The Awo Times

B y Alexander Adeniji  Residents and commuters around Mayfair Garage were thrown into panic at about 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2026, after a shooting erupted in the area, with the unrest spreading towards the Obafemi Awolowo University Main Gate and the Maintenance axis. According to information gathered by The Awo Times, the incident forced many people to flee, with some running into the university campus for safety as gunshots were heard around the area. Security operatives were subsequently deployed to the affected locations to restore calm. The Great Ife Students' Union Public Relations Officer-Elect advised students residing around Mayfair, Asherifa, the OAU Main Gate, and surrounding areas to avoid unnecessary movement and prioritize their safety. The statement also noted that the University's Chief Security Officer (CSO) had confirmed unrest in the area and that security personnel had been stationed around the campus gate. Although the gunfire had subsided at the tim...

By Goodness Olope  The Great Ife Students' Union Independent Electoral Commission (SUIEC) has officially declared Kujembola Olalekan (IkuuBoy) as the President-elect of the Obafemi Awolowo University Students' Union following the 2024/2025 Central Executive Council (CEC) election held on Thursday, July 23, 2026. In a statement released on Friday, the Commission said only results validated and submitted by designated Electoral Officers across all faculty polling units were admitted for collation, adding that the final figures accurately reflect the votes cast by students. It further maintained that the released figures are the only official and recognized election results, describing any contrary results or claims in circulation as false. According to the official results announced by the Commission, IkuuBoy polled 9,112 votes to defeat Lateef Akeem Omotayo (Emmanuel) , who secured 4,846 votes , while Fatokun Matthew Babafemi (Iseoluwa)  who announced his withdrawal from th...

By Goodness Olope  The Programmes Coordinator of the Department of Communication and Media Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Dr. Adeola Oyeleke, has been named a lead discussant for the forthcoming Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), South West Zone webinar.  The appointment further highlights OAU's contribution to scholarly conversations on media, governance and national development.  According to a press release signed by the Vice President, ACSPN South West Zone, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the webinar, themed "Re-appraising the Role of the Media and Communications in Elections, Conflict and Security," will hold virtually on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event will feature the Vice Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, as the lead speaker, while Dr. Oyeleke and Prof. Jide Jimoh of Lagos State University will serve as lead discussants. The release stated that the webinar is...

By Goodness Olope  Earlier today, 19 July, 2026, the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has clarified that its decision not to approve the use of the institution's facilities for the launch of Professor Moyo Okediji's book, Putting the Records Straight, was based solely on administrative procedures and not on the author's personality or the content of the publication. In a statement issued by the University's Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the institution said the decision followed established guidelines governing the use of the University's name, facilities and platforms for book launches and other academic events. According to the statement, the manuscript was never submitted to the Institute of Cultural Studies for academic assessment or editorial review, while no formal communication was made to the appropriate University authorities seeking approval for the publication or launch of the book. The University further stated that there...

OAU SHINES THE SPOTLIGHT ON ITS OUTSTANDING STUDENTS "OAU STARS" AND HONORS ACADEMIC GIANT PROF. OLADAPO AFOLABI By Tofunmi Adewusi  The historic Oduduwa Hall at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, became the epicenter of intellectual pride and national celebration as the institution hosted its highly anticipated Academic Research Excellence Award ceremony. The grand occasion was a landmark double celebration: it formally honored distinguished scholar, scientist, and former Head of Service of the Federation, Professor Oladapo A. Afolabi, CFR, as the fourth-ever recipient of the prestigious OAU Stars Award, while simultaneously celebrating the brilliant new cohort of OAU Stars—the university’s exceptionally high-achieving student awardees. The Event Overview Co-celebrated by Professor Oladapo A. Afolabi, CFR (the principal honoree) and the newly minted cohort of student "OAU Stars". The event featured addresses by OAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire,...

DSA GIVES UPDATE ON ELECTRICITY RESTORATION IN OAU HALLS OF RESIDENCE  By Pamilerin Johnson  The persisted black out in halls of residence have been followed by a report from the school DSA(Dean of students' affairs) confirming the ongoing repairs concerning the restoration of the power supply. According to a circulated report from the DSA about the power outage stated that the school's electrical unit have been called upon and all efforts are being made to restore back the electricity.The report furthered that all hands are  on deck on the repair efforts and necessary information would be circulated across. Furthermore,there would be a regular flow of water from the school's dam to the halls for the main time,due to the fact that pumping of water cannot be possible as a result of the electricity fault, chair of halls are implored to monitor the effectiveness of the water to the halls till the repair of the fault. The students are hereby apologized to by the DSA on any in...

GREAT IFE SU ELECTORAL COMMISSION LIFTS CAMPAIGN BAN AHEAD OF 2024/2025 STUDENTS' UNION ELECTIONS  BY GOODNESS OLOPE  Campaigns for the 2024/2025 Great Ife Students' Union elections have officially commenced after the Students' Union Independent Electoral Commission (SUEC) lifted the ban on campaign activities, with aspirants already taking to social media to canvass support. The announcement, released in the early hours of Monday, came less than 48 hours after members of the electoral commission were sworn into office on Saturday, marking the beginning of the electioneering season. Following the announcement, prospective candidates and declared aspirants began sharing campaign messages, posters and manifestoes across social media platforms, signalling the start of what is expected to be an active contest for Students' Union offices. In its statement, the Commission authorised all interested students to commence campaigns immediately while directing aspirants to adhere ...

