THE ICONS ORGANIZATION — a frontline platform for accurate, timely, and unbiased news coverage.

          THE ICONS  An alumnus and one-time executive of the ICONS Organization News Agency, Omolayo Olufayo, a graduate of the Department of English Language, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), in collaboration with the ICONS Organization News Agency, set to hold a groundbreaking book reading and poetry contest in OAU. The reading of her first published book titled; "If I Were God, I'll do a better Job,"  alongside a poetry contest of the book, is scheduled to be held by 4 p.m. on Sunday, 7th December, at the Ken Saro Wiwa Students' Union Building's TV room. According to Omolayo, the details and criteria for participating in the poetry contest are as follows: Prizes to be won - A cash of #15,000 - A signed copy of the novel - A privilege of meeting with the author   First position prize: #10,000   Runner up prize: #5,000 Moreso, the contestants must: - be a member of a news agency on OAU campus - have gotten the discount (#1...

          Israel Bankole The Rotaract Club of Obafemi Awolowo University, in partnership with the OAU SDG Youth Club, carried out a water-tank cleaning exercise yesterday at the Murtala Muhammad Postgraduate Hall of Residence.  The exercise, which began around 8 a.m. on Saturday, 29th November, formed part of a broader sanitation initiative earlier published by the ICONS Organization. Although the original plan was to clean tanks in all nine OAU-owned halls of residence, the organizers were only able to complete the work at the Postgraduate Hall after facing several challenges that limited the scope of the operation. According to the clubs, the activity was conceived to address long-standing concerns about water quality in campus hostels and to promote healthier living conditions for students. A flier had previously circulated on social media and within the halls announcing the “Clean Hall Water Tanks Project” as a one-day effort that would cove...

          Deborah Adeyemi  As the world continues to evolve alongside rapid technological advancement, the demand for practical skills in the labour market has significantly increased. A university degree alone is no longer enough to secure a good job; employers now look for students and graduates who possess additional competencies that meet real-world needs. These in-demand skills help solve problems, boost productivity, and enable students to adapt quickly to emerging trends. For students preparing for life after school, acquiring these skills early can greatly improve their chances of securing meaningful employment. In today’s digital age, learning relevant digital skills has become crucial. One of the most valuable is digital marketing, which involves using the internet to promote goods and services through platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Google. Digital marketing allows businesses to reach a wider audience at ...

        Taiwo Adelusi and Gold Olusola The Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) today held its 9th annual Teachers' Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN)  induction ceremony for the 538 graduates of the faculty.  The induction, moderated by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olarenwaju, with the invitation of the inductees and the former Deans and other dignitaries of the Faculty, to file in and make a dignified entrance into the hall.  Speaking at the event, the incumbent dean of the faculty, Prof. Adediwura  encouraged the students to remain committed to excellence and uphold the values of the teaching profession. “Teaching is a call that requires honesty and the society's strength lies with teachers, I hope this motivates you all to keep advancing in the education sector" he told the inductees. In his keynote address, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, representing the Teachers' Registration Co...

            Adelusi Taiwo As a student, have you ever wondered why some students seem more outspoken, confident and intelligent? Some students just seem to have stronger friendships and clearer goals, they are always talking to someone on the road, someone is always calling their names in a gathering, they seem to associate more with people and it seems everyone likes them. Especially when you walk with them, they are always greeting one person or the other and you find yourself wondering how they get to know a lot of people. Many times, you find most of them actively involved in either a club, organization, or association involving non-academics or academics activities. Their engagement with these often makes them an "extra" or "a participating student,” as their experience in these activities regularly serve as pipelines to self growth, self discovery, personal awareness, human management and employment opportunities, which they ordinarily can...

          Oluwaferanmi Fadairo  The Icons Organization, Obafemi Awolowo University, on Sunday, 23rd November 2025, held her induction ceremony with the theme "The role of campus journalist in promoting transparency in campus governance" to officially welcome the new members into the organization upholding the motto of "Integrity and Excellence". The ceremony took place at Humanities Block 2 (History topmost floor) and began at 4 p.m. The induction followed a qualification exam, which prepared the candidates for their journey into journalism. As part of the ceremony, the ICONS Organization's executives and members were introduced to the inductees.          pictures of the inducted members writing their recruitment examination   The Editor-in-Chief of the Icons Organization, Oluwafemi Adetunji was the host speaker and moderator of the event. He shared his experiences before and after becoming a campus jour...

             Samuel Faseyitan The Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University (ACJOAU), on Saturday held the induction ceremony for its new members at Auditorium II (AUD II), with the theme “The Pen as a Tool for Public Trust: Guarding Truth, Telling Stories, and Building Bylines.” The ceremony followed a rigorous recruitment examination conducted on Saturday, 15 November, in which nearly 90 students participated. Only 80 applicants passed, were shortlisted, and formally admitted into the association. The event featured three guest speakers: Boluwatife Akinyemi, senior reporter and online news sub-editor at the Nigerian Tribune; Enoch Oyedibu, investigative journalist; and Bukola Ayodele (popularly known as Aunty B), an on-air personality at Great 94.5 FM. Delivering the keynote address, Akinyemi emphasized truth, accuracy, and verification as the pillars of credible journalism. He urged the inductees to approach every sto...

