actualisation of Sustainable Development” was carefully chosen to be able to get evidence-based data on how to address terrorism, banditry, problems associated with urbanisation, transportation problems, health problems, policy gaps including social protection, (un)employment and decent work challenges in Nigeria.

“Despite the uninspiring working conditions, Nigerian researchers are probing the problems that affect the country and have findings with recommendations on how these problems can be solved. This conference will aggregate these recommendations and push them out to government and policy actors so that they can come up with evidence-driven policies rather than imported policies which often, lack relevance to the realities on the ground. Ibadan is stepping up to that leadership position again. We are committed to making our country great with our intellectual input. We are hopeful that the government will listen and tap into the evidence and suggestions to drive the needed policies and development initiatives”

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The event, sponsored by the Aderonke Omo Dairo Foundation, was held on Sunday at Tafo Arena Event Centre, Ijokodo Area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

According to the organisers, the Miss Ibadan Beauty Pageant project is targeted at promoting as well as showcasing the Ibadan culture, tourism, and lifestyle to the international community.

Alongside her academic pursuits, Ogunnaike, a freelance writer, and a talented vocalist, has actively contributed to several communities as a serial volunteer, notably with Cardio Health, an NGO focused on cardiovascular health advocacy and outreach.

Presently, Ogunnaike is serving as the Deputy Congress Chancellor of the University of Ibadan Medical Students’ Association and aspires to make a lasting impact within Ibadan, even as she aims to eventually lead the World Health Organisation.

In a chat with Mega Icon Magazine shortly after the event, Miss Rebecca Ogunnaike lauded Dr. Aderonke Dairo for impacting the Ibadan community positively.

“You saw a need to raise a platform for the uplifting of young ladies in the city of Ibadan, and you met that need. I wish to express my deepest gratitude for organising the “Miss Ibadan Pageant 2023”. As the first winner of this prestigious competition, I am truly honoured and humbled to have had the opportunity to participate in such an incredible history-altering event.

“Your commitment to showcasing the beauty, intelligence, and talent of young women in Ibadan is commendable. From the lavish stage setup to the flawless execution of the entire competition, every detail was thoughtfully planned and flawlessly executed. The experience was nothing short of extraordinary”, she submitted.

While commending the other 26 contestants, Ogunnaike said,
“My win is our win. We just made history in Oyo State”.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) cash gift to the winner, alongside a diamond crown worth Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N650,000) among other mouth-watering gifts

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They met at the orientation programme for alumni relations representatives, organised by the Office of Alumni Relations, University of Ibadan, with the theme: ‘Building a 21st Century Alumni Community,’ held at Trenchard Hall of UI.

Speakers at the occasion included the Vice Chancellor of the university. Prof. Kayode Adebowale; former President, Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA) Worldwide, Dr. Abib Olamitoye, who is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ibadan Central Hospital (ICH), and Academy Suites in Ibadan and Abeokuta; the Director, Office of Alumni Relations, UI, Prof. Peter Olapegba; and the Deputy Provost, College of Medicine, UI, Prof. Fatai Adeniyi, who had served previously as Secretary and later President of ICOMAA.

The Vice Chancellor of the university. Prof. Adebowale, who chaired the orientation programme, noted that the time has come for universities to look inward and deepen their relationships with their alumni communities to complement funding from proprietors.

According to him, “There is no doubt that with the dwindling resources, particularly in terms of funding, that is coming to the university system, we need to look inward so that we will be able to sustain the activities of teaching, research and community service. For federal universities, for instance, the funding that is coming is reducing every year in the past 10 years.

“Therefore, all over the world, universities could not depend solely on funding that is coming from their proprietors. In this case, our proprietor is the Federal Government. And one of the ways is to be able to engage the alumni in terms of what they can plow back to the system because they are part and parcel of the university.

“But if we don’t deepen the relationship with the alumni, you can’t say they should plow back. If somebody you don’t have a relationship with, how will you say he or she should give you anything? So, it is now that we are starting to deepen our relationship with them so that together we would be able to move our university to greater heights.”

