OAU Students Stranded as Bedspace Allocation Crisis Deepens

 ​By Ojelade Pipeloluwa

​Many students at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have been left stranded following the conclusion of the bedspace allocation exercise on Friday, 3 October 2025. Despite many students applying on the portal, the online balloting exercise has once again failed to provide accommodation for a large number of students who participated. Several interviewed students who spoke to OAUPeeps expressed their displeasure at the situation, with many of them recounting how this has forced them to find accommodation off campus.

​One of the students OAUPeeps spoke to, Chidera Okafor, a 300-level student from the Faculty of Arts, narrated that the experience was far from desirable. Recounting the process, he said, 'I stayed up all night refreshing the portal, but I could not get a bedspace. Now I have to pay over One hundred and fifty thousand (₦150,000) for off-campus accommodation, which is far above the normal hostel fee.'

​Without an allocation from the portal, many students are forced to rent houses off campus at exorbitant costs, often with added stress. With a growing number of students unable to secure a space on campus, the burden of staying off campus is increasing significantly.

​Aisha Ibrahim, a 200-level student, said, 'The stress of attending early morning classes while commuting from off campus is really taking a toll on me.'

​For Samuel Oladipo, a 400-level student, staying off-campus has created severe transportation inconveniences for him. 'I now spend a significant amount on transportation, and it is affecting my ability to focus on my studies.'

​The plight of staying off campus has in recent times worsened with rising security incidents off campus. ACJOAU had earlier reported the rising state of robbery incidents targeting students living off campus. Apart from the psychological toll of such traumatic events, many have lost valuables at knifepoint or gunpoint, driving up interest for many to want to stay on campus.

​To understand the root of the challenge, OAUPeeps spoke with a staff member from the Division of Student Affairs (DSA). Speaking under anonymity, the official confirmed that the demand for bedspaces far exceeds the university’s current capacity.

​'We understand the students’ frustrations,' the official said. 'But the university simply does not have enough hostels to accommodate everyone. The balloting system is used to ensure fairness, but demand still outweighs supply.'

​This housing challenge raises important questions about the need for increased prioritisation by the university authorities toward expanding on-campus housing. While privately owned on-campus hostels like the Ojaja Hostel, Agnes Hostel, and OAK Hostel are coming in to address this housing deficit, they still do little to cater for demand considering that these hostels are hugely expensive and are not open for balloting on the school portal.

​Further, speaking with one of the experts at the university’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Center on the challenges students face while balloting, the expert explained that the balloting system is designed to allocate spaces automatically based on availability. According to him, high traffic during peak hours contributes to delays, slow responses, and occasional system failures.

​'The system is transparent,' he explained. 'But when thousands of students log in at the same time, the server becomes overloaded. We are working on improvements to reduce these technical issues.'

Fix Our Hostels, Students Urge Management

 ​By Sanusi Fawaz

​The deteriorating state of student hostels at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has continued to raise serious concern among residents, many of whom are calling on the university management to urgently address long-standing infrastructural decay. Interviews conducted across multiple halls reveal persistent issues, including poor maintenance, overcrowding, and inadequate sanitation, all of which significantly impact students’ well-being and academic performance.

​Students Share Experiences

Speaking with OAUPEEPS, Haneef, a 300-level resident of Awolowo Hall, expressed displeasure with the dilapidated infrastructural condition of his hostel.

​Before coming to live in Awo Hall, Haneef had experienced staying in both Angola and ETF Hall, where he suffered serious water issues.

​‘While my stay in Angola Hall was quite lovely, we faced issues with water a couple of times. But it was much better than ETF Hall. At the peak of our troubles, we had no water for over three weeks. Water trucks had to be sent, and what they brought was far from enough.’

​Having only just resumed, he explained that only some blocks in the Hall has been renovated, while the rest are in poorer condition.

​‘Other blocks are in a state of disrepair. And there’s overcrowding. Too many students stay in one room, and this affects other issues like water.’

​For Rasheedat Oluwasolafunmi, a 300-level resident of Akintola Hall, the story is not better.

