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

              Subomi Omonijo  An ECOWAS peace youth ambassador and founder of eNoch’s Hub, Techlift Africa and cipher sentinel initiative, Amb. Enoch Ogunsanya, on Saturday, 20th December, held a Finlite and Peace Accord Conference, and book launch at the Ajose lecture theatre.  The event, held under the theme , "Why Finance matters; The foundation of every decision we make," focused on enlightening students on how to manage their finances effectively and create wealth.  The conference featured notable speakers including Iyanuoluwa Falade, Fatoyinbo Azeez, Amb. Halima, Comr. Akinbode Oluwasegun, Akorewolu Dotun, and Audrey Publisher, who all shared practical advice on saving, investing, and responsible spending, followed by the book launching of Ambassador Enoch’s new book titled “Investing in Nigeria.”  One of the speakers, who is also the current Vice President of the Great Ife Students'Union, Iyanuoluwa Falade, advis...

           Anele Ijeoma     A member of the ICONS Organization, Ogunniyi Ezekiel, a part 2 student of Broadcast Journalism, today emerged winner of the annual essay competition organized by the Krystal Edge Group of School, Ibadan., following the strict rigorous selection process of the competition. The annual essay competition allows participants, mostly pre-varsity and undergraduate students, to submit an original article on a certain topic, under a stipulated period. With this year's topic centered on “Causes of Mass Failure Among Nigerian Students,” Ezekiel topped the chart climbing the top position, and was presented with a cash prize of #50,000. Reflecting on his achievement, Ezekiel explained that he saw the competition’s entry submission link via an OAU Essayists What'sApp channel, where he decided to participate. “My entry was submitted late, it was just a few days to the deadline. I was hoping to get feedback but to...

              Israel Bakare  At Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, campus life begins early—and often on a spiritual note. By 7 a.m. on Sundays, streams of students file out of hostels toward the religious ground, while others gather quietly in corners to pray and meditate. Across Awo and Fajuyi halls, early-morning Qur’anic recitations echo softly, reflecting a campus where faith thrives alongside academic rigor. OAU students are widely known for their academic excellence, but beyond lecture halls and libraries, many also hold firmly to their religious convictions. For them, spirituality is not a distraction from campus life—it is a stabilizing force. “ Faith helps me stay focused,” said Oluwaseyi Emmanuel, an Aerospace Engineering student. “ It wasn’t easy attending church programmes and still keeping up with my academics, but I learned to read whenever I had free time and never missed tutorials.” Like Emmanuel, many students...

              John Alabi Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has long been celebrated for its academic excellence, a reputation built on decades of rigorous academics and a meticulous grading system. Across faculties, students are constantly reminded that much is expected of them. The pursuit of high grades and competitive GPAs has created an atmosphere where academic pressure is both intense and unavoidable. As the semester unfolds and examinations draw near, many students adopt different study techniques and survival strategies to cope with long reading hours and sleepless nights. Among these strategies is the widespread consumption of energy drinks—particularly Fearless, a brand that has become almost synonymous with night reading on campus. On OAU campus, Fearless is a familiar sight. Students can be seen clutching bottles in lecture theatres and reading rooms, relying on the drink to fight drowsiness and extend study hours. For many, it h...

            Israel Bakare Every year at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), convocation season signals more than the formal conferral of degrees. Beyond the academic gowns, official processions, and ceremonial speeches lies a tradition that undergraduates eagerly anticipate—the unmistakable feast of convocation rice, drinks and jotters. As graduands celebrate the end of years marked by strikes, disrupted calendars, and academic pressure, non-graduating students also join the moment—not for certificates, but for the culture. The scent of jollof rice mingles with fried chicken, chilled soft drinks, and jotters clink in nylon bags, while voices echo across the academics area. Plates of egusi with semo, amala, small chops, and cake circulate freely. Not because everyone has graduated—but because it is convocation. At OAU, convocation feasting is not a random indulgence. It is ritual. It is tradition. It is campus culture. More Than a C...

         Araoluwa Adeleke  The ICAN Lecture Theatre of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has continued to attract attention from students over its physical condition, with many describing the facility as unsuitable for effective teaching and learning. The lecture theatre remains in regular use for academic activities across different departments despite longstanding complaints about its state. Observations at the venue show that several of its basic facilities, including chairs, tables, fans, and lighting, are either inadequate or poorly maintained. Students who attend lectures there say these conditions have existed for several academic sessions and have shown little visible change over time.         Non-functional bulbs, fans, AC and Speaker in the ICAN LT  During lectures held at the theatre, many students are seen struggling with limited seating space and a shortage of functional tables. Worn-out chairs an...

