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            Adedoyin Onajobi  The Department of Physics football team has been crowned the champion of the 2026 OAU Supremacy Cup, after defeating the Department of Business Administration, in the one legged final round of the competition, held today, Thursday, 30 April., with the winning team presented medals, awards, and a cash prize of #250,000. After an intense and thrilling performance from all the competing departments, the grand finale of the 2026 OAU Supremacy Cup, also known as the OAU Champions League, was held today at the OAU Training Pitch 1.   The league, which commenced on Tuesday, 7 April, was wrapped up with an electrifying performance from the finalists, the Department Physics and Business Administration. In just 13 minutes into the game, an early goal was scored by the Physics side by the center forward, Precious, giving them the lead and courage to win the competition.  With great passion, the ...

             Adedoyin Onajobi                            The second leg of the OAU Supremacy Cup semi-finals took place on Monday, 27 April, at the OAU Training Pitch 1. The match witnessed outstanding performance, tension, drama, and decisive moments. In the first leg, Animal Science and Physics played out a goalless draw, while Business Administration secured a narrow 1–0 win  over Mathematics, courtesy of a goal from Damilare. Meanwhile, the second leg brought more intensity, as Physics and Animal Science settled for a draw in an intense encounter, with an aggregate score tied at 1–1, the match was decided by a penalty shootout, where Physics edged past Animal Science 7–6 to hitch  their place in the final. Similarly, in the first leg between the Mathematics and Business Administration Department, the Mathematics side was defeated with a 1-0 win. ...

            Adedeji Fawas  The  Intelligentsia Foundation, an initiative of David Ogunlade, held the maiden edition of her Leadership Conference, themed “Redefining the Standard for Leadership,” at PIZA Events Centre, Ile-Ife. The conference brought together prominent leaders in different industries, as well as leadership enthusiasts from different universities, including Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Lagos (UNILAG), Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) amongst others, aimed at orientating and building students in raising global standards and impacts.  The main speakers present at the event includes a member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewumi Adeyemi, the Lagos State Youth Ambassador, Bolaji Williams, the Founder of 4Herfrika, Ademide Ademola, and the Founder of Nexus Africa, Ebenezer Ogunbode. The convener, David Ogunlade,  started wi...

            Michael Olawuyi & Fawaz Adedeji  It was a tense Tuesday morning at Obafemi Awolowo University, as students took to the streets, effectively barricading the Campus Gate in “ an orderly and non-violent protests.”  The Great Ife Students trooped out en masse to challenge the atmospheric situation of new anti-students transportation policy to disapprove of persistent existence of long queues that has resulted in a state of pandemonium in the University community. Recall that the ICONS Organization reported that, the Union, on their resolutions of the Congress held yesterday at Awo Hall, was to stage a peaceful demonstration today at campus gate, with campus gate blockage until our demands on the new transport system are met. Reacting to this, the management warned that the students should know that the protest and barricading the entrances leading to campus is a “criminal action,” since it infringes on the liberty of moveme...

             Michael Olawuyi & Blessed Elemikan ‎At exactly 5:46 p.m. on Monday 27 April, the atmosphere of the emergency Congress held at the Awo Hall Cafe was quite intense, following the opening prayer by Congressman Velocity and Longman, and an apology from the Union President for starting slightly behind schedule. This was immediately followed by a poignant moment of silence for a recently deceased Part 4 student of the College of Health Sciences, the focus then shifted rapidly to the living and the hardship students now forcefully endure daily, as a result of the new transport system. ‎Although there were mentions of the current Awo Hall evacuation crisis and the death of the medical student formerly mentioned, the central theme of the Congress was the transition from a boycott to a demonstration. Congressman Tolu suggested a peaceful protest for Tuesday morning, to compel the management to take student demands seriously. The Unio...

            Adeleke Araoluwa, John Alabi, & Kehinde Ayodele At exactly 2:17 a.m. on a Monday morning in ETF Hall, the room was quiet except for the soft hum of a fan and the glow of a phone screen. An assignment is due for submission by 8 a.m., and the lecture note is highly confusing. Instead of flipping through textbooks and slides, Lakunle was so engrossed with his phone, prompting an AI tool, with the assignment question, which have been given for the past two weeks.  In the speed of light, within a blink of an eye, the answers appeared swiftly and easily. He quickly plagiarized the answers as it appeared on the screen, without removing a single word from it. The assignment was rejected and Lakunle got no scores for the assignment, because the lecturer discovered that the assignment has the word ; “would you like me to convert to an exam-worthy answer that suits your lecturer’s taste?” inscribed on it. Many students of Obafemi Awol...