​‘God! Akintola smells. I thought holidays are for taking care of the hostels students will stay in on resumption. Imagine having a broken table, torn nets, no window, bad sockets, and you still have to fix it yourself with your money! What is the point of hostel fee?’

​Oluwasolafunmi’s concerns are not new, though. ACJOAU had last year documented how, despite increasing the accommodation levy, students are still forced to repair things in their rooms and hostels at their own expense to make the place liveable for them.

​Meanwhile, these challenges are causing various academic and welfare concerns for students. Oluwasolafunmi lamented how the recurrent parties at the Akintola car park constitute noise pollution for her and other residents. ‘Akintola’s car park is more of a party ground than a car park. And the everyday and night prayer sessions at the sports complex. The noise affects your thinking, making you unable to rest and study.’

​Haneef has, in his stead, had to battle recurrent malaria due to the torn nets in his hostel. According to him, ‘The poor state of the nets on the windows allows mosquitoes easy access into rooms, even when doors are closed. It would usually result in cases of malaria, which I was a victim of, more than once in the last session.’

Cannot Live on Campus, Forced to Stay Off-Campus

​Owing to the difficult conditions students face while living on campus, many students are opting for off-campus housing for better convenience and hygiene.

​Maymunah Abdus-Salam, a 200-level Communication and Media Studies student, who now lives off campus, speaking with OAUPEEPS shared that staying on campus was her initial plan but was aborted owing to the unfriendly state of school hostels. ‘Staying off campus was not my original plan. I wanted to stay on campus for convenience and to avoid daily stress like long queues at the gate and rising transport costs.’

​For Monsurat Ajibola, a 300-level student, visiting the school hostel once had long sealed her mind against staying on campus. ‘I stay off campus and I have never stayed in the school hostel. My brief visit to the hostel showed overcrowded rooms, shared toilets, and generally poor conditions. That made me prefer private hostels.’

​Fix the Hostels, Students Bemoan

​With many of these challenges persisting, students on campus are voicing out concerns for the management to prioritise fixing the worsening condition in halls of residence.

‘I strongly believe priority should be given to infrastructural development. Students have been paying for hostels on campus, not minding the increments. We deserve value for our money,' says Haneef.

​‘Most of the halls on campus have not even been renovated in years. You would see the toilets and be in absolute awe. Rooms should be fixed, windows should be replaced. And fans should be fixed in all rooms. The heat these days is terrible.’

​Abdus-Salam, echoing the same sentiment, says that fixing the hostel is necessary if students are to return to staying on campus. ‘Yes, if the campus is improved, I might consider moving back to campus; if not, I would rather continue spending on transport than living in an unfriendly campus environment.’

​The growing dissatisfaction among students highlights the urgent need for comprehensive renovations in halls of residence. Until this issue is addressed, the deplorable state of campus hostels will continue to deter students from staying on campus and remain a significant hindrance to academic excellence and student welfare.

The Urgent Need to Reform Special Electives at OAU

 By Omotoso GodsDelight

The beginning of every academic semester at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is often marked by a flurry of activities and challenges for students. While some grapple with adjusting to the academic calendar after a long holiday, others are preoccupied with resuming reading or finding means to settle their school fees. However, one issue unites students across departments when the course registration portal opens: the scramble to register for special electives.

Special electives at OAU are compulsory courses taken outside a student's primary department or faculty. Designed to provide a broader, well-rounded education, every student must complete at least six units of these electives before graduation. Most electives carry two units, meaning students typically register for three or more over their academic stay. Faculties across the university offer various electives under codes such as SEA (Governance and Administration), SEG (Food Production and the Nation), SEE (Indigenous Education in Nigeria), SEP (Drugs and Society), and SET  (Technology and Society), among others.

However, what was designed to enhance learning has become a chaotic process that students often approach with anxiety and resignation. During registration, students refresh the school portal repeatedly, desperately trying to secure a slot in any available elective—often without concern for content or interest. For many, it’s not about what they learn but simply about registering the required number of electives before their final year to meet graduation requirements.

To better understand students' experiences, OAUPeeps interviewed several students across departments and levels.