     Adedoyin Onajobi  The Great Ife Football League (GIFL) is rapidly cementing its status as the most prestigious interdepartmental football competition at Obafemi Awolowo University, drawing massive student participation, passionate fan support, and growing recognition across campus. This privately funded tournament, launched in 2023, has evolved into a major platform for student-athletes to showcase their talent and compete at a high level.  The league was founded and is solely sponsored by Adewumi Olalekan, an alumnus of the university, with the aim of promoting unity, competition, and grassroots football development within the campus community. The maiden edition featured 24 departments, with the Department of Physical and Health Education emerging as the inaugural champions. By its second edition in 2024, the league expanded to 32 departments, reflecting its growing appeal, while the Department of Dramatic Arts lifted the trophy af...

              Blessed Elemikan  Residents of the Education Trust Fund (ETF) Hall of Residence at Obafemi Awolowo University, have raised concerns over persistent water scarcity in the hostel, describing the situation as inconvenient and exhausting. Speaking with our correspondence, several residents recounted their daily struggle to access water. Jamal, a resident of the hall, said the problem has become hereditary for all residents of the hall. “I stayed in this same hostel last session and I experienced the same. I don’t know the way forward, but there are people who can help us solve the issue. Maybe they are not ready to do it. I’ve been to Awo and other halls, and I can say the worse of all remains ETF,” he lamented. Another resident,   Enoch, expressed similar frustration, noting that nothing had changed since last session despite repeated complaints. “ The hall management should provide a functioning borehole system. Th...

          Isaac Blessing & Hikmat Babatunde  The 49th Convocation Ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on December 11 and 12, 2025, to the first degree graduates, was more than a celebration—it was a collective sigh of relief.  The event, held at the Amphitheatre, marked the graduation of 6,562 students whose academic journeys stretched far longer than expected. A four-year course became seven for many, shaped by COVID-19 disruptions, nationwide strikes, and the uncertainties that tested their endurance. Yet, on the convocation day, joy overshadowed the years of setback. Graduates walked into the hall in flowing gowns, parents beamed with pride, and friends clung to each other in emotional embraces. For many, it was the end of a storm and the beginning of a story worth telling.           Deborah Oyinlola, an Accounting Graduate  Deborah Oyinlola, an Accounting graduate, descr...

            Ezekiel Ogunniyi & Tosin Olawuyi  The Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), on Thursday night staged its annual convocation play, with a stage drama titled " Madam Tinubu ," drawing a packed audience, to the Oduduwa Hall as part of activities marking the university’s 49th Convocation Ceremony. The two-hour performance, which ran from 7:35 p.m. to 9:35 p.m., transported the audience into pre-colonial Lagos, narrating the fierce political life of Madam Efunroye Tinubu— the famous 19th-century merchant, power broker, and resistance figure. The production spotlighted her unusual political dominance at a time when women wielded little public authority. The play, directed by lecturers in the department, including Toyin Ogundeji, Babatunde Allen Bakare, and Gabriel Otsemobor, presented a layered portrayal of Madam Tinubu, delving into her political strategies, controversial business dealings, and her even...

             Fawaz Adedeji The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Thursday, November 11, 2025, held the opening ceremony of its 49th Convocation, with graduands, academics, university officials, and distinguished guests filling the Amphitheatre for the occasion. The event commenced at exactly 10:00 a.m. with the academic procession featuring graduands, principal officers, deans, invited guests, members of the press, and the Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ). Following the procession, the University’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, led the National Anthem and OAU Anthem before the Registrar, Mr. Adetunji Bakare, formally invited the Vice-Chancellor to declare the ceremony open. Delivering his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, congratulated the graduating students, praising their resilience and commitment to academic excellence. He described hard work as the “true harbinger of success...

         Oyinlade Adeyemi Across the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife campus, the increasing cost of living on campus is no longer just an abstract economic concept, rather, it has become an unavoidable aspect of the students’ daily lives, dictating the choices they must make to survive each day. However, to what extent does it affect their food choices, transportation, welfare, and overall survival?  To understand this reality and in order to have a well-rounded perspective as to why “on-campus” cost of living remains super-expensive, the ICONS correspondent engaged with both traders and students in an interview to this effect. Meanwhile, repeated attempts to speak with the Students’Union Welfare Director were unsuccessful, leaving students’ questions on official welfare support unanswered for now. The interviews conducted with the women at the OAU New Market uncover deeper aspects of their struggles, as they did not hold back in explaining ...

            Olatunde Joan & Damissah Ogiegie   In the evening hour of Sunday, 7th December, students and book lovers converged at the Ken Saro Wiwa Students' Union Building TV Room, for the fun filled launching and book chat of the book—”If I Were God, I’ll Do a Better Job"—the brain child of the erstwhile General Secretary of the Icons Organization, Omolayo Olufayo. The author, Omolayo Olufayo is a Nigerian author, scriptwriter and editor from Osun State, born and brought up in Lagos where she developed a passion for writing at a tender age. Omolayo is a graduate of the Department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University, and she currently works as a professional script editor and book writer. She is also the author of Faze, Yolo, Too Much and many more.  Speaking at the event, Omolayo revealed that she was inspired to write the book after observing members of her generation, especially the Gen Z, who struggle with understand...

