The former House Secretary of Students’ Union, University of Ibadan, Tobiloba Ogunbanjo has reacted to alleged misappropriation of money donated for projects.
The graduate of Sociology expressed that a sum of Two Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand Naira (N278,000) was donated for the two projects suggested under the WhatsApp group and Instagram group he coordinated as the convener.
FreshPage recalls that an Alumnus of the institution, Ayomipo Odeyemi had accused and challenged Ogunbanjo to provide financial details of the groups coordinated on behalf of the past and present students of the Premier University.
Odeyemi’s post on the Facebook page of the institution sparked mixed reactions about the encounter each and every members of the group has with the convener.
READ ALSO: Ex-UI Students Leader Called Out Over Alleged Financial Misappropriation
Below is the full statement released by the convener of the World of Uites on behalf of the members he worked with.
Dear All,
Attention; Ayomipo Odeyemi
RE: ACTIVITIES OF THE WORLD OF UITES WITH OIZAH (WOUWO) SINCE INCEPTION TILL PRESENT
The above captioned subject matter refers.
I write this in response to your questioning and request to investigate the financial activities of the World of Uites with Oizah (hereinafter referred to as WOUWO).
Firstly, I would like to salute your courage and comradery as a Great Uite in seeking transparency and honest dealings regarding all that is associated with the name UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN.
To cut to the chase, I also have an interest in getting to the root of the questions raised by you being an Alumnus of the prestigious University of Ibadan, and as I have been ‘called out’ with respect to the aforementioned subject matter as I owe it to myself in promoting my right of reply and self-dignity, and other interested persons to give an explanation and state the facts as they are.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The group known as World of Uites with Oizah (WOUWO) started as a WhatsApp group created in February, 2017 and the group retains its status till date.
It is imminent to note that it is a VOLUNTARY GROUP and a COMMUNITY of UITES (both past and present) that wanted to keep in touch for the love of camarederie, as neither dues nor levy is being charged for membership of the said group/community.
The Members of the said group called for first Physical hangout in March, 2020 and interested members contributed to attend and upon its planning, same was held in Lagos and following this, post-event receipts evidencing the monies for foods and drink were sent to the group as well as amount received for support of the said event and its expended breakdown.
The group then proceeded to hold a number of Hangouts after March 2020’s premier event, in Ibadan including but not limited to outdoor events at House 25, Osuntokun Bodija, Ibadan, Agodi Gardens for a Picnic, a visit to Ilaji Hotel and Resort. It is pertinent to note that the same modalities of financing the events was upheld, that is, people contributed voluntarily as a show of interest and support. Most of the financing of these events were raised from the pockets of the members as well as others as a show of goodwill.
Consequent on the alarming success rate of the former events aforementioned, the group members suggested and compelled the me as the Convener to open an Instagram account to further expand the reach of the page as a number of people showed interest in wanting to attend these physical hangouts since they were avenues to reconnect with Uites both past and present alike. Thus, leading to the creation of the Instagram page in August, 2020 and managed proactively in a bid to reach as many Uites as possible, with daily posts showcasing Uites and celebrating their excellence.
THE GIVEBACK PROJECT
A number of Uites appreciating and recognizing the brilliance behind the ideas which the activities of the Instagram page, sent stipends to support the growth of the page, and this was used to create publicity for the Instagram page via making of stickers and pasting same in the University environs as well as places in Lagos and Ibadan, doing adverts in Undergraduates students magazines, as well as their books for wider coverage strictly for the purposes of bringing people aboard on the page for reconnection and keeping up with the activities of the Alma Mater.
In December 2020, the group planned a Dinner titled ‘Glow in the Dark’ and publicly advertised for interested Uites to attend, the team planned for 50 guests and pegged the sales for ticket at N10,000.00, (Ten Thousand Naira) only, so as to be able to cover Feeding and Use of Venue at the Hotel proposed for the event (Bon Hotel Nest, Old Bodija, Ibadan). The event was held successfully and had in attendance The Deputy Dean, Dr. Demola Lewis who represented the then Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. After the dinner the report of income and expenditure was similarly sent to the group.
The thought that the community could raise over N500, 000.00 from ticket sales in planning the Maiden dinner made the group to take a decision tasking each other in order to to do a Giveback Project to the University of Ibadan. In order for this purpose to be achieved, it was proposed by the group that the School Fee Support and Remodelling of the UI/Poly gate projects be initiated. However, the group has two older Alumni that are members: Mr. Tobi Austin and Mr. Salau Dauda both 1991 Alumni, PRO and Chairman UIAA Lagos respectively. They both advised that we first get done with the dinner first then proceed with Giveback Project at the second dinner in December 2021.
