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        Abiola Iyelomo & Ezekiel Ogunniyi  The Management of Obafemi Awolowo University's and its Student on Thursday, 29th January welcomes the first lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, with great heartfelt to the unveiling of the CNG buses and tricycles, which she promised earlier at the 48th convocation of the university, where she was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration on 14, December, 2024 alongside other notable figures.  The official notice of the commissioning was announced through the office of the register in a release, notifying  students and staff of the event which was held at the university main football pitch (Main Bowl). The event was graced with the presence of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, amongst other dignitaries. Kicking off the event, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, welcomed the students and guests, noting that the CNG-po...

                Adedoyin Onajobi  The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife is set to host the shuttle showdown badminton, a two-day inter-tertiary badminton tournament involving five universities, aimed at promoting unity and raising the profile of the sport in the South-West region of Nigeria. The competition, as scheduled, will be held at the OAU Indoor Sports Court, in the Department of Kinesiology and Human Kinetics (KHR) with institutions like Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Ilesha (UNILESH), Fountain University, University of Ibadan, and one other university who is yet to acknowledge the invitation, expected to participate.  Organisers noted that the tournament is driven by a long-term vision to build a lasting legacy for badminton, while providing a competitive platform for emerging student-athletes. Events to be contested include the men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, as well as...

              Adedoyin Onajobi & Hikmat Babatunde  The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) male football team, OAU Giants, and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) football team, on Sunday, 25th January, had a fierce inter-university friendly match which resulted to a goalless draw, at the OAU main football pitch (Main Bowl) at the sports complex. The FUNAAB team reportedly arrived at OAU campus for the novelty match, organised to promote sportsmanship and strengthen inter-university relations. Although tagged as friendly, the match was played with high intensity as both sides displayed champions energy, discipline, tactical qualities, and passion.                 picture of FUNAAB team Speaking in an interview prior to the play-off, the OAU Giants Head Coach, Faleti, displaying confidence in winning the match revealed that the fixture was part of a long-term pla...

          Ezekiel Ogunniyi & Eniola Adeyeye For many students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), crossing roads around the Students’ Union Building and other busy areas has become a daily gamble. Traffic lights installed years ago to ensure safety and order at key points on campus have remained non-functional, forcing pedestrians and motorists to rely on personal judgment. Years ago, several traffic lights were installed at strategic points within the university to regulate movement in areas where pedestrians, motorcycles, private vehicles, and shuttle buses frequently intersect. These locations include the Students’ Union Building (SUB), the Fajuyi-New Market road, road 5 near the Faculty of Agriculture, and the busy axis surrounding the Senate Building. Today, however, all these traffic lights remain non-functional, leaving students and motorists to navigate these routes largely by guesswork. A Part 2 student of Sociology and Anth...

             Damissah Ogiegie  Vendors around the academics area had again been plagued with tough restrictions from displaying and selling of their products within the academics area of the university. Recall that the ICONS Organization, in April 2025, reported that vendors of a variety of products, excluding those who print documents within faculty premises, have been directed by the university management, to procure a stand/space for themselves at the OAU New Market, as all business transactions must not exceed the central market. Meanwhile, weeks after the directives, vendors begin to return to the spot they were previously banned, with many assumptions that the management has directed them to return. However, in the last two weeks, goods were spotted being taken away from vendors around the amphitheatre by the university officials. In an interview with one of the traders who sells plantain, she shared experience on how she...

              Adedoyin Onajobi  The Obafemi Awolowo University Swimming Team (OAU Dolphins), has continued to record impressive performances in inter-university competitions, despite persistent challenges related to funding and facilities. OAU Dolphins, founded on March 1, 2014, currently being coached by Adeyemi Moses (EJA), an alumnus of the university and a member of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation. Since its establishment, the Dolphins have grown into one of the most competitive athletic teams in the university. According to the head coach, training sessions, usually held at the university’s swimming pool thrice on a weekly basis, and the team currently relies on one functional swimming facility, as the Staff Club pool is no longer operational, while training outside the university environment remains financially demanding. Speaking of its achievements, the Dolphins have recorded notable successes across various competi...

