Inside OAU: The Dilapidated State of Sports Facilities

By Adetunji Oluwafemi 

 Obafemi Awolowo University, amongst other tertiary institutions in Nigeria, is known for its great affinity for sport. Beyond academic excellence, OAU is well recognized for her indelible impact in sport development in Nigeria, this birthed a line of her anthem which reads thus — "for learning and culture, SPORT and struggle." Meanwhile, the current state of sporting facilities on campus birth the question of whether this assertion is true or not.

It may sound quite exhilarating to know that there are roughly about 17 different sports on OAU campus, each of which are highly recognized and approved by the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA). However, not all these sports have their own facilities, some sports do not even have the spaces of their own, while the ones that have designated spaces have just a little or no facilities at all. Amidst these, each student pays a compulsory amount for sport maintenance, as part of their tuition fees every session. This, in a way, poses the question; "what is the money used for?"

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Fascinating sports like Judo and Taekwando have no permanent space of their own, as they often use either the inner gym of the department of Kinesiology and Health Recreation (KHR), or they make use of the volleyball court for their training and other activities. In fact, Boxing as one of the sport activities on OAU Campus lacks facilities and equipment (inadequate boxing kits). Boxers at times hold their training at the volleyball court, and sometimes on the track at the main football pitch at the mainbowl.

Another notable sport on the OAU campus is cricket. Although has a pitch of its own, a new trend is that this pitch is currently being used for social events. This is due to the fact that Amphitheatre and Oduduwa Hall are being renovated. Concerned cricket players have been questioning the Sports Director of the Great Ife Students’ Union and the Sport Council as to why they maintain silence and allow these transgressions, disregarding the sport (cricket) itself. Other activities aside cricket are not supposed to be held on this pitch.

Picture of the cricket pitch now used for social events.

It could also be noted that the OAU Chess and Scrabble Club (Team Tempo) does not also have the space of their own. However, they also have adapted to using one of the rooms in the swimming pool building for their sports activities. Badminton also follows suit with Chess and Scrabble. The badminton sportsmen have gotten used and adjusted to using the inner gym of the department of Kinesiology and Health Recreation (KHR) for training and other activities. But in its real sense, these sports activities should ordinarily have their own facilities.

Other Sports like Basketball, Handball, Volleyball, Athletic, Swimming, Football and Squash have their facilities in terms of the buildings, pitches, and equipment. Nonetheless, these facilities are not properly managed, even by students who use them. The goal-posts at the Handball pitch for instance have been utterly destroyed by the wind. As a result, players are forced to be using just two of the four goal-posts on the pitch.

The Handball goal post that has been utterly destroyed.

Basketball court

The basketball court is not left out as only two of the eight rims (four courts) have fixed nets. The remaining six do not even have rims. Players play on only one of the four basketball court. The volleyball nets at the volleyball court are also not so good. One of the four nets has been removed completely for almost two semesters now, leaving only the poles on each side alone on the pitch. The track used by the athletes, though serving its purpose, is already fading out too.

For the most famous and important sport on campus, the OAU main football pitch at the mainbowl is also not always taken care of. The pitch can be as green as ever during rain seasons, however, the pitch losts its greeny and attractive looks at every harmattan season when the grasses on the pitch dries up, leaving only a little or no green grass on the pitch. In fact, despite being in the rain season, some parts of the pitch such as the center of the pitch and the keeper's posts are with no grasses. The pitch's boundary and major lines and even the corner flags are no where to be found, making it difficult to have a fair officiating.

Football pitch and track

The Swimming Pool at the Sport complex, usually used for swimming competitions and training by the OAU Dolphins, is one of the most fascinating spots that adds to the beauty of the sports complex. However, it should be understood that swimming lane lines that give the atmosphere of swimming races have been completely removed from the pool and have not been replaced for a while now. This has made the pool look like a common or regular swimming pool that is not used for sport.

Swimming Pool

Table and Long Tennis courts are somewhat not too bad for their users, as these facilities have recently been renovated and well managed. The table tennis court which seems to be of standard to a large extent is located in the Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) building. While the three long tennis courts, which are at the covered pavilion and its both sides are also still of standard since its renovation in 2023. Other activities (such as students' fellowships) opposed to long tennis have been suspended from the court since its renovation.

Table tennis court

Long Tennis court

Apart from the state of the sport facilities, OAU sportsmen that often represent the institution in competitions often lament about the lackadaisical attitudes on the side of the management towards them. They are always posed with “No Money” whenever they need financial support. Whereas, these individuals are not representing themselves but the school. 

The welfare of the entirety of OAU sportsmen should be given priority, by providing and renovating their obsolete facilities and equipping them with the necessary financial support