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Claim: The Obafemi Awolowo University will be embarking on an enforced break as it is to host the West African University Games (WAUG) this year.
Verdict: FALSE! Interviews with school officials reveal that the school did not declare a break in academic activities.
Full Text
On Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, multiple social media posts circulating on WhatsApp platforms claimed that there would be a New Year holiday break at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) from Dec. 15, 2023, to Jan. 8, 2024.
The broadcast message stated that after a senate board meeting held on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, the management of the University “agreed that the break will commence from Dec. 15th, 2023, until Jan. 8th, 2024.”
“An immediate holiday is scheduled due to an upcoming campus event from December 15th to 23rd that requires the use of the Hall of Residence by participants,” the message reads, referring to the West African University Games (WAUG), which is to be hosted by the University this year.
We thought to verify this because the rumours have put the university students in a frenzy, giving them the impression that they are bound to embark on holidays alongside the Dec. break.
Verification
This fact-checker contacted the University’s Dean for Student Affairs (DSA), John Odediran, who stated that the news is false, as it does not represent the views of the University management.
We also spoke to the University’s Dean of The Faculty of Technology, Professor Olufemi Adebola Koya, a University’s senate committee member, who also confirmed it as false. He noted that the school is not going on break until Dec. 23, 2023, because WAUG is part of the school’s life, so lectures will run concurrently.
He explained that the number of participants for WAUG was not enough to displace the hosts.
“Usually, whether WAUG holds here or elsewhere, the participating sports teams are given exeat. Otherwise, all participating schools should shut down. Again, the number of representatives from other schools is not large enough to displace the host. The host should not vacate for guests to stay alone in the empty accommodation,” he said.
Prof Koya also revealed that the information had been circulating days before their senate meeting.
”The fake news has been circulating days before the senate meeting last Friday, which centred on only results.”
Omisore Elijah, the Students Union Public Relations Officer, also confirmed to DUBAWA that there is no break scheduled for the said period, as he had confirmed the news himself from the University’s management.
Conclusion
The information that there would be a break from Dec. 15, 2023, to Jan. 8, 2024, due to the WAUG games is false. The school authorities debunked the assertion.