The lead speaker of the technical session of the event, Dr. Abib Olamitoye, recalled how his tenure as the President, of the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA) Worldwide, built a 21st Century alumni community for the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. He added that the ICOMAA is currently building an N2.5 billion new hall for medical students in the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Olamitoye, who graduated as a medical doctor from UI in 1985, said one of his course mates then, Phillip Ozuah, based in the United States, donated US$ 1 million to the College of Medicine of UI for the alumni hostel inside UCH, adding that ICOMAA has also raised over N700million supporting the project from all other old students of the college.

“The alumni can advance institutions because we have done it before. I was between 2016 and 2019, the President, of the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association Worldwide. Then, we laid a foundation and set a vision that is now beginning to yield dividends for the college. So, if our methodology works in the College of Medicine, it can also work for the whole university.

“Today in the College of Medicine, UI, we have raised over a billion naira to build a new hall, which will be bigger than the existing hall of medical students in UCH. The cost of the project is N2.5 billion, and we have raised over 45 percent of that. One of my classmates, who did not know about ICOMAA before I stepped in, among other alumni, who now know about ICOMAA, donated US$ 1 million. Then, we have raised over N700 million supporting the project from all the other alumni.”

Olamitoye, however, noted that “the University of Ibadan has raised so many graduates over the years. The university will be 75 years by November, this year 2023. A lot of these people the university has raised are governors, ministers, and successful entrepreneurs, and many of them are in the diaspora; in America and the United Kingdom. They should be reached and let them see reasons they should give back to the system that produced them. We are sowing seeds, which shall grow. We shall propagate it and create awareness. Then, people will see that they need to contribute to the development of their alma mater.”

The Director of, the Office of Alumni Relations, Prof. Peter Olapegba, who explained that alumni relations are a concept of maintaining life-long relationships with graduates of the university, stated that one-third of revenue that universities in advanced countries generate annually is brought in by alumni of respective institutions. He added: “We should also leverage our alumni base if we will improve funding in our university. The alumni won’t want the university to collapse, and they will also want the standards to be maintained.”

The second speaker at the technical session, Prof. Fatai Adeniyi, the Deputy Provost, College of Medicine, UI, emphasised the importance of the alumni community towards achieving improved funding for the university, however, warned that any funding request to the alumni community should focus on addressing challenges of students, and not staff welfare.

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ASUU: IGP, CP must arrest his killers

Pastor Ajetunmobi: Professor Ajewole will avenge his death

It was weeping galore at the Trenchard Hall, the University of Ibadan where the remains of slained Professor Opeyemi Ajewole laid in state for last respect from the University of Ibadan Academic community, friends, family, and relations of the deceased.

The silence of the graveyard was interrupted intermittently by cries as people listened to friends, colleagues, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the University of Ibadan Chapter, Prof Ayo Akinwole, President of Senior Staff Club Dr. Bisi Lawuyi, and representative of Forestry Association of Nigeria delivered their speeches.

Recall that Ajewole, a professor of social and environmental forestry, was gunned down in his Olororo, Ojo, Ibadan residence by yet-to-be-identified assailants on Monday evening, 5 June 2023.

Though the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan (UI) branch on Monday berated security operatives over failure to apprehend the killers of the deceased four weeks after the incident, saying this speaks volumes about the state of insecurity in the nation.

In his short message at the lying-in-state, Prof Ayo Akinwole, UI ASUU chairman, said the Union will continue to fight for justice and ensure that the police arrest the killers of their comrade.

“The merciless people have cut short the life of our Iroko. We will stay faithful to that course that you stood for. ASUU will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to book”

Dr. Bisi Olawuyi, Senior Staff Club President, who recalled his last conversation with the slained Professor, stated that the late Iroko will forever live in the forest of “our hearts”.

“This iroko has not fallen. He forever lives in the forest of our hearts. The assailants may have done their worst, but he lives on. In the staff club, he lived on in our hearts. Why are we dejected? I shared a personal relationship with Iroko. In one of my last conversations with him, I told him, “Olori-ebi e maa se daadaa. And he replied, Bisi ma je ki n se daadaa nitori igi to ba to kii pe nigbo. If I shed tears, it’s not because I lost someone. In iroko, you have a trusted friend, a dependable ally. We will meet on the other side, Olori-ebi”

A representative of the Forestry Association of Nigeria, Dr. T Afolabi, said that the late Professor Ajewole contributed immensely to the association, igniting their conferences with his unique deliveries.

