By Pipeloluwa Ojelade
The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has declared Wednesday, 14 January 2026, and Thursday, 15 January 2026, as lecture-free days for all new students of the institution. The announcement was contained in a special release issued on January 13, 2026.
According to the release, the decision aims to enable newly admitted students to complete their document verification and clearance processes within their respective faculties. The lecture-free days will also allow new students to participate fully in the matriculation ceremony scheduled for Thursday, 15 January 2026.
Relief for Freshmen
Reactions from fresh students across various faculties revealed mixed but largely positive feelings toward the announcement.
Oloko Mariam, a 100-level student from the Faculty of Arts, said the announcement brought relief to many new students still adjusting to campus life. ‘Everything is still new for me, and moving from one office to another for clearance can be stressful. The lecture-free days reduce pressure and help us focus on important registration activities,’ she said.
Similarly, Samuel Adeyemi of the Faculty of Social Sciences noted that balancing lectures with clearance and payment processes would have been difficult. ‘This decision will really help us prepare properly for matriculation without feeling rushed,’ he stated.
Blessing Okorie, a 100-level student in the Faculty of Education, emphasised the importance of the policy in ensuring full participation in matriculation. ‘Nobody wants to miss matriculation. Having these days free gives us enough time to sort out our documents and be fully prepared,’ she said.
Mixed Reactions on Campus
Daniel Ogunleye, a 100-level student from the Faculty of Science, described the move as a practical step. According to him, ‘The clearance process can be tiring, especially for students coming from far places. Without lectures, it is easier to move around and complete everything on time.’
Zainab Bello, a 100-level student from the Faculty of Pharmacy, also commended the decision, noting that it reflected an understanding of the challenges faced by newly admitted students. She also said, ‘The lecture-free days will help me avoid missing classes because of clearance and registration. It also helps me skip early 8 a.m. classes while still preparing for Matriculation on Thursday.’
However, Ahabe Joy, a 100-level student from the Faculty of Administration, said the lecture-free days felt like a normal period for her, having already completed her registration.
‘Since I have finished my clearance and registration, it does not really change much for me. It just feels like a normal day,’ she explained.
The lecture-free days are expected to ease administrative processes and contribute to a successful matriculation exercise for the university’s newly admitted students. However, all fresh students must complete payment of all necessary fees to participate successfully in the matriculation exercise.
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