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              John Alabi Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has long been celebrated for its academic excellence, a reputation built on decades of rigorous academics and a meticulous grading system. Across faculties, students are constantly reminded that much is expected of them. The pursuit of high grades and competitive GPAs has created an atmosphere where academic pressure is both intense and unavoidable. As the semester unfolds and examinations draw near, many students adopt different study techniques and survival strategies to cope with long reading hours and sleepless nights. Among these strategies is the widespread consumption of energy drinks—particularly Fearless, a brand that has become almost synonymous with night reading on campus. On OAU campus, Fearless is a familiar sight. Students can be seen clutching bottles in lecture theatres and reading rooms, relying on the drink to fight drowsiness and extend study hours. For many, it h...

            Israel Bakare Every year at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), convocation season signals more than the formal conferral of degrees. Beyond the academic gowns, official processions, and ceremonial speeches lies a tradition that undergraduates eagerly anticipate—the unmistakable feast of convocation rice, drinks and jotters. As graduands celebrate the end of years marked by strikes, disrupted calendars, and academic pressure, non-graduating students also join the moment—not for certificates, but for the culture. The scent of jollof rice mingles with fried chicken, chilled soft drinks, and jotters clink in nylon bags, while voices echo across the academics area. Plates of egusi with semo, amala, small chops, and cake circulate freely. Not because everyone has graduated—but because it is convocation. At OAU, convocation feasting is not a random indulgence. It is ritual. It is tradition. It is campus culture. More Than a C...

         Araoluwa Adeleke  The ICAN Lecture Theatre of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has continued to attract attention from students over its physical condition, with many describing the facility as unsuitable for effective teaching and learning. The lecture theatre remains in regular use for academic activities across different departments despite longstanding complaints about its state. Observations at the venue show that several of its basic facilities, including chairs, tables, fans, and lighting, are either inadequate or poorly maintained. Students who attend lectures there say these conditions have existed for several academic sessions and have shown little visible change over time.         Non-functional bulbs, fans, AC and Speaker in the ICAN LT  During lectures held at the theatre, many students are seen struggling with limited seating space and a shortage of functional tables. Worn-out chairs an...

     Adedoyin Onajobi  The Great Ife Football League (GIFL) is rapidly cementing its status as the most prestigious interdepartmental football competition at Obafemi Awolowo University, drawing massive student participation, passionate fan support, and growing recognition across campus. This privately funded tournament, launched in 2023, has evolved into a major platform for student-athletes to showcase their talent and compete at a high level.  The league was founded and is solely sponsored by Adewumi Olalekan, an alumnus of the university, with the aim of promoting unity, competition, and grassroots football development within the campus community. The maiden edition featured 24 departments, with the Department of Physical and Health Education emerging as the inaugural champions. By its second edition in 2024, the league expanded to 32 departments, reflecting its growing appeal, while the Department of Dramatic Arts lifted the trophy af...

              Blessed Elemikan  Residents of the Education Trust Fund (ETF) Hall of Residence at Obafemi Awolowo University, have raised concerns over persistent water scarcity in the hostel, describing the situation as inconvenient and exhausting. Speaking with our correspondence, several residents recounted their daily struggle to access water. Jamal, a resident of the hall, said the problem has become hereditary for all residents of the hall. “I stayed in this same hostel last session and I experienced the same. I don’t know the way forward, but there are people who can help us solve the issue. Maybe they are not ready to do it. I’ve been to Awo and other halls, and I can say the worse of all remains ETF,” he lamented. Another resident,   Enoch, expressed similar frustration, noting that nothing had changed since last session despite repeated complaints. “ The hall management should provide a functioning borehole system. Th...

          Isaac Blessing & Hikmat Babatunde  The 49th Convocation Ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on December 11 and 12, 2025, to the first degree graduates, was more than a celebration—it was a collective sigh of relief.  The event, held at the Amphitheatre, marked the graduation of 6,562 students whose academic journeys stretched far longer than expected. A four-year course became seven for many, shaped by COVID-19 disruptions, nationwide strikes, and the uncertainties that tested their endurance. Yet, on the convocation day, joy overshadowed the years of setback. Graduates walked into the hall in flowing gowns, parents beamed with pride, and friends clung to each other in emotional embraces. For many, it was the end of a storm and the beginning of a story worth telling.           Deborah Oyinlola, an Accounting Graduate  Deborah Oyinlola, an Accounting graduate, descr...