“It was never my plan to be here to see this. Iroko never merited this from me or the FAN family. He was unique. The children he left behind will carry on. he was a brother and I am going to miss him. I will miss his smiles. Our conferences were ignited by Iroko. It is pathetic and sorrowful. I called him the day he was killed. I have a message for those who killed him: Those who kill by the sword will die by the sword. ”

As the remains were moved out of the Trenchard hall for the church service preceding the final interment, friends, and families could not hold back tears seeing one of their own in a lifeless state.

In his sermon, Pastor Samson Ajetumobi of Men of Issachar Vision, Ibadan said Ajewole’s life was cut short in his prime time.

He emphasized that those who planned and killed the deceased would also die by gun because the blood of the deceased would get revenge.

“It is okay to die because it is price human beings have to pay but it is not okay to kill because it is punishable before God and men, God determines our days, when you read through the scripture, you will see that dying is okay but killing is bad.”

“God hates anyone who sheds the blood of the innocent. Nobody owns life. If a man is killed, he will account for it.”

Dignitaries at the event include the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Kayode Adebowale, Registrar, Mr. J.O. Saliu, Pro. Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Prof. Deji Omole, Director General of Forest Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Prof. Zachariah Buba Yaduma and the Provost, Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan, Prof. Funmi Aderonmu, among others.

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Students, lecturers, and visitors to the University of Ibadan (UI) and Oke- Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, (TOP) as well as passengers at the Ibadan Airport, all in Oyo State, will soon begin to enjoy free and unlimited Internet facilities, as beneficiaries of the second phase intervention broadband connectivity programme of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government had approved N41.6 billion for the provision of Internet facilities at airports, some institutions of learning, and markets across the country.

Meanwhile, the College of Education (Special), Oyo and Bodija market, Ibadan were beneficiaries of the first phase of the programme in Oyo State.

Mega Icon Magazine reliably gathered that the latest beneficiaries of the second phase of the programme were presented with their letters on Wednesday by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, at a colourful event in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The programme, as learnt, was to provide free internet access at the nation’s tertiary institutions, airports, and markets as part of an integral programme to boost the digital economy in the country.

Under the scheme, telephone subscribers have free and unlimited internet connectivity in their locations.

A total of 49 tertiary institutions , 20 airports, and six markets across the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory are benefitting from the scheme.

Remarking at the epoch-making event, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, explained that the programme was designed to produce a population of Nigerians that will be active stakeholders in the digital economy.

The NCC boss, further noted that the extension of the facilities to the universities and other tertiary institutions would promote research, enhance teaching, and make students learn more efficiently even as the broadband connectivity makes their social life more active and productive.

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Contained in a statement by the University’s Director of Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, made available to journalists, the appointment takes effect from Monday, 20 September 2021.

According to the statement: “Mr. Popoola was born on 7 March, 1964 in Ilora, Afijio Local Government Area, Oyo State Nigeria. After elementary education, he had his secondary school education at Ilora Baptist Grammar School, Ilora, Oyo State between 1975 and 1981.

“The new Bursar holds Higher National Diploma (Accounting) from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Bachelor of Science (Accounting), in the First Class Division, from the Lead City University, Ibadan and the degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Ibadan.

“Mr. Popoola ‘s professional expertise has earned him honours and recognitions. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (ACTI).

It continued, “An adroit manager of men and resources, the new Bursar, after a stint in private organisations as Accountant and Audit Manager joined the services of the University of Ibadan in 2000 as a Senior Accountant (Pension Office). Through the dint of hard work, he rose by merit to the position of Principal Accountant in 2005 and Chief Accountant in 2009. He was appointed the Deputy Bursar, Postgraduate School (now Postgraduate College) in 2014, Deputy Bursar (Finance) 2017, and the Deputy Bursar (Administration) 2019, a position he occupied till his new appointment

“He attended many local and international conferences, workshops, and seminars. Suffice it to mention the International Executive Training on Management Leadership at IMSIMBI Training Centre Johannesburg, South Africa, which he attended in 2016, among others.