ELECTION SEASON OFFICIALLY BEGINS AS GREAT IFE SRC SWEARS IN NEW ELECTORAL COMMISSION BY ABDULRAHMAN ADEDOJA Aspirants can now start calling themselves candidates. The Great Ife SRC swore in a new Electoral Commission and Electoral Petition Committee on Saturday, July 11, formally opening the window for the 2024/2025 election season, at the tail end of a two-day sitting that opened at Ajose on Friday, moved to Awo Café on Saturday, and closed under the weight of budget disputes, mass resignations, and an unresolved question over the Union's only bus. Under the Great Ife constitution, no aspirant seeking Union office can attain formal candidate status until that year's Electoral Commission has been duly constituted. The constitution does not specify how many members must sit on the commission, only that it is charged with conducting all elections within the union. That threshold was crossed at exactly 7:10 p.m. on Saturday, when the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Awe Ademola, administered th...

MAYEGUN, LANRE LEGACY CHALLENGE STUDENTS TO REVIVE ACTIVISM AT OAU 27TH JULY 10 SYMPOSIUM  By Matilda Iyamu-Osas The 27th July 10 Commemoration organized by the Great Ife Students' Union continued on its final day with a symposium themed "Redefining Student Unionism: Combating Cultism While Strengthening Collective Participation in the Digital Era," held at the Amphitheatre. The programme commenced shortly before 11:00 a.m. with an opening prayer, the rendition of the Nigerian and Great Ife anthems, and a welcome address by the Great Ife Students' Union Vice President, Iyanuoluwa Falade. The symposium featured former National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) leader, Segun Mayegun, and former Great Ife Students' Union President and July 10, 1999 massacre survivor, Lanre Legacy, as guest speakers.  Other dignitaries in attendance included NAOS Ogun State President, Gbenga Oloniniran, Omolola Pedro, Comfort Idika, and Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, who was represented d...

OAU STUDENTS' UNION MARKS DAY 2 OF JULY 10 MEMORIAL  By Matilda Iyamu-Osas, Oluwanifemi Oladejo and Ajibola Sholeye Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, on Thursday, July 9, 2026, continued activities commemorating the July 10, 1999 massacre. The day's activities began with the signing of a condolence register where members of the school community gathered to pay their final respect. The message reflected deep appreciation for his contributions and lasting impact he made on the school community. Following the condolence signing, a commemorative banner was displayed for members of the community to sign as a symbol of remembrance and respect. The event served as a fitting tribute, allowing students, staff, and well-wishers to celebrate Afrika's legacy while bidding him a heartfelt farewell. A major highlight of the day was the screening of the documentary The Great Nigerian Student, which chronicles the history of the Nigerian student movement, its struggles, sacrifices an...

GREAT IFE STUDENTS' UNION KICKS OFF JULY 10 COMMEMORATION WITH ANTI- CULTISM WALK By Rotimi Mary and Oluwanifemi Oladejo The Students' Union of Obafemi Awolowo University, on Wednesday, July 8th, 2026, commenced activities for the annual July 10 Commemoration with the opening of a condolence register and a campus-wide anti-cultism sensitisation walk, reaffirming the university's commitment to combating cultism and preserving the memory of the five students killed during the July 10, 1999 cult attack. The day's activities began with the opening of a condolence register at Aluta Square, where members of the university community paid tribute to the five slain student activists by signing messages in their honour. Later in the evening, students, union executives and members of the Students' Representative Council participated in the anti-cultism walk, which began at about 6:16 p.m. from Aluta Square. Although scheduled to commence at 4:00 p.m., the procession started la...

BEHIND THE GLITCH: WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING WITH OAU'S NEW E-PORTAL  By Daniel Ajanaku, Goodness Olope & Adedunmola Famodun A student logs in, hopeful. The interface is sleek, modern, a clear upgrade from what came before. Then the loading wheel spins. And spins. Minutes later, a course registration that should have taken seconds still hasn't gone through. This has become a familiar story since Obafemi Awolowo University rolled out its Advanced E-Portal, the platform now handling course registration, fee payments, and result checking for thousands of students. The interface is undeniably better. But for many students, "better-looking" hasn't always meant "easier to use." One student, speaking to The Awo Times, rated the portal 3 out of 10, citing frequent glitches and an inability to register courses or check results, issues already affecting their academics. Another student described a more immediate problem: an unpaid balance they simply couldn...