Deborah, a final-year student of Building, explained that her main challenge with electives was late registration due to a lack of awareness. “Registering special electives for me wasn't so much of a hassle; I just could not register early because I wasn't so informed about it, and I didn't have space on my portal to register for it,” she said. 

She acknowledges that though special electives allow her to learn beyond her discipline, she does not treat them as seriously as her core courses. When asked if electives broadened her knowledge or felt like ticking academic boxes, she replied: “I will go for the two options. We learn, but sometimes we want to tick the boxes.”

Her favourites were SEG 001 and SEG 002, which she described as stress-free and involving field trips.

Peace Taiwo, a 200-level student of German in the Department of Foreign Languages, had a smoother registration experience but viewed electives as more of a burden than a learning opportunity. She said, “It was more of an extra burden for me than an opportunity to learn.”

Peace also raised concerns about unreturned results: “I had an issue with SEO 001; I had not seen the result to date.” Her preferred elective was SEG, which she described as “easy peasy.”

Verita, a 300-level Law student, recounted a particularly frustrating experience in her first year because the school made SEO 003 compulsory for freshmen. “I already picked two electives, but because I wanted to pick SEO 003, I had to remove the two electives I picked and go for SEO 003, only for me to see that the number of students that had registered was enough. I had to return to pick the two electives I first picked. The same thing happened, so I could only end up with one elective, which was not my choice,” she said.

She described the overall experience as burdensome and offered specific suggestions for improvement. Speaking about students' stress when writing elective exams, she said, “The school should provide computers for faculties so that faculty members will go to their faculty to write the exam rather than waiting for hours under the scorching sun to write a forty-minute exam.”

Suzan, another 300-level law student, shared similar frustrations, especially since only a few students could register for an elective. Like Verita, she also lamented the weekly quizzing of some electives. “The elective which stressed me the most was SEO 003 because they do quizzes every week, and if you miss one, it is a problem. Even the result didn't come out well because everyone offering it in my faculty got almost the same score,” she noted.

Her recommendation: “The school should provide more CBT centres for exam purposes because of the large population of students.”

Oyetola, a 200-level student of Industrial Chemistry, described the electives system as a game of speed. “Special electives are 'first come, first served'. You have to be fast so you don't end up with hard electives,” she said.

She admitted that she hardly attends elective classes unless they are on Google Classroom. “There was this special elective that was holding an event on a Saturday, and we were not informed before, and they said they would mark attendance for it because there was going to be an invited guest,” she said. 

On reforming the exam structure, she suggested that elective exams should be done online, like the Post-UTME format.

Meanwhile, OAUPeeps also interviewed lecturers handling these electives to share their insights. A lecturer from the Department of Building, who preferred not to be named, highlighted how, overseas, he had the opportunity to take courses unrelated to his discipline, which enriched his academic exposure.

“The idea is to give students basic knowledge about other courses and how they run,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that achieving this goal at OAU is difficult: “Some students are unserious; they just want to receive their certificates... Some support themselves; they don’t have much time for their studies, not to talk of special electives.”

On whether he has faced any issues regarding special electives, he explained that he doesn't face any special difficulty since electives are just like any other class, where some students will listen and some will not. 

However, he complained about the availability of buses for field trips, which usually come from the school. “I was even writing to the school for a refund because we paid for three buses during the SEM 001 field trip, but the school only gave us one,” he explained.

Speaking with another lecturer from the department, he emphasised that these electives were intended to make the students vast in all disciplines. “Electives are supposed to be easy and interesting, but most students are not just aware of the usefulness,” he said.

However, he remained uncertain whether the school was achieving this objective with the students. This uncertainty arises because students have different attitudes to classes depending on their backgrounds. He explained that some students already have a job waiting for them if they graduate, whether well or poorly, so such students won't take their classes very seriously. 

For improvement, he suggested making the courses more engaging and accessible. “Elective courses should be diluted for students, make them interesting so that their attention can be secured,” he said. 

Once designed to broaden academic horizons, special electives on the OAU campus have gradually lost their shine. They’ve become a routine struggle, less about learning and more about survival. What should be a chance to explore new knowledge is now a frantic race for easy grades and available slots. The pressure, the shortcuts, and the yearly portal panic have become the norm for OAU students. And yet, beneath the surface, the original purpose of these courses still lingers, waiting to be revived. The question remains: Will these electives continue to burden students, or will reforms revive their intended value and meaning? Only time—and deliberate action—will tell.