“The new Bursar is married and the union is blessed with wonderful children.”

Mr. Popoola has since assumed duty, the statement added.

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However, against the controversy surrounding the appointment of his successor which has culminated into the directive by the federal government to the Senate of the university to appoint an acting VC, Olayinka emphasized   that he held no grudges against anybody, pointing out that posterity would judge everyone for the role played.

Speaking after commissioning three projects including water treatment, Post Graduate Hostel at Ajibode and a building at the Faculty of Arts, marking the end of his tenure, the VC who commented on some developments during his tenure stated that petition writing by some elements in the system did not start with his own regime.

“For  instance, immediately the appointment process of Professor  Isaac Adewole began in 2010, some people started writing petition. After the announcement that Professor Adewole was the VC, some people went and placed advertorial in the newspaper, calling for the annulment of his appointment and demanding appointment of Acting VC.

“Even when I was appointed in 2015, some people went to court. They were calling for the disqualification of my appointment. We had to play a hide and seek game to avoid being served a court paper. I am saying all these to let you know that we are in a very hostile and critical environment. But I believe, posterity will judge everyone for the role we played”, he said.

Olayinka said he would leave the assessment of his performance to the people , however, asserted that he was happy that he was leaving the university better than he met it, pointing out that he took every decision in the interest of the university.

He continued, “I am happy that I turned UI to projects site. Look at this gigantic building in the Faculty of Arts, before now, there was inadequacy of offices and classrooms for both staff and students, yet, Arts was one of the oldest Faculties in the university. Now, everyone is happy. There are things I didn’t plan to do which I did, and there are things which I would have loved to do, but couldn’t do because of the paucity of funds”.

The VC who thanked everyone who contributed to the success of his administration disclosed that after leaving office , he would continue to lecture and contribute to the development of the University, stressing that he has no room for opinion policing about the success or otherwise of his performance.

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The Chairman of Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), Aremo John Adeleke, has debunked reports linking his agency, the State’s Ministry of Finance and officials of the University of Ibadan, with any form of shady deals in the process that led to the refund of the PAYE tax arrears owed the state by the university.

The BIR boss, in a statement made available to newsmen, declared that there is no evidence of shady financial dealings between the BIR and the University of Ibadan, or any other federal MDA on the Pay As You Earn tax liability audit process for the periods of 2012 to 2018 and 2019.

According to the BIR boss, there was no case of abuse of office or contravention of the code of conduct for public officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He also insisted that the tax audit process was transparent, unblemished, and in line with the tax assessment and reconciliation procedure provided by the Personal Income Tax Act 2004 (as amended).

The statement further indicated that the media houses which published the story had been misled by the muddled-up analyses put forward by an unknown anti-corruption group headed by one Bala Ayodele.

Adeleke equally stated that the basis of the agreement between the Federal Government and Oyo State which led to the settlement of the undisputed PAYE tax liability, has nothing to do with any matter relating to the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), as, according to him, the settlement was consequent upon the Nigerian Governors’ Forum complaint to the Federal Government on the huge unremitted PAYE of federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in most states.

The BIR boss warned that the Oyo State Government should not be dragged into the on-going succession battle in the University of Ibadan, adding that the false and malicious publications were made in bad faith to tarnish the government of Engr. Makinde by elements who are bent on dragging the state into the ongoing battle over the emergence of a new Vice-Chancellor in UI.

He stated that contrary to claims in the publications that the tax audit process allegedly covered a period of 12 years , 2007 to 2018, in contravention of the Personal Income Tax Act 2004, the exercise only covered the period of 2012 to 2017 (six years) in the first instance, and then 2018, which was conducted in 2019 in strict accordance with the relevant section of Personal Income Tax Act, 2004, as amended.

The OYIRS equally debunked the claim that there was a fraudulent deal on the 10 per cent commission to Tax Audit and Monitoring Agents, stating that the governor approved the engagement of the agents in July 2019 for the recoveries of the PAYE tax liabilities and that the 10 per cent commission is to reward all the categories and layers of consultants involved in the recovery process.

Adeleke maintained that contrary to claims in the publications that an initial 2 per cent paid as commission is not part of the 10 per cent approved for such purpose, the 2 per cent paid to the first category of consultants, indeed, formed part of the 10 per cent.

