THE ICONS ORGANIZATION

By Adetunji Oluwafemi  The recent trend observed on the OAU campus is the rationing of electricity within the university community, especially across the undergraduate halls of residence. Obafemi Awolowo University has been known over the years for its constant electricity supply, and many students refer to it as their "Paradise on Earth," even through the 2022/2023 academic session. Meanwhile, the music has changed since the inception of the 2023/24 academic session on Saturday, 26th October 2024. It was discovered that the institution now provides electricity in both the academic buildings and the halls of residence. Students React In an interview with an occupant of Angola Hall, George stated, "It was not like this when I first resumed. We are used to having electricity supply 24/7, not until two weeks ago when Angola Hall started having power supply overnight until sometime between 10:00am and 11:00a.m. It would later be restored around 4:00p.m. in the ev...

By  The Icons A disturbing situation exists in the halls of residence on campus, where porters responsible for ensuring the safety and security of residents have been caught sleeping on the job. Findings reveal that porters frequently sleep during their night duty shifts. This blatant dereliction of duty puts the safety and security of students at risk. The names of the individuals mentioned below are not their real names. This is done to protect their identities. Residents of Akintola Hall of Residence, a female-only hostel, expressed their concerns about the situation. "It is bad and not good enough," said Mirabel. "This is a female hostel, and there should be maximum security. It poses a threat to my safety." Adanna, another resident of Akintola Hall, shared similar sentiments. "I have been in Moz before, and that's how it was. I feel it is like that now. Though it poses a great threat to my safety, I believe we are all human, and I will just...

By Yakubu Oluwatoyin Obafemi Awolowo University, in collaboration with the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), held its 8th professional induction for the graduates of the Faculty of Education on November 27, 2024. The ceremony, held at Oduduwa Hall, OAU, included five hundred and eighteen (518) inductees. Various principal officers of the institution and the faculty also attended. The ceremony, anchored by the OAU Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, kicked off at 10:00 a.m. with the entrance of the inductees, academic staff, and others. The national anthem, the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) anthem, and the Great Ife anthem were sung. Then, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Theodore Bello, gave a welcome address.  The Vice Chancellor of OAU, ably represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), also delivered a welcome address. Shortly after the welcome addresses, the inductees and some princi...

By Adetunji Oluwafemi  Obafemi Awolowo University, as one of the top-rated universities in Nigeria, has some slang that is mostly used within and outside the campus. As popular as these slang terms are, many students, especially freshmen, do not really know their meanings. However, this article provides insights into 20 of these popular slang terms in university community. 1. Shana: This is undoubtedly used loosely among OAU students; it is a word used as an appraisal for a genius and intelligent person. Sometimes, it can be used sarcastically. 2. MOZ 101: This actually looks like a course code; however, it’s not. MOZ 101 is an act of wooing a female Part 1 student. Stalites often do this in an area on campus called Anglomoz. 3. Anglomoz: The road between two undergraduate halls of residence is known as "Angola Hall (a male hostel)" and "Mozambique Hall (a female hostel)." This road has a bus stop and car park where students hang out with friends and gir...

By Adetunji Oluwafemi  Campus life, while exhilarating and full of new opportunities, often brings its own set of challenges. Utmost among them is the pressure to perform academically. The transition from high school to higher education is marked by increased responsibilities, tougher coursework, and the constant juggling of assignments, exams, and extracurricular activities. For many students, this academic load can lead to overwhelming stress. However, understanding how to manage that stress is key to thriving in a campus environment. Acknowledge the Presence of Academics: The first step in managing academic stress is acknowledging its presence. It’s common for students to feel the weight of exams or deadlines creeping in, but often, they are reluctant to admit how much it is affecting them.  A student may feel anxiety mounting during finals week yet continue to push through without addressing the underlying issue. The stress may manifest in physical ways such as...

