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           Anele Ijeoma     A member of the ICONS Organization, Ogunniyi Ezekiel, a part 2 student of Broadcast Journalism, today emerged winner of the annual essay competition organized by the Krystal Edge Group of School, Ibadan., following the strict rigorous selection process of the competition. The annual essay competition allows participants, mostly pre-varsity and undergraduate students, to submit an original article on a certain topic, under a stipulated period. With this year's topic centered on “Causes of Mass Failure Among Nigerian Students,” Ezekiel topped the chart climbing the top position, and was presented with a cash prize of #50,000. Reflecting on his achievement, Ezekiel explained that he saw the competition’s entry submission link via an OAU Essayists What'sApp channel, where he decided to participate. “My entry was submitted late, it was just a few days to the deadline. I was hoping to get feedback but to...

              Israel Bakare  At Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, campus life begins early—and often on a spiritual note. By 7 a.m. on Sundays, streams of students file out of hostels toward the religious ground, while others gather quietly in corners to pray and meditate. Across Awo and Fajuyi halls, early-morning Qur’anic recitations echo softly, reflecting a campus where faith thrives alongside academic rigor. OAU students are widely known for their academic excellence, but beyond lecture halls and libraries, many also hold firmly to their religious convictions. For them, spirituality is not a distraction from campus life—it is a stabilizing force. “ Faith helps me stay focused,” said Oluwaseyi Emmanuel, an Aerospace Engineering student. “ It wasn’t easy attending church programmes and still keeping up with my academics, but I learned to read whenever I had free time and never missed tutorials.” Like Emmanuel, many students...

              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...