Responding on the case of reward disagreement between Baytem Nigeria Ltd. and the Oyo State Government, Adeleke maintained that the matter is being handled by a court of competent jurisdiction and that the OYIRS would limit its comment until the court process is completed.

He said: “It becomes pertinent to put the records straight as a matter of public interest and give the process flow of the tax audit process that led to the recovery of N3,751,024,427.22 of which N1,875,512,213.61 (50 per cent) has just been recovered from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation in two tranches of 25 per cent each. The N1,875,512,213.61 recovered was essentially receipted by the Oyo State Government following the payments.

“It is also pertinent at this juncture to state that: The tax audit exercise, covering the period, 2012 to 2017 (six years), was facilitated and conducted in 2018 in strict accordance with the relevant Section of Personal Income Tax Act, 2004, as amended. A sum of N4,003,020,114.02 was established and later revised to N2,975,027,903.83 after the tax audit reconciliation process that featured exclusion of Withholding Tax liability and expungement of penalty and interest, as demanded by the verification team.

“In 2019, however, following a similar process, a tax audit liability of N775,996,523.39 was also established and resolved. Therefore, the total tax audit liability of N3,751,024,427.22 was resolved and signed by both parties (University of Ibadan and Oyo State Internal Revenue Service). In a nutshell, the tax audit effort, in good faith, was not beyond six years in any of the cases.

“There was no case of false financial claims or abuse of office and the code of conduct for public officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was not contravened. We are glad to emphasise that the tax audit process for the period, 2012 to 2018, is transparent in line with the tax assessment and reconciliation procedure as provided by Personal Income Tax Act, 2004, as amended.”

The management of the state’s internal revenue service also debunked allegations of underhand arrangement with the top echelon of the University of Ibadan.

The statement read: “For emphasis, there is no way OYSIRS could have compromised the top management of University of Ibadan and also the other parties and layers of verification, as evidenced by the participation of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Joint Verification Team of the Joint Tax Board and the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation, as well as the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and its consultancy apparatus.”

According to the OYIRS Management, the BIR Chairman, Adeleke, did not at any time meet with Professor Olayinka and/or Prof Adebowale or any other top echelon of the university to perpetuate any fraudulent act.

“We are not aware of any kickback process or underhand arrangement involving the trio: Prof Idowu Olayinka, Prof Kayode Adebowale and Dr. Michael Alatise in one part and any official of Oyo State Internal Revenue Service or by extension, Oyo State Government on the other.

“In addition, no trade-off existed in favour of either any University of Ibadan official or any official of Oyo State Government. The tax liability for 2018 was evidently established, reconciled along with 2012 to 2017 and mutually signed for onward recovery from Federal Government intervention funds. All monies of all federal MDAs audited and recovered for PAYE liabilities in OYSG, were duly recovered to the account of OYSG and could not have ended in anyone’s private pocket as alleged,” the statement added.

The body equally maintained that the resolution period of the tax audit matter between the University of Ibadan and the OYIRS did not span beyond three months, contrary to the allegation in the publications.

“The Oyo State Internal Revenue Service, based on its normal revenue recovery mandate and working towards meeting up with the mutually agreed figure before the arrival of the verification team of the FGN, encouraged the University of Ibadan, among other Federal MDAs, to take advantage of Federal Government offers to help clean their books of tax liability – essentially backlogs of unremitted PAYE.

“The agreement of the Federal Government to help to settle the tax liability is also logical in addressing the plight of the MDAs on account of inadequate funding by the Federal Government and insufficiency of the released funds to pay the employees’ salary in many of the MDAs, including the University of Ibadan.

“For collaboration with OYSG to relieve the university of unpaid PAYE liabilities to OYSG, the university management deserves commendation, not vilification, especially when the final liability is a product of thorough audit and reconciliation.

“In finality, this spurious petition is full of lies and has no basis in logic and reality. The PAYE recovery by the states is a special initiative of the Federal Government to, on behalf of her MDAs owing the state, to repay all the outstanding and unremitted PAYE to all affected states in the federation. The settlement of the tax liability is at no cost to any Federal MDAs, including the University of Ibadan.