By Adetunji Oluwafemi and Joy Oludele  The first Students' Representative Council parliamentary sitting was held on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 1k seaters. Concerns were raised regarding some issues  which includes; the state of the undergraduate halls of residence and the irregularities in the prices of commodities on campus. It was discovered that in various halls of residence, occupants allocated to the upper bunks were asked to pay an additional amount of ₦2,000 for cupboards, despite the fact that the previous occupants paid the sum of ₦1,000, which the management claimed they used for the repair of the cupboards. Meanwhile, the cupboards were not repaired; yet, an additional amount was added in this new session, despite the increase in accommodation fees. The Honourables raised concerns that most halls of residence are not habitable due to issues such as epileptic power supply, water scarcity, poor toilet facilities, and a lack of sockets and lamp holders...

By Adedoyin Oguntade Adetunji Oluwafemi (Àyànféelédùmarè), a prominent member serving as the Production Manager of the Icons Organization, received the "Lekan Otufodunrin Campus Journalism Best Fellowship 2024 Award" on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Additionally, he was honored with the Overall Best Fellow award across all categories by the African Foundation for Young Media Professionals (AFYMP) during the 3rd edition of the Africa Media Come Alive Forum 2024, which took place today at the Center for Management and Development in Magodo, Lagos. The African Foundation for Young Media Professionals (AFYMP) is a Nigerian media outlet and the founder of a news website called "Nigeria Grassroot News." It was established to strengthen and promote a vibrant, independent African media landscape that supports professionals who advocate for an open, inclusive, and sustainable society. READ ALSO: Great Ife Students' Union Announces Regulated POS Charges The AF...

By  Joy Oludele The Great Ife Students' Union has announced revised Point of Sale (POS) transaction charges, effective immediately, in a move to address student concerns over excessive fees. This was made known in a press statement on Sunday, November 10. This development follows a meeting convened by the Office of Welfare with campus vendors, aimed at alleviating the financial strain on students. The Union's decision to revise the POS charges comes after a previous agreement reached in the last session with POS vendors was altered, necessitating further negotiations. The revised charges are expected to promote affordable transactions, enhancing campus life. READ ALSO: Freshers' Week '24: Students' Union Holds Symposium; Faculty of Technology Wins Inter-Faculty Debate New POS Charges: - ₦500-₦1,000: ₦50 - ₦1,100-₦4,400: ₦100 - ₦4,500-₦6,000: ₦150 - ₦6,000-₦8,000: ₦200 - ₦8,000-₦10,000: ₦250 The Office of the Welfare Director's intervention addresses ...

By Joy Oludele Following the freshmen inter-faculty debate  held on Monday, November 4, at Oduduwa Hall, the Great Ife Students' Union proceeded with the planned Freshers' Week 2024, which included a symposium held at the 1,000-seater lecture theatre. The symposium was themed "Uniting Tradition and Innovation: Bridging the Past and the Future." The event started a few minutes past 11:00 a.m. with the national anthem and the Great Ife anthem being anchored by Timileyin Busari, the Welfare Director.  The freshmen were afterward welcomed to the second day of Freshers' Week. The judges were called to the podium to conclude the inter-faculty debate that started yesterday at Oduduwa Hall. The representatives from the faculties that made it to the final round—Clinical Sciences, Pharmacy, Social Sciences, and Technology—were called to the stage. The event was expertly anchored by Fashina Damilare. The esteemed guests at the symposium were Professor Ajila (an ...

By  Adetunji Oluwafemi The Great Ife Students’ Union on Monday, 3rd November 2024, held its planned inter-faculty debate for freshmen. The debate is part of the events that have been prepared for Fresher’s Week 2024. The event experienced a slight delay, as the venue was moved from the 1000-seater to Oduduwa Hall by the order of the school management, which requested that the initial venue be vacated because the office of the Vice President, responsible for the event, failed to seek permission before using it. The event began at 12:35 PM. Faculties were paired and assigned topics: the Faculty of Administration and Science had the topic "Corrupt Democracies are Preferable to Dictatorships"; the Faculty of Agriculture and Dentistry debated on the topic "Subsidy is a Necessary Compromise of the Government, and Should be Implemented in Areas of Essential Public Domains"; the Faculty of Arts and Technology had the topic "Civil Disobedience is a Moral Wea...