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  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 pri...

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...

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 ...

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 clot...

Pelumi Solagbaade  The discrimination against Nigerians at the Indian language school in Ilupeju, Lagos, has sparked outrage. Reports from PUNCH and online sources confirm that the school is refusing admission to Nigerians. User X, @demcommonroom, shared their experience, stating, "The Indian school in Ilupeju only admits Indians. You need an Indian passport for enrollment." A PUNCH correspondent, speaking with the user, recounted a similar experience dating back to 2009, where only Indian students were present during a debate competition. Security officials at the school denied entry to a PUNCH correspondent, stating that only Indians were allowed to make inquiries for enrollment. A concerned citizen, More Blessing Catering Rental Services, drew Governor Babajide Sanwolu's attention to the matter, stating, "Your attention is needed; this shouldn't be happening in Lagos State." Gerald Katchy, General Secretary of the Committee for Defense of Huma...

Omotara Adesina  The 20th child of the founder of Celestial Church of Christ, Worldwide, Olatosho Oshoffa, popularly known as Tosho has addressed some controversial issues concerning the church. Speaking with the Punch news, he addressed some of the church's doctrinal issues steming from his father's family dynamics.  Olatosho Oshoffa was born as the 10th son of his father who founded the Celestial Church in Christ in 1947. According to him, his father wouldn't have been able to found the Celestial Church if God detested polygamy as he already had three wives before starting the church. However, there have been further speculations that the Celestial Church founder had over 100 children of which Tosho rebutted. He stated in his interview with Punch that his Father had 13 wives and 53 Children. Defending the unity of his family's dynamics, he stated that his father stood on the unity of the family insisting that they saw themselves as children of Oshoffa not ...

Adedoyin Oguntade  A recent report by Elastos, an open-source blockchain website, indicates that Nigerians show greater faith in Bitcoin-based systems over traditional options like banks. The BIT (Bitcoin; Innovation and Trust) Index highlights that countries like Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are at the forefront of Bitcoin adoption, with a significant percentage of respondents favoring Bitcoin for transactions and safeguarding savings, compared to counterparts in countries like Germany and the UK. The platform gathered research data from 1,407 individuals who are knowledgeable about technology in countries like Brazil, Germany, Nigeria, South Korea, the UAE, the UK, and the US. The interviews were conducted by a reputable market research firm from March 30 to April 4, 2024. In terms of online transaction security, respondents from developing markets expressed higher trust in Bitcoin over other options. Nigerians trust in Bitcoin for financial security is ...

Aminat Abayomi  You can make a very spicy and delicious shawarma at home. Here are the necessary tips you need to know.  The following are needed to make a homemade shawarma  Ingredients : ▪️Chicken ▪️Cabbage ▪️Flatbread ▪️Mayonnaise ▪️Carrot ▪️Ketchup Method: Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken into small pieces. Heat some vegetable oil in a pan and stir-fry the chicken on low heat until cooked through. Cook the Sausage : Add sausage to the pan with the chicken and continue stirring until the sausage is done. Prepare the Vegetables: Cut the cabbage and carrots into small pieces. Make the Sauce: In a bowl, mix together mayonnaise and ketchup. Add the chopped carrots and cabbage to the mixture and stir well to combine. Assemble the Shawarma: Lay out a piece of flatbread. Spread the cabbage and carrot mixture evenly over the flatbread. Next, add the cooked chicken and sausage on top. Roll the Shawarma: Carefully roll the flatbread with the filling ingredients...

Oluwapelumi Solagbaade  When many people hear the word "autism" what comes to their mind is imbeciles. Many people believe it is a disease caused by supernatural forces. To some, it a disability caused by poor parenting. First of all, these are all misconceptions. Autism is a brain disability that affects the social and communication skills of the person affected. It can also be said to be a neurological disorder which surfaces during childhood and affects the individual's social interaction and ability to speak.  It is characterized by repetitive behaviors, shyness, inability to communicate well, poor cognitive ability, little expressive language, attachment to unusual objects and poor eye contact.  What causes autism? Although, there is no major cause of autism, there are many factors that are linked to autism. One of them is heredity. In many families, there has been a pattern of the disorder. Research has confirmed that some families tend to have heredit...

Theophilus Awotunde  Living with roommates is like embarking on a joint venture, not just in uni but everywhere, even with your siblings at home. It is a collaborative cohabitation where personalities, habits, and quirks converge. While the experience can be delightful sometimes, conflicts and misunderstandings can scarcely be avoided.  So, how do you strike the right chord and create a harmonious relationship with your 'roomie'?  Here are some tips to ensure your peace game is a chart-topper. Communication is Key: Open and honest communication is the cornerstone of any successful roommate relationship. Whether it's about chores, bills, or personal boundaries, make sure to keep the lines of communication wide open. Establish Ground Rules: Sit down together and establish some ground rules early on. This could include guidelines for chores, quiet hours, having guests over, and boundaries of personal space. Having a mutual understanding from the start can preven...