          Oluwaferanmi Fadairo  In the recent statement issued by the Great Ife Students' Union, on the efforts and progress made so far on students welfare, and convenience for their academic environment. The statement gave updates and progress on pressing issues like the new transport system, proposed renovations in Awo Hall, and e-portal upgrade. The union stated the effort made on the new transport system challenges, noting that after a series of meetings (where they expressed the frustrations of the students) with the Vice Chancellor, noting that the management emphasized the need for patience, saying that the shift in the transportation system is to maintain the University standard, mentioning that the management already proposed sourcing private investors, to introduce more buses for the convenience of the students. The Union also reacted to the proposed renovation in Awo Hall, where the management recently issued an eviction ...

                Blessed Elemikan   On Saturday 25th April, the Association of Campus Journalist Obafemi Awolowo University (ACJOAU), held the 2026 edition of her annual oratory contest. The contest, which was billed to start by 10 am, was delayed by over half an hour due to the change of venue.  In the light to commence the debate, Esther Olatimeyin, the ACJOAU President welcomes and addresses all participants that will be representing their various news agencies, while introducing the judges, Isaiah Adepoju and Thomas Ajake, for the oratory contest.  Sequel to the introduction, a total of nine news agencies under ACJOAU, including the ICONS Organization, NASELS Communication Bureau(NCB), Infocus, OAU KILONSHELE, OAU PEEPS, NAPSS, GIN, and ASPOB, are all ready to participate in the contest. The contest was divided into two phases; the first stage, where participants were given impromptu questions to debate on with a...

          John Alabi The recent development which arise in Obafemi Awolowo Hall Residence last night, it was revealed by the Hall executives of the proposed renovation of Block 7 and Block 8, and occupants of these concerned blocks are instructed to vacate their rooms between Friday, 24 April and Monday, 27 April.  This announcement got intense reactions from these affected students and every member of Awo Hall, and a peaceful demonstration was organised last night as well to pass a message that the school management's move is unacceptable. To further gather views and opinions of the occupants especially the occupants of Block 7 and 8 , an impromptu meeting was called at Awo cafe tonight where the occupants of this Hall of Residence met this move by the school management's as insensitive and an oppressive move that doesn't offer a room for dialogue and prior notice.  Taking into account how students welfarism has been neglected and ...

            John Alabi  The Great Ife Students Union, has announced the demise of a Part 4 student of the College of Health Sciences, Oreoluwa Adewale, whose cause of death, as at press time remains unknown. Oreoluwa was reported to have collapsed, just as he was about to commence his oral medical examination, while efforts to revive him with medical means proved futile. The release described Oreoluwa Adewale as “a brilliant mind,” and the impact of his death is so immense that it is a reminder of the fleeting and futile nature of life. It says, “this unexpected and unimaginable event has shaken our campus to its core, reminding us once again of the fleeting nature of life.” The Union considered his death a great loss for the university community, extending condolences and sympathy to the family, colleagues, and the Ife Medical Students Association (IFUMSA) at large.  “We specifically commiserate with the Medical Students...

                John Alabi  In the late hours of Thursday, 23 April, the Chairman of the Awolowo Hall of Residence, Lateef Akeem, and a few other executives of the hall, announced the proposed renovation of certain blocks in the hall, which they say would come with an immediate eviction of the residents of these blocks, effective from Friday, 24th April. According to the Chairman, the directive came directly from the Division of Students Affairs (DSA), mandating an eviction of all residents of Block 7 and 8 of the hall, respectively. The renovation, he further explained, is set to commence on Monday, 27 April, however, the mandatory eviction must be compulsory by tomorrow.  This announcement was met with great dissatisfaction, displeasure, mixed reactions and responses from the residents, particularly the affected students, who described the announcement as an impromptu, unplanned and unreasonable move, referencing how the Un...