                             Taiwo Oyedeji More than a month after the donation of 21 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to Obafemi Awolowo University by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the vehicles are yet to commence operations on campus. The continued delay has triggered growing concerns among students who question why the buses remain unused despite earlier public announcements about their arrival. The CNG buses were initially celebrated as a major step toward improving mobility and reducing transportation challenges within the institution. Yet, the vehicles have not begin operation, prompting frustration from students who thought of relying on it. In a bid to seek clarity about the unavailability of these buses, ICONS reporters engaged with the Great Ife Students'Union Transport Management Committee in an interview, to get clarification on questions raised by students. Speaking...

          Taiwo Oyedeji Commuters plying Road 7, the second major entrance into Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), have expressed frustration over persistent long queues and transport delays that continue to affect students and staff who rely on the route.  Unfortunately, while movement along Road 1 remains relatively smooth, Road 7 users say the poor transportation system on the road is now impacting their productivity and daily schedules. John, a recent graduate who resides in the Road 7 area, told ICONS Correspondence that the increasing population of students living at Road 7 has intensified pressure on the limited number of shuttles available. “We were not this much at the shuttle stop when I was still an undergraduate, many people now live in the Road 7 area now, hence, this should be addressed as soon as possible.” Students and staff also raised concerns about the delays, describing the daily queues as exhausting and disruptiv...

            Ezekiel Ogunniyi  The Rotaract Club of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), in partnership with the OAU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Youth Club, is set to embark on a campus-wide water tank cleaning exercise across all nine halls of residence in the university. According to a flier circulating on campus, the one-day initiative—tagged “Clean Hall Water Tanks Project”—will take place on Saturday, November 29, and will cover Akintola, Fajuyi, Moremi, ETF, Alumni, Awolowo, Mozambique, Angola, and the Murtala Muhammed Postgraduate Hall. Rotaract, a humanitarian organization rooted in the long-standing vision of Rotary International, has maintained a history of community-driven impact globally and within OAU. Although the club only recently returned to campus, its previous projects remain visible, including the popular bus stop shelter near the school gate. The upcoming cleaning exercise is designed to promote clean water access,...

        Deborah  Adeyemi       Smartphones undoubtedly remain one of the most valued possessions among students, largely due to their unmatched ability to keep users connected, informed, and entertained. Yet a growing concern lingers beneath the convenience — who is really in control: the student or the smartphone? Across campuses, it is now almost impossible to find students who are not glued to their screens. For many, the device has become more than a tool; it is gradually turning into a remote control dictating their daily choices and behaviour. In extreme cases, students even judge their peers’ worth by the type of phone they use. Despite several warnings from educators that smartphones are weakening students’ communication and interpersonal skills. Face-to-face conversations are increasingly replaced with chats, even when the person is sitting close by, many students even finds it difficult to interact with their peers. This...

            Ezekiel Ogunniyi  The 2025 Campus Journalism Awards (CJA) has ignited fresh excitement within the ICONS Organisation News Agency following the double nomination of its Editor-in-Chief, Oluwafemi Adetunji, in the highly competitive annual campus journalism award contest. The recognition has attracted a wave of congratulatory messages from colleagues and mentors who described it as a “deserved milestone” for a budding journalist known for accuracy, depth, and ethical storytelling. The Youth Digest Initiative’s Campus Journalism Awards, established in 2017, has grown into one of Nigeria’s most credible platforms for celebrating outstanding student journalists. Now in its seventh edition, this year’s award themed “AI and the Future of Journalism” seeks to explore how young reporters can embrace emerging technologies while upholding ethical values. The winners across all categories will be announced on Saturday, December 6, at Tran...

              Eniola Adeyeye Residents of Ladoke Akintola Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, have expressed relief following the installation of new toilet facilities in the hostel, an upgrade many described as long overdue.  The project forms part of ongoing efforts by the hall management to improve living conditions and address recurring complaints about poor hygiene and failing infrastructure. For years, students have endured malfunctioning toilet systems and inadequate sanitation. The newly installed water closets have now brought a sense of comfort and optimism among residents. Speaking with the ICONS Reporters, a resident, Esther Aduragbemi, said the new facilities were a welcome development, especially for fresh occupants. “The new water closets were necessary and will definitely make users more comfortable,” she said. Esther emphasized the need for consistent maintenance, recommending regular cleaning and steady water supply. ...

              Subomi Omonijo The sporting community of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has raised alarm over what it described as the “dying state” of sports on campus, blaming management neglect, lack of support, and poor welfare for the decline. In an open letter released by the athletes earlier this month, the group expressed frustration at what they termed years of institutional disregard for student-athletes, despite their dedication and contributions to the university’s reputation in various competitions. READ ALSO :  https://theiconsorg.blogspot.com/2025/05/inside-oau-dilapidated-state-of-sports.html The statement noted that most athletes train under poor conditions, with little or no access to standard facilities or equipment. It also condemned the absence of compensation and the administration’s indifference toward their welfare. According to one athlete, the university’s support for sports has been “non...