          Adewale   The official transport fare price list released today by the Great Ife Students’ Union Transport Management Commission (TMC), has condemned extortion arising from the prices of motorcycles and buses across OAU campus. The release follows a recent meeting held between the transport committee and all registered bikemen, where the issue of charging exorbitant amounts was discussed. At the meeting, bike men was encouraged to follow the official transport fare list for all campus routes. According to the release, the commission noted that any bikeman who charges more than the approved fare violated the rules and would indeed be penalized. Students are encouraged to report any such cases for prompt action from the committee. Recall that the commission has recently introduced customized aprons with unique identity numbers, advising students to always note these numbers, as ignoring misconduct will no longer be allowed. T...

            Adedeji Fawas  The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) 2025/26 Matriculation ceremony was held at the level of the Amphitheatre on Thursday, 15 January, 2026 began at exactly 10 a.m. with the procession of the matriculating Students, Parents and Guardians, the Press, Deans of the Faculties, Principal Officers, Dignitaries, and Vice-Chancellor and followed by recitation of the National and OAU anthem. Following the Vice Chancellor’s declaration of the event’s opening, students were led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Yomi Daramola, to take the matriculation oath. In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Bamire welcomed and congratulated the matriculating students, applauding their efforts and resilience.   Speaking further, the Vice-Chancellor nudged the matriculating students to adapt to the university culture. He reiterated that they should bear in mind that their admission into this institu...

          Adedeji Fawas In the early hours of yesterday, Saturday, 17 January, about five(5) construction trucks loaded with asphalt and other construction materials arrived at the campus bus-stop, alongside finisher asphalt machines and paver machines, with workers to complete the bus stop construction project, sponsored by the Nigeria first lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu. Recall that the first lady, while speaking during the OAU 48th convocation, where she was conferred with an honorary degree, frowned at the poor transport system and horticulture of the university, and vowed to propagate, modernize the system for the benefits of the institution. Fulfilling this, the first lady has donated 50 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to the institution, and several renovations have also been done, with some like the bus stop project, still in progress. Speaking with the ICONS Organization's correspondents, the CEO of Aluak construction company, Engr. Awobiyi O...

              Ezekiel Ogunniyi  The rate at which academic rigor continues to skyrocket on OAU campus should not be overlooked, as undergraduates ought to adopt healthier eating, manage stress daily, while improving concentration and maintaining their overall wellbeing.  Research revealed that imbalance diet is more prevalent among Nigerian undergraduates, as many of rely heavily on fast foods, soft drinks, and irregular meals, as a result of work overload, tight schedules, financial constraints, religious activities, and business multitasking, which negatively affect their energy, academics performance, and health in the long run.   The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that a healthy diet, simple changes in daily food choices; such as, eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains, and reducing sugars and fats, can make a prominent difference in supporting human's overall health and mental focu...

                Adedeji Fawas Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is undoubtedly a hub of learning where students  are being over pampered with academic excellence. It's indeed a great citadel of learning where culture is the fulcrum of intellectual pride and prowess. Apparently, “African Most Campus (Ogbafemi),” as fondly called, is the only climactic epiphany where many students can actualize their focused dreams, and an avenue of creating a unique personhood or self-identity capable of giving expression to life.  Student organizations however, are platforms where students engage in a simulacrum of educational co-curricular, preparing them to keep their ambitions in ambience— “self-discovery begets self-made.” This implies that dabbling in these extracurricular activities on campus, affords the students an assurance of a better tomorrow.  Ideally, “it is the nature of human beings in the modern world to scheme and aspire....

            Blessed Elemikan       The Great Ife Students'Union Transport Management Commission(TMC), on Thursday 15 January, 2026, issued a statement, informing students of the new measures put in place regarding the campus transport system, to ensure students' mobility and safety within and outside the university.    In the statement issued in the early hours of today, the TMC stated; "this is to inform the students and University community at large that all registered OAU bikemen now wear a customized apron as part of their official identification."      The statement further stated; "for your safety, ensure that any motorcycle you board is operated by a bike man wearing an official apron. These aprons are clearly numbered and unique, identifying the rider as a registered and approved operator on campus. Choosing to board only officially registered bikes helps protect you and ensures ac...