The leadership of the group opened an account for the group in April 2021, to make donations and supports to group seamless, it is however worthy of note that people either donated in support of the growth of the group, and in effect donations are used for welfare support for members, sponsor/support some Undergraduate activities and finally to push the growth of the page with paid Instagram Ads and also to use same for the group’s Physical gatherings.
Many of those that have at one point or another supported the group financially did so based on personal relationship with the Convener and other members of the group, most with an appeal for anonymity because of the fact that it is a voluntary group trying to keep the bond of being ex-uites alive. It will however be inappropriate to post statement of account on an Instagram page, as this will be an act of encroachment on the privacy of the said donors as the RIGHT TO PRIVACY being a personal human right if trampled upon may expose such donors to unwarranted vulnerabilities.
It is also worthy of note that there is a sister community on Instagram with the handle @uireconnect and they as well have their bank account that interested members pay to either attend and or support any of their social events because both groups are unofficial voluntary social event groups that put up exciting events to rekindle bond and nostalgia.
When the idea to Give-back to the school community was hatched, it was not premeditated that it would cost as much as N1.4Million as proposed by the Works and Maintenance Department of the University of Ibadan. It is however worthy of note that the WOUWO Community wrote officially to the University Management with respect to the said intention. The race to meet up with the N1.4million target was not so convenient which made our older members advise that we slow down on it till the next Dinner (December 11, 2021) whereby the group can invite older Alumni in their numbers to support us to achieve the target. However a paltry sum of N278, 000.00, (Two Hundred and Seventy- Eight Thousand Naira) only which is inclusive of the sum of 25,000 (Twenty Five Thousand Naira Only) donation you (Ayomipo Odeyemi) sent with respect, has been raised out of the whooping target sum needed to embark on the Project. And this said amount is intact and in the custody of the group.
The donations that made up the 278,000 was received from 38 persons however in the event, if any donor does not want to continue, their money can be refunded forthwith.
Furthermore and in response to Paragraph 4 of your request, the growth of the page has made it a fertile ground for adverts by the brand; many of the adverts for Uites are free or ridiculously low. Golden Tulip being an outfit reached out in similar vein but however wanted a daily post of 60 days and were charged N100,000.00, (One Hundred Thousand Naira) only, for being a large outfit (although N50,000 will be used to promote the post daily for wider reach, as it is imminent that they get value for their money, while the other N50,000 goes into the 2021 Dinner the group is currently planning towards which will also be accounted for after the Dinner event on the group.
The group has always been accountable to her members on the WhatsApp platform with respect to breakdown of financial dealings, the group is a voluntary group where people willingly put down money to support our social events, the group is never out to swindle any individual or group as the group has maintained her integrity for 5 years of existence.
As inconvenient as it may seem, it should be noted that the group still has the Give-back Project in mind as it was only suspended to plan for the 2021 Dinner as well as reach older and potential Alumni that will be interested to support and finance the projects.
I however do not know in what capacity you have made this request perhaps as a meddlesome interloper since you admitted to having had an outburst with me, but out of honesty and goodness of our hearts, your request is being met with the vision that you remain worthy of learning and character as a Great and Conscious Uite. The group is ever willing to accommodate any smart driven, focused and intelligent Uites and as always the group is ever opened to all Uites, past and present therein.
Moreso, while perusing through the details of your request, it is indeed surprising that in Paragraph 4 (‘Number 3’) of your initial request you took up grammatical arms depicting a personal bias and the fact that you have an axe to grind in fact as a result of your removal from a Whatsapp Group by me. This has caused a taint in your intentions as good and valuable as they may be as I do believe it was less my ill-considered communication with you on the Whatsapp platform than it is the incontestable fact that you have a personal grouse with me which has led to this farce of yours in an attempt to dent my image and consequently the image of the said community.
Kindly note that I am ready and willing to produce the said Statement of Account upon being asked by the appropriate statutory/regulatory authority to do so.
It is my hope that this puts to rest any doubts and allays the fears of you or any other person(s) albeit in the dark may have as regards the importance as well as the credibility of the WOUWO community. I also do not recognize nor subject myself to cowering under your threat to report me to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as the group is a mere Whatsapp Platform of Interested and volunteering Uites and not for any illegal financial activities talk less obtainment of funds under false pretences.
Long Live The University of Ibadan!
Long Live WOUWO!
Viva University of Ibadan!
Thank you.
TOBILOBA OGUNBANJO
Convener, WOUWO Community
Member, Publicity Commitee UIAA Lagos
Alumnus, University of Ibadan
