THE ICONS ORGANIZATION

    Adedoyin Oguntade Parents and teachers have expressed disappointment at the 77% failure rate reported by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). They argued that the results did not accurately reflect the candidates' abilities, citing issues like network glitches and inadequate computer systems preventing some students from taking the exam. The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, reported that out of the candidates whose results were released, 8,401 scored 300 and above, while 1,402,490 scored below 200. This disparity in scores underscores the need to address the challenges faced by students during the exam. Furthermore, the public's reaction to the results reflected widespread disappointment, with some attributing the poor performance to distractions like social media, TikTok, and cyber fraud activities. These external factors may have contributed to students' lack of focus and preparation for th

  The increase in fuel costs in Ife due to scarcity has caused a ripple effect on transportation expenses within the campus, particularly with bike fares. Following fare issues with towngboro drivers, the Students' Union issued a statement on April 28, highlighting an agreement to maintain regular bus fares until further negotiations on Tuesday.   While bus fare adjustments were mentioned in the statement, bike fares remained unaddressed. While bus rides continue at ₦100 from bus stop to gate and ₦150 to town, bike riders have hiked their prices to ₦300 from bus stop to gate as of April 28. One rider justified the increase, citing the elevated cost of fuel purchases.   The fuel scarcity has taken a toll on the residents of Ile-Ife, Osun State, especially the students of Obafemi Awolowo University. Prices have been fluctuating despite the instructions from the Student's Union against price hikes. The queues in the petrol stations and exorbitant black market prices ha

Ande Joy    What's your reason for being afraid to speak up on most occasions when you know you should?   Is it because you are scared of your opinion being rejected? Or are you insecure? Do you think your opinion might be wrong? Or maybe you just think you'll offend someone by speaking up.   Not being able to speak up in public to either defend yourself, give a presentation, or air your opinion is what is termed glossophobia. Glossophobia isn’t a dangerous disease or chronic condition. It is the medical term for the fear of public speaking. Itis a social anxiety disorder. Those affected may experience uncontrollable trembling, sweating, and a racing heartbeat. They may also have an overwhelming urge to run out of the room or away from the situation that is causing them stress.   If you've ever found yourself in this situation, then you just might have glossophobia. The good news, though, is that you can overcome your fear of speaking in public. Many people have

Omotara Adesina   The Benin Traditional Council suspended six traditional functionaries for pledging loyalty to Ooni of Ife, the Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. This was announced in a statement signed by the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe on Saturday.  This suspension came as a result of their attention being brought to a video clip where the suspended chiefs allegedly rendered inaccurate and disjointed account between the Benin Dynasty and Ife Kingdom. The statement addressed it as "a sacrilegious show of shame and falsehood against the Benin Custom."  The individuals who claimed to be emissaries of the Oba of Benin were identified as Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesieoghoba (Ogbelaka) and two other Ogbelaka functionaries identified as Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo.  The Council further described the conduct of these functionaries as “inappropriate, sacrilegious, and calculated to ridicule traditional history and to bring disrepute

Emmanuel Onabodu  There was tension over social media when conflicting fliers surfaced online, dubbing two wives of the Osun governor as first ladies. The controversy sparked a flurry of reactions from citizens, questioning the rationale behind having dual first ladies amidst pressing state needs. Many argued that scarce resources should be redirected towards essential governmental functions rather than sustaining two first lady offices. A User on X, @MurphyBles72196 said "Both of them need to welcome the first Lady" showing support to the office of two first ladies. Another user on X, @Uyotistic_uyota said "The first wife should be the first lady unless she's not capable...". The user emphasize the need for competence be in the office. Adding to the confusion, the First Lady of Nigeria also acknowledged both wives of the governor as first ladies during a recent statement. She emphasized the transparent process behind selecting Osun State for a signi

  Tomi Adebayo  The final year of undergraduate study in Nigerian universities marks a significant milestone in the academic journey of students. It's a season of anticipation, expectation, and celebration. When it comes to final-year student shenanigans, a peculiar trend has emerged: the growth of fake weddings among final-year students. Fake weddings mirror the style of traditional weddings, in which students celebrate in an extravagant manner by dressing up as wedding guests and couples, making vows, and engaging in other naughty activities all in the name of celebration. However, the practice of staging fake weddings carries several negative implications for students in a number of ways, including excessive spending, financial burden, social pressure, and the need for social media validation.   EXCESSIVE SPENDING Final-year students frequently go to great lengths to plan their fake traditional wedding, using expensive halls, lavish decorations, pricey clothing mater