Navigating Scholarship Stress on Campus: Plights of OAU Students

By Heritage Ayoola

Scholarships are often presented as golden opportunities for students— a reward for academic achievement and a relief from financial stress. The rise in tuition fees and the cost of living make scholarships an essential form of financial support for many students. Besides relieving financial burden, scholarships provide quality education, personal growth, and global networking. 

However, despite their immense benefits, scholarships are also a source of frustration, rejection, and emotional fatigue for many students. Sometimes, scholarships are highly competitive. In some cases, they are only renewable depending on the continued academic excellence of recipients, making them a source of setback to some and an encouragement to others.

To understand the challenges students face regarding scholarships, OAUPEEPS interviewed several random students on campus. Hugo Favour, a 200-level student, expressed his grievances over the pain of rejection after applying for a scholarship. He explained that there are times when the applicant already knows they would be rejected because they did not take the application seriously. However, in cases where the applicant expects a favourable response from the scholarship but instead receives an email that says, 'Thank you for your application. We have many applicants, and we are sorry…' can be very disheartening. 

Dunmininu Precious, a 300-level student, also relayed her frustration about how scholarship applications can sometimes be unfair. However, she complains of having applied for many scholarships with little success. "Sometimes the requirements are just too much," she said. "I expect my results and achievements to be enough to be awarded the scholarship, but I am always expected to write long essays about myself, which is quite difficult for me." Many have given up on pursuing scholarship opportunities because of the challenges students face when applying for scholarships. Besides the academic qualifications, some scholarships require students to express themselves in many words or provide documents that are difficult to obtain. Some scholarships also exclude specific student demographics, either by state of origin or university level, from applying. 

Iyanuoluwa Ajibola, a 200-level student, lamented the exclusion of not always being eligible to apply for some scholarships. These difficulties often discourage many students and cause them to resign from applying for scholarships. 

Esther Adesina, a 200-level student, also explained how she has been applying for scholarships consistently but has yet to receive any. Despite the numerous rejections, she remains optimistic about getting one soon. Most students also complain of not always being aware of these opportunities. Some students either get to see this opportunity when they are almost closing, or some are not well informed on the advantages of scholarships in their journey as a student.

Iyanuoluwa Ajibola, for instance, explains that sometimes, she always seems to receive this scholarship. "I don't see the opportunities on time," she said. 

"Getting a scholarship opportunity will not only boost your finances as a student, but it will also encourage you to do better academically, especially if you hold a scholarship that has to be renewed based on your grade," Hugo Favour mentioned.

Scholarships also often require many documents, which are usually difficult to obtain. Sometimes, uploading these documents is tricky due to technical glitches on some online scholarship portals. 

Priscilla Ayoola, a 200-level student, experienced this when applying for the Federal Scholarship Board program. "While applying for the Federal Government Bursary Program, it took a lot of time and vigilance to upload the required documents we were asked to make in JPEG format and 10 MB, but the uploading issue still persisted," she explained. Due to this difficulty, she almost gave up completing the application. 

However, despite the numerous disappointments, many students are optimistic about not giving up on applying for scholarships. For some students, alongside these disappointments is a silver lining of hope, growth, and perseverance. Speaking with OAUPEEPS, Emmanuel Ajayi expressed his rejection when he applied for the Dallas Scholarship. "Scholarships are a great opportunity for students, especially those who cannot afford the increase in school fees, but you can only give your best in applying; you never know if you will be granted the scholarship or not," he said. "Yes, I have been a beneficiary of a scholarship, but it was not easy, and there will always be rejection."

One, Martha, a 200-level law student, also mentioned that scholarship application and screening processes are always very stressful, rigorous, and demanding, although the stipend being provided is worth it. So, she believes that the stressful process is for the scholarship personnel to ensure that the person receiving the scholarship is worthy, qualified for the scholarship, and can maintain it. 