          Fawas Adedeji  Since the inception of the newly operational Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) transport system on April 1st, the crisis of the commuting system has been heating up OAU politely, resulting in long queues, overcrowding, and difficulty accessing transport every day.  Sequel to the two consecutive Congresses held by the Great Ife Students'Union, on the demands for more CNG buses/tricycles, or reinstatement of the Town-Gboro buses by the management, no proactive actions has been taken still, as lectures resume without a clear way forward.  As the recurrent problem of the transport system becomes persistent, the struggle which OAU is known for is not only fiction but also reality. However, the university management claimed that the new system was to make the OAU community an “ideal academic environment,” the GreatIfe students insisted that there should be adequate provision of more transport vehicles in the...

           Adedoyin Onajobi                                Photo Credit: Arteta Media  The Supremacy Cup quarter-finals delivered high-stakes drama across both legs, as teams fought relentlessly for a place in the semi-finals in a round defined by tension, fine margins, and standout performances. Business Administration edged past Accounting in a fiercely contested tie, showing composure when it mattered most. After securing a narrow 1–0 advantage in the first leg through Seanpaul’s penalty, they held firm despite a second-leg response from Accounting, sealing qualification on aggregate and proving their resilience under pressure. The Department of Animal Science also booked their place in the semi-finals, overcoming Philosophy across two legs. Fiyin once again rose to the occasion, finding the net and continuing his impressive scoring streak to guid...

              John Alabi  Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), has become the best STEM university in Nigeria, after defeating the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), at the final round of the 2026 university duel of the STEM Africa. The 2026 Universities Duel, which officially began on Sunday, Feburary 1, brought together over 50 universities, of which only 16 universities, comprising of 14 public and 2 private universities, made it to the main televised stage, where these universities were further divided into four groups of four. In the competition, the team OAU was ably represented by Quayum Alli, a Part 3 student Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Imran Ogungbayi, also a Part 3 student of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and Adesina Lekan, a Part 4 student of Computer Science with Mathematics. This trio has displayed dazzling performance ever since the commencement of the competition. The university d...

            Ezekiel Ogunniyi & Fawas Adedeji In a bid to accelerate development and improve student welfare, Fajuyi Hall has witnessed the construction and renovation of key facilities, including upgraded water infrastructure and the refurbishment of its entrance signage, reinforcing its identity as the “Hall of Legacy.” For years, inadequate water supply remained a persistent challenge for residents of the hall, with no functional wells as alternative sources. However, this situation has improved following recent renovations by the current Unicus Circus Administration (2024/2025), which restored the water system and refurbished the signage board initially constructed by the Resourceful Hands Administration (2009/2010). Speaking on the development, the Hall Chairman, Opeyemi Awoniyi, revealed that beyond the recent water and signage projects, several other improvements have been carried out since the inception of the current adm...

                Ijeoma Anele  The Ife University Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Students' Association (IFUTSA) of the Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, held her "Cardiofit Connect" health outreach, on Wednesday 15 April, at Oduduwa Hall pavement, in a bid to promote wellness within the university community. Speaking on the health outreach, the IFUTSA President, Olayinka Philip, noted that the outreach was primarily set up to create basic health awareness, by checking students' vital health conditions, including their blood pressure, weight, height, to mention a few. He added that the health outreach also encourages the beneficiaries to engage in physical activities like daily exercise, in order to stay physically fit. An independent observation by the ICONS Organization correspondents witnessed students and passerbys, trooping to check their health conditions, while receiving medical...

                  Hikmah Babatunde The OAU Elite 8, comprising of the top four teams from the JOT League, and the first four qualified teams from the quarter-final stage of the Great Ife Football League (GIFL), has officially emerged in the first edition of the JOT Cup tournament, which commenced on Saturday, 11 April.   From the JOT League, the top four teams include Agricultural Engineering (1st position), Computer Science (2nd Position), Electrical and Electronics Engineering (3rd position), and Mathematics (4th position). Similarly, from the Great Ife Football League (GIFL), the qualified teams are Animal Science (1st position), Philosophy (3rd position), Business Administration (quarter-finalist), and Physics, which occupies the open slot to complete the Elite 8.  ‎One unique feature of the JOT Cup is its standard match duration of 45 minutes, which distinguishes it from many other football competit...