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, ADEKUNLE FAJUYI HALL EMERGE WINNERS AT GISU TUG OF WORDS GRAND FINALE By Johnson Pamilerin  The Faculty of Social Sciences and Adekunle Fajuyi Hall of Residence emerged champions in the faculty and hall categories, respectively, at the grand finale of the Great Ife Students' Union Tug of Words debate competition held at Obafemi Awolowo University. The competition, organised by the office of the Secretary General of the Great Ife Students' Union in collaboration with the OAU Literary and Debating Society, featured finalists from four halls of residence; Awolowo, Adekunle Fajuyi, Angola and Akintola and four faculties: Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences and Social Sciences. The event began with opening remarks by the Union's Secretary General, Habeeb Oke, who welcomed attendees, congratulated the finalists for reaching the grand finale and commended their commitment to intellectual engagement. Proceedings opened with the Masters' Round, ...

TMC SUSPENDS PAPER TRANSPORT TICKETS, MAKES LAMINATED TICKETS MANDATORY  By Esther Oladapo Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has introduced a new transport ticketing system, officially suspending the use of paper transport tickets for campus shuttle services. The new system, which took effect yesterday, Saturday, July 4, 2026, requires all passengers to use the newly introduced laminated transport tickets, as paper tickets will no longer be accepted from Monday, 6th July 2026. Passengers, including students and other members of the university community who still possess paper tickets, have been directed to visit the Guesstimate Corporation Office at the Students' Union Building, to exchange them for laminated tickets before boarding any campus shuttle. The university also announced that the colour-coding system for transport tickets has been temporarily suspended due to the insufficient availability of colour-coded laminated tickets. In the interim, transport agents will write o...

MID-SEMESTER TESTS BEGIN AS STUDENTS SHARE MIXED EXPENSES  By Johnson Pamilerin Mid-semester tests have commenced in several departments at Obafemi Awolowo University, with students gathering at the University's ICT Centre to sit for their computer-based assessments. Speaking with The Awo Times , some students described the tests as fair and within the scope of their course materials. A Part I Public Administration student, Blossom, said the questions reflected what had been taught in class. "The tests are not difficult. They are based on what we have been taught and prepared for," she said. Similarly, a final-year English student, Victor, described the exercise as demanding but manageable. "It has been a lot, but we thank God," he said. However, not all students had a smooth experience. One student recounted arriving at the ICT Centre after waiting in a queue, only to be informed that the test had been cancelled and rescheduled. "I queued at the ICT Ce...

OAU AND CHOPIN CEO LANRE DELANO SET TO INSTITUTIONALIZE HISTORIC ORGAN STUDIES PROGRAMME By Anjolaoluwa Adedeji  In a historic move to preserve and elevate classical music education in West Africa, Lanre Delano partnered with his alma mater to establish Nigeria's first university-based Organ Studies Programme under OAU's Department of Music. The program framework is structured into two distinct, professional academic pathways designed to accommodate varying career goals and schedules: a 9-month Professional Certificate track and an 18-month Advanced Diploma track. The 9-month program serves as an intensive, fast-tracked curriculum focused on establishing foundational mastery, specifically targeting core keyboard mechanics, manual-pedal coordination, and the art of registration. For scholars and musicians seeking comprehensive authority over the instrument, the 18-month diploma extends into advanced liturgical accompaniment, complex hymn modulation, and technical instrument main...

OAU INTRODUCES NEW BUS TICKETS AMID FAKE TICKET CRISIS By Azeezat Oladeji and  Oluwafeyisayo Oke  Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has introduced new laminated and stamped bus tickets following recent concerns over the circulation of fake tickets. The new tickets were introduced following the fake ticket incident, which left some students stranded as bus drivers temporarily refused to accept some tickets due to concerns over counterfeits. Before introducing the laminated tickets, the university had reportedly changed the colour and design of the tickets several times. The introduction of the new tickets comes two weeks after counterfeit tickets surfaced. Both the new laminated tickets and the existing tickets are currently in circulation. The ticket counterfeiting crisis had become a major concern for students, staff, and other members of the public who rely on the university shuttle services. Apart from the fake ticket issue, students have also raised concerns about the l...

OAU SHUTTLE INCREASES FARES ON ROAD 7 ROUTE By Adedoyin Ishola Sudents of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have been informed of a new transport fare structure for shuttle services operating along the Road 7 route. The adjustment, which took effect from today, Wednesday, July 1, 2026, was announced through an official notice distributed to passengers. According to the notice, the fare increase affects several destinations served by the Road 7 shuttle. Under the new structure, with the cost of 100 naira for 1 ticket, commuters traveling from Road 7 to the Students' Union Building (SUB) will now pay 2 tickets, while trips from Road 7 to the New Market, Hall of Residence, and Campus Gate will cost 3 tickets each. Passengers travelling from Road 7 to the International School and from SUB to the International School will continue to pay 1 ticket, while fares to other destinations from Road 7 remain unchanged. The notice, issued under the OAU Shuttle Transport management, thanked stu...

OAU EXTENDS TUITION  FEES DEADLINE TO JULY 31, 2026. By Matilda Iyamu-Osas The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, has reportedly extended the tuition fee payment deadline to July 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. The new deadline replaces the earlier date of June 30, 2026, which was previously set for the closure of the payment portal. This reportedly follows information regarding difficulties in payment due to portal glitches and the inability of some to raise the fees. All students have been advised to take advantage of the extension to complete payment of their fees in full.