“The process was guided by strict rules and procedures by the verification team from Abuja. All these rules were thoroughly applied and observed by the Oyo State Government and the management of the University of Ibadan. The process of tax audit of Federal MDAs and the payment process was and is straight-forward.

“The writer and his allies, acting scripts, are only trying to smear Oyo State Government and this will not stand. We have no hesitation in owning up to a good working relationship with the out-going management of the University of Ibadan. This same cordial atmosphere will always be extended to any management of the University, past, present, or future,” the statement concluded.

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The Vice Chancellor who expresses concerns when the Commissioner representing Oyo state at the Federal Character Commission, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela presented the core mandates of the commission to him during a courtesy call to the institution, wondered why population is not an integral part of federal character indices.

He also promised the institution’s support to FCC .

Professor Olayinka emphasized that Oyo state is large enough to have another Federal University and Polytechnic apart from the premier University of Ibadan.

The Federal Commissioner, Olowofela, earlier in his remarks informed that the National Assembly is presently considering the possibility of creating another University in the state based on the bill sponsored by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari representing Oyo North Senatorial District and others.

The former Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in the state hinted that the commission may also need the intellectual prowess of the citadel of learning in some of its key mandates.

According to Professor Olowofela, the mandates included: equitable distribution of manpower post, and equitable distribution of socio economic amenities among the federating units.

The ex-Ido Local Government boss also recalled the historical creation of the commission on 27th December, 1995. He added that being the date of the inauguration by the then Head of State and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, the first board of FCC was backed by decree 34 of 1996 and grafted in 1999 constitution among 14 independent commission.

He informed that President Muhammud Buhari inaugurated the current Executive Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Muheeba Farida Dankaka and 37 other members on July, 2, 2020 .

He further disclosed that the commission will audit all MDAs to ascertain the compliance to FCC principles.

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For the organisers of this innovative space – Ikeoluwapo B. Baruwa, Oluwadamilare Peter Jegede and Oluwatosin Aluko, the utmost importance of establishing the virtual community is basically to bring in scholars, experts (of English in various departments) and learners together for the purpose of learning.

According to the initiator, Ikeoluwapo Baruwa, “the coalescence of ivory tower and outside world would adequately aid and sharpen the thoughts of teachers, especially in the classroom setting and in their articulation of words and tenses in various write-ups”.

He added that the English Language Hub has mathematicians, scientists, speakers and other distinguished members from various faculties and ministries.

In a chat with Mega Icon Magazine, Baruwa also informed that the idea of using ‘hub’ originated from the basis of seeing the platform as central and most important learning space where discussions regarding English Language could be shared. Instead of using ‘forum’, ‘hub’ came as a pivotal replacement”.

“Though the platform kicked off 10th of January, 2020, but gained its momentum recently, as a means to keeping these researchers and academics busy and more informed. Further, the platform is yet limited to WhatsApp, but the organiser (Ikeoluwapo B. Baruwa) and administrators (Oluwadamilare Peter Jegede and Oluwatosin Aluko) are interested in taking the platform a bit higher”, he said.

ABOUT THE ORGANISERS

Ikeoluwapo B. Baruwa is a young researcher; an aspiring PhD candidate with interest in Language, Ethics, Diversity, Literacy, Epistemology, and strong background in Adult Education as well as Philosophy of Education. He has authored and coauthored papers with senior colleagues in and outside his field, coupled with in-progress articles. Ikeoluwapo was actively involved as one of the scientific members for the recently concluded Alexander Von Humboldt Conference, held at the University of Ibadan, between 11th and 14th February, 2020.

Ikeoluwapo B. Baruwa

Oluwadamilare P. JEGEDE is an E-learning Developer with a history of working in the e-learning industry. Skilled in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Instructional Design, Technical assistance and the like. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Oluwadamilare P. JEGEDE

Oluwatosin Aluko is a budding scholar who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy, a Post Graduate Diploma in Education and a Masters Degree in Philosophy of Education from the University of Ibadan, with interest in Identity Education. Also, he has a number of journal articles to his name and he has participated in some social responsibility/community development projects

Oluwatosin Aluko

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