          THE ICONS  The Editor-in-Chief of the ICONS Organization News Agency, Adetunji Oluwafemi, yesterday, bagged two awards at the seventh (7th) edition of annual Campus Journalism Awards of Youths Digest Initiative, held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Recall that Ezekiel Ogunniyi,  on Sunday, 16th November, reported that the editor, following a rigorous selection process, was shortlisted as an award finalist in two of the fifteen (15) categories of the 2025 (7th edition) Youths Digest's Campus Journalism Awards, amongst several other campus journalists from over 50 universities in Nigeria. The editor emerged the winner amongst other two finalists in the News Report Category, with his report "From 487 to 678 — the Mysterious Surge in Number of Ballot Papers Raises Doubts in Faculty of Law," thereby making him the best campus news reporter in Nigeria. Similarly, his news report with the headline; "Inside OAU: The Dilap...

          Deborah Adeyemi  In many higher institutions today, a growing concern is whether students genuinely have passion for the courses they are studying, or otherwise. While some students were admitted into the university with a clear love for their chosen fields, several others find themselves pursuing courses they have little or no interest in, often due to parental pressure, limited admission options, lack of proper career guidance or for not meeting up with the benchmarks. This lack of connection between students and their course of study often leads to low motivation, lack of commitment to their studies, as they even begin to question their academic and sometimes career path. In an interview with the Icons reporters, Praise, a 400level student of Mass Communication described the deep connection she has with her discipline.  "I love speaking and engaging with people in an intellectual discourse. I am fascinated about all that mass c...

        Samuel Faseyitan  The Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University (ACJOAU), on Saturday, 6 December, held its first sit-out session at the university Botanical Garden, where members network, connect, and socialise with one another while learning.  The event, which brought together the association’s members, executives, and editors-in-chief of various news agencies was moderated by the editor-in-chief of the Great Ife Network (GIN) news agency, Adeyemo Adeola.  The sit-out session featured games, dances, an interactive session and a dialogue segment where members of the association interacted with one another. The event was an eye-opener to the laughter and fun that exist beyond bylines. The ACJOAU Chairman Guild of Editors, Adedoyin Oguntade, exposed the members to the association’s style guide, highlighting capitalization, date format, titles and many other guidelines to ensure uniformity across the b...

          Onajobi Adedoyin & Hikmah Babatunde  The atmosphere at the OAU Mainbowl was electric, as hundreds of students flocked to witness the much-awaited finale of the Great Ife Football League (GIFL) 3.0, an interdepartmental tournament powered by ISCO Sports.  The showdown pitched a confident Animal Science side against a resilient Geology team in a clash that had dominated campus conversations all week. Geology booked their ticket to the final after a nerve-racking penalty shootout victory over Civil Engineering, while Animal Science arrived with momentum, having dispatched Philosophy 2–0 in their semifinal battle. From the blast of the whistle, Animal Science took control of the game. Their early pressure paid off in the 15th minute when Oladejo Abbubakri slotted home a well-curated assist from Mayowa , setting the tone for what would become a commanding performance.  The second strike came moments into the secon...

           Eniola Adeyeye  The Amphitheatre of the Obafemi Awolowo University, largest capacity lecture theatre, has now become one of the most significant infrastructure the students can boast of in the university. Sequel to a comprehensive rehabilitation of the infrastructure, which follows a tragic event caused by its structural failure, that got a few students injured while receiving lectures in May, 2024. Recall that Oluwafemi Olabode of ACJOAU, on Thursday, 16th May, 2024 reported the collapsed of some parts of the Amphitheatre‘s under-roof during the SER 001 – Use of English lecture, leaving some students in the theatre to sustain severe injuries.           OAU   amphitheatre on Thursday, 16th 2024 Meanwhile, the renovated facility now features improved lighting, upgraded seating, enhanced ventilation, and an organised layout designed to accommodate a large population safely and comfortably. ...

          Fawas Adedeji  The Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, held its second faculty week and mentorship programme at the ACE Conference Hall, with a call for structured guidance to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic and professional culture. This two-days programme drew top officials, including the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. H.O. Salawu; the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Bamire; the erstwhile Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Sen. Adedayo Adeyeye; Orangun of Oke-Ila, HRM Oba Adedokun Abolarin; amongst other principal officers. Delivering his welcome address, Prof. Salawu thanked the alumni and invited speakers for honouring the seminar, noting that it aims to promote a formal and developmental mentorship culture capable of guiding students toward academic and professional growth. In his keynote address,  Sen. Adeyeye emphasized the centrality of mentorship in national development, citing the Igbo apprenticeship model as ...