Students Lament Silence Over Resumption Date, Transport System Resolutions

          Taiwo Adelusi

The ongoing mid-semester break announced by the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, in response to a peaceful demonstration by the students over the new transport system in the university, has left a number of students with more questions than answers. While academic activities have been suspended for three weeks, the core issue that sparked the protest remains unresolved.

Students initially took to protest the newly adopted transport system, which they described as inconvenient, overcrowding, costly, time consuming and unsuitable especially for students living off campus. 

”We want any transport system that speaks convenience, we will not accept inconvenience.” Ayomide, a student from the Faculty of Administration.

Another student, Kehinde, from the Faculty of Technology suggested that enough buses should be provided, either CNG or what-have-you.

The students’ demands during the protest were clear; either a return to the existing “Town-Gboro” transport system, or an improvement in the newly introduced CNG buses, by making available more buses. 

However, rather than addressing this concern directly, the school management responded by announcing a 3-week break, leading to a hold of all academic activities in the university, without reference to whether any changes will be made or otherwise.

For Ayomide, this lack of response or way forward has been nothing but “confusing and frustrating,” adding that the so-called “mid-semester break” is not the best approach to address the inconveniences experienced by the students.

Another student, Taofeeq, from the Faculty of Technology shared common sentiment, noting that the 3-week mid-semester break is absolutely very necessary.

The situation now raises a critical question about the essence of the protest if the main issue remains unresolved and students remain at home. 

Even though strikes are often used for tension management and resolution, students are still at the crossroads of uncertainty, on whether this break will result in meaningful improvements or simply a return to the same conditions.

“I’m not sure there will be any changes after the strike because the strike just feels like the school management's way of threatening the students,” Taiwo from the Faculty of Technology expressed his concern.

As the break continues to unfold, expectations about its outcome among the students vary. Some remain optimistic that the break will allow the university management to reconsider and implement necessary changes. “I think it will have a happy ending,”Adekoya from the Faculty of Administration hoped.

However, others fear that the break may end without any adjustment on the transport system, forcing them back into the same challenges that led to the protest.

”I don’t think the school management will do anything meaningful about the transport system, they don’t seem to be interested in what we are going through,” Taiwo concludes.

Enny, from the Faculty of Education expressed concerns; ”judging by the current situation of things, I don't think the management would fix anything, they just want us to go home and probably be disturbed that the break would be elongated if we fail to comply with them.”

OAU students feedbacks on this issue indicates that they are left with uncertainty as the break unfolds, they anticipate the outcome of the break, which they say would determine the future of the university transport system, yet, nothing has been said regarding the resumption date and its aftermath.