Olagunju Faith, a 300-level student from the faculty of Arts, responded that he has been rejected before, particularly while applying to attend a summer school as a German language instructor. Still, the rejection was not a discouragement to him but an avenue to do better and wait for the right time.

Hugo Favour also commented on the hope that winning a scholarship brings. "Scholarship opportunities are indeed a lifeline for students, and to me, it has been a source of financial aid and motivation to improve my academics and myself."

Meanwhile, to successfully navigate these challenges, students are encouraged to gather the needed documents early. This will save them time and energy when applying for any scholarship. Students can also visit the Student Affairs office to be updated on recent scholarship offers they can use, and they can also join online groups, communities, and channels that focus on disseminating information on scholarship opportunities for graduates, undergraduates, and postgraduates. Also, having a perfect CGPA would allow the screening process to favour you as a student, which would be a great advantage.

ICJC 2025: Media Professionals, Student Journalists Converge at OAU to Discuss Media’s Role in National Development

By Ogunlana Klistivivi

The 2025 edition of the International Campus Journalists Conference (ICJC) was held on Saturday, May 3rd, at the BOOC Lecture Theatre, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, drawing student journalists, media practitioners, and industry veterans under the theme: “Media for Development: The Media as a Tool for Innovative Drive and Socio-Political Economic Advancement.”

ACJOAU Executives with ICJC Panelists 

Organized by the Association of Campus Journalists, OAU (ACJOAU), the conference served as a platform for learning, networking, and critical conversations around the transformative power of media in contemporary society.

Delivering the keynote address, Femi Adesina, OON, former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, asserted that media is more than a vehicle for entertainment—it is a pivotal force for social change, innovation, and national growth. He urged journalists to prioritize impact-driven reporting and to resist the lure of sensationalism. “Any media house that forsakes its role in shaping society has lost its essence,” he remarked.

Other speakers at the event included Osarennoma Saba (popularly known as Edo Queen) of Dominion Broadcast Group; Anthony Dimnwaka, OAP with Nigeria Info 99.3FM; Abimbola Abata, investigative reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ); and Afouda Samuel, presenter and CEO of Primus Media City. They offered unique perspectives on ethical journalism, storytelling, and the responsibility of the press in promoting transparency and societal development.

In his welcome address, Olabode Oluwafemi, President of ACJOAU, noted that the conference was aimed at sharpening the vision of young journalists toward national development, while also appreciating the presence of representatives from sister universities and the lineup of seasoned speakers.

The event featured two insightful panel sessions. The first addressed media’s role in development, while the second focused on “The Power of Storytelling in the Media.” During the sessions, panelists like Abata and Dimnwaka described storytelling as journalism’s lifeblood, calling on young reporters to embrace authenticity and reject unethical practices, such as bribery and misinformation.

Highlighting the future of journalism, Akinwunmi Oludiran, a representative of BudgIT and Press Pay NG, introduced participants to BIMI, an artificial intelligence tool designed to assist journalists with data sourcing, fact verification, and content generation. He emphasized that AI should not replace journalists but rather enhance their capacity for credible and efficient reporting.

Professor James Olabisi, the association's staff adviser, reiterated the importance of campus journalism as a microcosm of national media, noting that student reporters have the power to influence both university policy and broader societal discourse. 

A major highlight of the event was the announcement of the winners of the Adejumo Kabir Essay Competition, named after the distinguished investigative journalist and OAU alumnus. The competition celebrates excellence in campus journalism and critical writing, with Sheriffdeen Muslim, being the overall winner. The first runner-up, and the second runner-up were Dada Oreoluwa and Oso Samuel, respectively.

  Sheriffdeen Muslim recieving Certificate as Overall Winner of Adejumo Kabir Essay Competition 

To cap off the event, award plaques were presented to all speakers in appreciation of their contribution, and a vote of thanks was delivered by both the ACJ President and Deputy, Olatimeyin Esther, who expressed gratitude to attendees and wished them safe journeys back to their campuses.

OAUPeeps Emerges Winner at ACJOAU Inter-News Agency Contest

By Goodness Oluwasusi

In a remarkable demonstration of journalistic excellence, OAUPeeps News Agency emerged as the overall winner at the second edition of the Inter-News Agency Contest organized by the Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University (ACJOAU). The event was held on Thursday, May 1st, 2025, at the First Bank Lecture Theatre.