Mofeoluwa Ade-Olufadeju  The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for entries for a new logo of Osun State. The development follows the negative reactions from members of the public over the new state design unveiled on Wednesday. The Osun State House of Assembly had, in July 2023, repealed the state Anthem, Crest and Flag Law 2012 and replaced it with a new law, which enabled the executive arm of government to come up with a new logo for the state. Reacting to the new logo, an opposition party in the state, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), described the new logo as a waste of taxpayers’ money while the Osun State chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) also said the new logo fell short of the standard, inquiring if the governor saw the new design before assenting to its bill. Following the backlash, the governor announced that the state would allow for more entries to compete for the logo design. The submission of entries opened on Friday, April 19 a...

Emmanuel Onabodu  The outbreak of geopolitical conflicts, including the Ukraine-Russia conflict, has underscored the susceptibility of cryptocurrencies to external factors. For crypto traders and enthusiasts, understanding the implications of geopolitical conflicts is crucial in safeguarding digital assets against potential losses. Notably, on February 24, 2022, the war between Ukraine and Russia began and distabilized the crypto market, resulting in a bearish trend for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.  Following reports of a major air attack launched by Iran's fundamentalist rulers on Israel, Bitcoin's price plummeted from approximately $70,000 to $62,000—a staggering 10% drop. Similarly, several altcoins witnessed declines of 15% or more in response to the heightened geopolitical tensions. Geopolitical conflicts can exert significant pressure on the crypto market for several reasons: Market Uncertainty: Wars and geopolitical conflicts create uncertainty and in...

  Olufayo Omolayo "Over 4 billion people across the globe wear glasses. Half of the planet will require glasses by 2050. In 2021, the United States was the leading eyewear market across the globe."  - Nightglasses.com It is not uncommon to see at least 3/5 in a classroom wearing the popular "four eyes", as it is comically called. Actually about 826 million people have unaddressed presbyopia (long sightedness). You might wonder why is this number increasing frequently. They are due to very obvious reasons, out of which one will be a major focus in this article. Kindly follow through. You know you enjoy that your favourite K-drama episode on your smartphone or laptop or unending scrolling on TikTok and Instagram, like you want to get to the end of the feed (if that is even possible...lol). Another analogy that might encapsulate this point is that chat with your significant other. You take the phone to the toilet, kitchen, classroom, church, mosque etc. Do you know how...

Ayanfe Oluwafemi  A recently introduced student loan program in Nigeria has ignited debate among students about its effectiveness in financing higher education. President Bola Tinubu signed the revised Student Loan Act, known as Access to Higher Education Act, 2024 into law, aiming to address affordability challenges in education. The program offers financial aid for students pursuing university degrees or vocational training. Student opinions on the loan scheme are varied. Some view it positively. "This is a great step forward," said Olayinka, a law student. "Many countries offer student loans, and it can help students achieve their educational goals regardless of financial background." Ayomide, a political science student, agrees that the loans can be beneficial for struggling students, especially with the two-year repayment period after mandatory national service. However, others express concerns. Adekola, a geography student, worries about high unemp...

A resident of Akintola Hall at the university reported an unusual sighting on Saturday, April 13th, 2024. The 400 level student from faculty of arts claimed to have spotted an alligator behind the W2 block while performing routine chores. The witness raised alarm after allegedly encountering the reptile while hanging clothes. Subsequent discussions among fellow residents revealed divided opinions, with some corroborating the sighting but asserting that the creature in question was, in fact, a monitor lizard rather than an alligator. In response to the commotion, one of the Akintola Hall Executives reassured residents that appropriate measures would be taken to address the situation. However, they also issued a cautionary statement, advising vigilance among all occupants. While some take this as a rumour, others demand combing the forested bush path for safety reasons 

NANS PROPOSE SOLIDARITY WALK TO APPRECIATE TINUBU FOR STUDENT LOAN, PROVOKE REACTIONS Adedoyin Oguntade  There have been series of reactions as the National Association of Nigerian Students under the leadership of Comrade Lucky Emonefe has set to organize NANS solidarity walk in appreciation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the student loan scheme.  The solidarity walk is set to take place on April 15th and 16th in FCT, Abuja. This announcement is coming after the 2024 newly revised Student Loan Bill into law thus repealing the earlier 2023 Student Loan legislation with immediate effect. NANS Joint Campus Council Osun state Axis expressed its total displeasure and disappointment in the decision taken by the national body. NANS JCC Osun Axis in a press release on Sunday, April 7 explained that they advocated against student loans, citing the negative impact on students and the economy, and call for grants and scholarships instead. They criticize NANS National for ...