By Ogunlana Klistivivi
Management of the Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library has extended closing hours following an OAUPeeps inquiry to the University Librarian’s office. This development follows complaints from students that the library was closing earlier than its traditional schedule on normal school days.
The Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library is a primary choice for many students on campus. Many come to read, while others use the opportunity to pass the time during lecture-free periods. Some enjoy it for its relative stillness compared to the hustle and bubble of the campus exterior; however, for the vast majority, it is a preferred reading location.
Students Recount Early Closure Struggles
In recent times, complaints reaching OAUPeeps have highlighted the library’s unusual 6 p.m. closure, as opposed to its traditional 10 p.m. closing time. Students expressed dissatisfaction with the early schedule, which forced them to find unconducive alternatives for their studies, severely affecting their academic work.
Oluwasolape Fabuluje, a 300-level student, complained about being forced to move to the ODLT when the library closed at 6 p.m.
'Initially, when I first resumed coming to the library this semester, I was surprised, but I thought it was because we had just resumed. But school has resumed for about 5 weeks now, and they are yet to resume back to the normal time,’ he said.
He noted that this has been a great inconvenience because, unlike in the ODLT, the library offers personal space and a quiet, convenient environment. ‘I have to go look for a lecture theatre to substitute that time that I will be in the library from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., which is not as conducive as the library, but I just have to manage it.’
When asked what constituted this inconvenience, he added that the library is silent, and nobody disturbs him.
Impact on Academic Schedules
Another student, Habeeb, a 200-level student, said he was shocked the first time he heard the siren ring at 6 p.m., signalling all students to evacuate.
‘I was shocked because, from what I know, it used to be 10 p.m. That day, I had no choice but to pack my things and leave,’ he said.
He added that the change affected his reading schedule. ‘The library has been organised to be somewhere to read, and if I leave here by 6 p.m., I will have to go to the hostel, where I will probably sleep off or play around.’
Adeyemi Precious, a 300-level student, echoed these sentiments and urged the management to restore the timing.
‘I want it to be back to normal when the library closes by 9:30 p.m. because now I have to leave the library earlier than usual and have to find another reading spot, which is not usually convenient for me.’
Management Reverses Temporary Policy
With these complaints, OAUPeeps reached out to the University Librarian’s office to clarify whether the arrangement was temporary or permanent. While official comments were difficult to obtain, a source in the office, who requested anonymity, stated that the arrangement was temporary and would soon be reversed. Security officers at the entrance also confirmed to OAUPeeps that the 6 p.m. closure was not a permanent policy.
Following the inquiry, we can confirm that the Library Management has announced the extension of closing hours back to the usual 10 p.m., effective Wednesday, 17 December 2025. A notice of this extension was placed at the library entrance and confirmed by our correspondent.
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