Represented by Goodness Oluwasusi, OAUPeeps clinched the top position with an outstanding presentation on the topic, “The Influence of Journalism on Political Polarization.” Her performance, along with those of other contestants, educated the audience and sparked thoughtful engagement on the role of journalism in shaping political narratives.

Goodness Oluwasusi receives award for OAUPeeps' victory, joined by the Editor-in-Chief, a fellow member, the ACJOAU President, and Chairman of the Guild of Editors. 

The contest, which began at 10 a.m., featured representatives from several campus news agencies including OAUPeeps, OAU Kilonshele, InFocus, Great Ife Network, The Lens, ASPOB, ICONS, and NCB. According to ACJOAU President Olabode Oluwafemi, the contest aimed to promote unity, networking, and cooperation among student journalists on campus.

“This event is a continuation of what the previous administration started,” Olabode said. “We are committed to strengthening ties between news agencies, and this contest also serves as a preparatory event for the upcoming International Conference of Campus Journalists (ICCJ) scheduled for May 3rd.”

At the end of the contest, Ifeoluwa Lambe of OAU Kilonshele and Joy Oludele of Icons News Agency emerged as second and third place winners respectively. All three winners were awarded certificates of excellence.

Goodness Oluwasusi, Ifeoluwa Lambe, and Joy Oludele—winners of the contest—pose with the judges and the ACJOAU President

The panel of judges, Samson Akintokun and Memunat Alli, congratulated the winners and encouraged all participants to keep honing their craft. “Winning doesn’t mean you’ve reached the peak,” Akintokun advised. “And for those who didn’t win, don’t let it define you. There’s always another opportunity.”

In his closing remarks, President Olabode applauded the contestants for their efforts and thanked the audience for their presence. He reiterated the association’s commitment to making the Inter-News Agency Contest a continuous tradition to foster collaboration and growth among campus journalists.

Fallen Tree Branches Continue to Obstruct Health Centre–‘As E Dey Hot’ Route Weeks After Heavy Rainfall

By Omotola Lydia

Following the heavy rainfall that befell the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) campus in the early hours of Thursday, April 17th, 2025, several tree branches felled by strong winds continue to obstruct the route between the Health Centre area and the popular ‘As E Dey Hot’ location.

More than two weeks after the incident, the massive tree debris remains uncleared by school authorities, causing significant inconvenience and forcing many students to reroute or even climb over the obstructing branches to pass through the area.

Fallen Tree Between Health Centre and As E Dey Hot

The blocked path is a major short route for students from halls of residence such as Alumni, Postgraduate, Mozambique, and Angola Halls heading towards the academic area. The route, previously a convenient shortcut for many hostel residents, has now become a source of daily frustration with students expressing concern at the delayed response by the university management. 

Speaking with OAUPeeps, students shared their experiences and dissatisfaction with the delayed response."I went to the chemistry lab for a practical and had to hurry back to Mozambique Hall to get my sneakers," recounted Busayo, a Nursing student. "I had forgotten that the branch had blocked the road and mistakenly passed there. I was so pissed and angry; I had to turn around and take the longer road."

Another student, Phoebe, also from Mozambique Hall, expressed similar frustrations: "It’s not easy to pass there if I'm not wearing trousers. When I wear a tight dress, I have to raise my legs to cross the fallen branch. If you're passing there, you have to make sure you dust your legs afterwards because there are ants on the branch. Otherwise, you have to pass the long road."

An anonymous student added: "The fact that a branch has been there for weeks without action makes the environment look ugly. I have to raise my legs awkwardly when passing. I think the management should urgently do something about it."

It would be recalled that ACJOAU earlier reported how the same heavy rainfall removed roofing sheets at Alumni Hall, with renovation efforts immediately following. However, despite that quick intervention in the Hall of Residence, no visible action has been taken on the blocked pathway.

As of press time, the debris remains uncleared, leaving students to continue to call on the school management to urgently clear the obstruction and restore free movement along the route.