               Michael Olawuyi  The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has declared Wednesday, 14 and Thursday, 15 January lecture free days for all fresh students of the university.  This was contained in a special release signed by the university Registrar and Secretary to Council, Adetunji Bakare, and was shared across several OAU information platforms, on Tuesday, 13th January.   The two-day break, according to the release, is intended to enable all fresh students to complete their document verification and clearance procedures in their various faculties, it has nothing to do with the stalites. It further specified that the decision will create a suitable for the newly admitted students, to fully participate in the matriculation process scheduled for Thursday, 15 January.  However, the release also urged students who have not completed the payment of appropriate fees to kindly do so be...

            Blessed Elemikan.  Sequel to multiple incidents of bus scarcity and immobility on campus and the Transportation Management Committee's assurance to curtail the persistence of transport challenges, a more recent incident occurred today, Monday, 12 January, 2026 with hundreds of students left stranded in an unending queue at the bus stop. In an interview with the ICONS correspondents, some of the road 1 commuters left stranded shared their plight, with some possible solutions to the recent transport challenges ravaging OAU campus.   To  Desmond, “the situation is frustrating—the queue is so long as a result of large population. The only option I have now is to sleep on campus, because I am not sure of going home."      Another student who spoke on the basis of anonymity, while expressing frustration noted that she was currently contemplating on whether to go home or otherwise. “Looking at the s...

                Michael Olawuyi  On Sunday, 11 January, the Great Ife Students’ Union Transport Management Commission, announced the appointment of the new leadership of the commission, including Adebisi Adeyinka (Hon. Hicon) from the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences as the new Chairman, Oluwasegun Glory, as the General Secretary, Bowofade Obaloluwa, as the Public Relations Officer (PRO), and Olatade Oluwatosin, Abdulsalam Abdullahi, Olonade Paul, Adeyemo Adebayo as members. Sequel to his appointment, Adebisi Adeyinka, the new TMC Chairman, showed optimism promising to build on the success of the past administration and improve on their failures too, while speaking in an interview with our correspondents. In recent days on OAU campus, transportation has been the major challenge for students commuting to and from campus, from the long queues at the shuttle park to the immense crowd at the second bus stop. As a result, a number of ...

                 Blessed Elemikan  It is an obvious fact that students have ever desired financial independence. This explains why students engage in multiple side hustles in order to financially independent to a reasonable extent.  Many times, students engage in various illegal and time-consuming hustles whish in turn results to their academic failure. This article explores ten legit side hustles for students that won't affect their academics. 1. Content writing/Copywriting: Content writing is a type of writing that focuses on informing, educating, or entertaining the audience by providing valuable content. Also similar to content writing is Copywriting, which focuses on persuading the audience to take action (especially as regards purchase). Students practise these by writing blog posts for blogs, posting their writings on Social media, etc. and earning stipends through this. It is suitable for students because it is n...

              Ijeoma Anele & Ezekiel Ogunniyi Fear grips the hearts of students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, following a reported cult-like intimidation and robbery incident involving students of the Faculty of Agriculture, which occurred earlier today, Thursday, January 7. Sequel to a statement released by the Agricultural Extension Student Society of Nigeria, OAU Chapter, it was stated that five students of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development (AESSON), while conducting their academic exercise which involved insect collection, at Alex Duduyemi around 5 p.m. were accosted by an unidentified individual.  According to AESSON’s release, these unidentified individuals accused the students of wearing cult related beads, despite the explanation, the situation allegedly escalated as they forcefully compelled the students to kneel under threat. One of the students was reportedly slapped, while...

                    Ezekiel Ogunniyi  Following the tense Asake’s helicopter incident at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, during his visit, which later erupted into a social media debate, over aviation safety and use of force on students within their school premises, a consensus has finally been reached by both the affected student and the pilot, including its aviation company. Recall that the ICONS Organizations recently reported that days after the Students' Union released a statement about the incident, the legal representatives of the student, wrote to Elin Air and Aviation Services Limited, accusing one of its pilots of physically assaulting the student, Ajibade Omotayo, during the artist’s visit to his alma mater. According to the petition dated December 24, 2025, the incident occurred on December 22 at the OAU Sports Complex, where a helicopter operated by Elin Air had landed upon Asake’s arrival. The student ...