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           By  Içons Organization & IndyPress UI     Federal institutions once regarded as the hope of the common man and symbols of Nigeria’s academic pride now mirror the decay creeping through the nation’s public education system. A close look at the big names in the circle, University of Ibadan (UI) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), reveals students battling rising tuition fees, crumbling lecture halls, overcrowded classes, and a teaching culture stifled by rushed lectures and vanishing continuous assessments. In lecture rooms where bats perch on broken ceilings, live inside empty speaker boxes, many students juggle side hustles to survive, paying tuition that rivals a month’s minimum wage, while receiving lectures in poorly ventilated halls. For them, the struggle for education has become a contest between endurance and ambition, a painful reflection of how Nigeria’s foremost institutions are losing the excellence the...

             Adedoyin Onajobi  As early as 5:30 a.m. on a daily basis, Zuco, a final year student from the Department of Kinesiology and Health Recreation (KHR), who is also the captain of the OAU Handball team, is already awake or at least preparing to be. Zuco sometimes finds it difficult to get up, but by or before 6 a.m., he is already on his feet, rushing to be ready 15 minutes before his 7 a.m. lecture. So, by or before 11 p.m., he will finally fall asleep, till tomorrow where he follows the same routine. Zuco’s reality is not unusual at Obafemi Awolowo University.  Across different Faculties and Departments, a number of students live a somewhat “double life,” in that they attend lectures, write exams, and still represent themselves, their department, faculty and even the university on the pitch, court, and pool, simultaneously. Findings revealed a 64.2% sport participation prevalence among Nigerian undergraduate students,...

             John Alabi & Fawas Adedeji  Earlier today, the office of the Welfare Director of the Great Ife Students' Union, held the maiden international health conference, tagged "Surviving to Succeed: Addressing Health, Well-being, and Welfare Challenges in the Student Environment," at Hotel De Treasure Event Centre, Ibadan road. This event, as  convened by the union Welfare Director, Musab Osunleke, was organised to create awareness about students' mental health, and ways to monitor their well being in the midst of their various academic pursuits and expectations.  Prominent speakers and panelists at the event include the Managing Partner, Interdym Rutgers, at the State University of New Jersey, USA, Dr. Bashir Agboola, as the keynote speaker. Dr Oluwagbemi, a consultant family physician at Iwosan Lagoon Hospital, the Director of Nursing services at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Bernice Aketi, Dr. George Uchen...

          Taiwo Adelusi The ongoing mid-semester break announced by the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, in response to a peaceful demonstration by the students over the new transport system in the university, has left a number of students with more questions than answers. While academic activities have been suspended for three weeks, the core issue that sparked the protest remains unresolved. Students initially took to protest the newly adopted transport system, which they described as inconvenient, overcrowding, costly, time consuming and unsuitable especially for students living off campus.  ”We want any transport system that speaks convenience, we will not accept inconvenience.” Ayomide, a student from the Faculty of Administration. Another student, Kehinde, from the Faculty of Technology suggested that enough buses should be provided, either CNG or what-have-you. The students’ demands during the protest were clear; either a return ...

            Ezekiel Ogunniyi                                    Photo Credit: ACJOAU Oyelakin Juliet, a resident of Moremi Hall, with no other option moved to her friend's hostel off campus, after the peaceful demonstration held at the campus gate by the student on Tuesday, 28 April, over the university’s transportation crisis, Awolowo Hall renovation, and other related concerns.  Just a day after the protest, of which the management declared a 3 week break, with the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) issuing quit notice to the hall residents, the National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) South West Zone D intervened, with the hope for the reversal of the break.  Juliet's expectation after the intervention was that the break would be reduced to one week as demanded by the national students union. "Originally, I did not want to go home, but ...

            Hikmah Babatunde & Adedoyin Onajobi The maiden edition of the Jot Cup was wrapped up after a brilliant and thrilling performance from the finalists, in the final match held on Sunday, 3 May, at the OAU Training Pitch 1. ‎The finalists, the Department of Physics and Computer Science (CSC), earned their spot in the final, after competing against eight Departments in a total of 15 matches, which included 12 group-stage games, a quarter final, semifinal, and the final showdown. Computer Science, who were the winner of the tournament, began their impressive campaign with a 1–0 loss to Physics in the group stage. However, they bounced back strongly, defeating Mathematics 4–1 in their second match and securing a 1–0 victory over the Department of Agric Engineering (AGE) in their third game.  It must be mentioned that CSC later finished top of their group with six points, scoring five goals and conceding two, with a +3 goal differen...