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          Israel Bakare Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has long been celebrated for its excellent academic reputation. The institution, over the years, accommodates students of diverse backgrounds, exposure, and financial status.  As the semester unfolds and academic pressure becomes intense, several students become financially restrained, subtly tagged “Sapa” by the students, this simply is a term for financial constraints. Sapa hits differently on OAU campus, ranging from financial constraints to food items, transportation fare, amongst others. For an average OAU student, right from the mid-semester, particularly mid-December, essential food items including Garri, Beans and Rice becomes almost exhausted with little or no funds for sustainability. Some students may even be restrained to procure vital study materials, workbooks, or contribute to a project or assignment as a result of this. According to Oguntula Victor, a student of Mass Commun...

        Ezekiel Ogunniyi In OAU, what was supposed to be a moment of pride and excitement for the students took a disturbing turn on Monday, 22 December, when a student was physically assaulted by a pilot attached to the helicopter that conveyed the popular Nigerian artiste and OAU alumnus, Ahmed Ololade, better known as Asake, during his visit to his alma mater. Asake’s visit, which was organized by the Department of Dramatic Arts, had drawn the attention of students of the university. For many, it was more than seeing a celebrity, it was about witnessing someone who once sat in the same classroom return home safely. At the Sports Complex, students gathered with phones in their hands, hoping to catch a glimpse and take pictures and videos of the artist’s chopper landing, before he departed to the venue. Ajibade Omotayo, a student who, like others present, was simply caught up in the excitement of the moment, however, the aftermath shocked the campus comm...

              Subomi Omonijo  An ECOWAS peace youth ambassador and founder of eNoch’s Hub, Techlift Africa and cipher sentinel initiative, Amb. Enoch Ogunsanya, on Saturday, 20th December, held a Finlite and Peace Accord Conference, and book launch at the Ajose lecture theatre.  The event, held under the theme , "Why Finance matters; The foundation of every decision we make," focused on enlightening students on how to manage their finances effectively and create wealth.  The conference featured notable speakers including Iyanuoluwa Falade, Fatoyinbo Azeez, Amb. Halima, Comr. Akinbode Oluwasegun, Akorewolu Dotun, and Audrey Publisher, who all shared practical advice on saving, investing, and responsible spending, followed by the book launching of Ambassador Enoch’s new book titled “Investing in Nigeria.”  One of the speakers, who is also the current Vice President of the Great Ife Students'Union, Iyanuoluwa Falade, advis...

           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...