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               Fawaz Adedeji  Nigeria’s higher education system is a nationwide merger of over 600 public and private institutions, such as universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education. Amidst these, a question lingers on why only federal and state-owned universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education alone are the beneficiaries of NELFUND. Brief History of NELFUND  The Student Loan Act (access to higher education) of 2023, which established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), was enacted in April 4, 2024 under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, in a bid to forestall financial constraints for the Nigerian students, and foster a knowledge-driven economy in the higher learning institutions, through the provision of interest-free loan programme, whose portal surfaced online for applications in May 2024.  According to the reimbursement policy of the loan, beneficiaries ar...

              John Alabi  Team OAU, representing Obafemi Awolowo University in the ongoing 2026 Universities Duel, have secured a spot in the final round of the competition, after defeating the University of Ibadan at the semi-final stage this evening.  Following numerous tense moments, anxiety, and intense academic battles, Team OAU emerged victorious against the University of Ibadan with a breathtaking final result of; (OAU) 101 - 43 (UI).  Universities Duel is an annual competition that features various universities, including federal, state, and private institutions, coming together to test their wits and knowledge in technology, logical reasoning, and they also compete on STEM- related questions which encompasses Mathematics, Data analysis, Verbal Reasoning and General Knowledge, for months, till a final champion emerges. Since its inception, different universities across Nigeria have consistently participated in this h...

           THE ICONS   A student-led community initiative, JO’s Empowerment Initiative, recently carried out an impactful outreach program, equipping young minds with essential 21st-century digital, soft, and financial literacy skills. The outreach, led by Oyedele Josephine, a final year student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, was borne out of her strong devotion to community development and youth empowerment. According to her, the rationale behind the outreach stemmed from the emerging gaps between formal education, digital and soft skills   “I realized that nowadays, even youths have limited access to digital knowledge, soft skills, and financial education that are crucial in today’s world. Hence, this outreach was set up to equip these young minds, preparing them adequately for what is to come, bridging the gaps in my own little way.”            The outreach took place at a public se...

          John Alabi & God's Gift Akowe In the recent times, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) have constantly grappled with transportation crises, with numerous disputes and disagreement between the GreatIfe Students Union Transportation Management Committee (GreatIfe TMC), and by extension the university management and Town-Gboro bus drivers, which sometimes result to fare hikes, service interruptions, and, at times, indefinite strikes. Whenever these conflicts arise, students are often at the receiving end, bearing the consequences. Due to these long-standing issues, transportation on campus has always depended on a fragile balance, a balance built on compromise rather than a sustainable system that truly prioritizes students’ welfare and safe mobility. That balance shifted again on January 29, when Nigeria's First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, commissioned 50 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and 30 tricycles for the university. The initiative was in...

            John Alabi  The just concluded 3-day Campus Journalism Clinic organized by Campus Reporter, one of the leading programmes of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), brought together about 40 student Journalists from three prominent universities in Osun State; including the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Osun State University (UNIOSUN), and Fountain University.   It was a journalism training which ran from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 March, aimed to equip student journalists with practical skills in campus reporting, theoretical knowledge of journalism and ethical reportage.  The event kicked off on Tuesday morning at the board room of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, with media professionals, and facilitators in attendance to guide and mentor the students, contributing significantly to their professional growth. Since its inception in 2017...

            Adedoyin Onajobi  The basketball team of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, has been thrown into sudden grifs, following the demkse of the team's headcoach, Prof. I.J Ikpo. Prof. Ikpo, who was a lecturer in the Department of Building, was reportedly said to have been battling with cancer long before his death.  The Don had served the university diligently since 1998, contributing significantly to both academics and sports development, particularly the basketball team of the university. The OAU female basketball team and the entire sports community have expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing him as a dedicated coach and mentor whose impact will not be forgotten. Further details surrounding his death are yet to be officially announcedas as at press time.