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

          Onajobi Adedoyin The ICONS Organization, a news agency under the Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University (ACJOAU), conducted its 2026/2027 executive elections on Sunday, July 19 at the First Bank Lecture Theatre (FBLT). The election, originally scheduled for 4:00 p.m., commenced at 4:15 p.m., accommodating delays attributed to the inoperability of CNG buses, which affected members’ arrival. The brief delay also allowed members to interact and introduce themselves before voting began. In attendance was the immediate past Editor-in-Chief of the organization, who is currently the Chairman of the Guild of Editors, ACJOAU, Adedoyin Oguntade, who charged members to prioritize the progress, continuity, and institutional development of ICONS. He emphasized that every accomplished media professional begins from modest foundations, urging members to maximize opportunities within the organization to build their careers. A total o...

            Blessed Elemikan On Friday, July 10, the GreatIFE Students' Representative Council (GreatIFE SRC), held its business meeting for the 2024/25 academic session. The meeting, scheduled to commence for 4 p.m. at Ajose Lecture Theatre began at 5:07 p.m. with the rendition of the national anthem led by the Deputy Speaker, Nasir Olajide. Proceedings opened with a roll call of faculties before the Speaker, Awe Ademola, apologised for the delayed commencement. He attributed the delay to several factors, including activities marking the July 10 commemoration of the OAU 5 and transportation challenges on campus, urging members to continue holding student leaders accountable responsibly. Giving an update on the Union's finances, the Speaker disclosed that the Union initially proposed a budget of ₦33 million, which was completed in the eighth week of the first semester and submitted in the eleventh week. However, the university management approve...

        Ijeoma Anele & Phebian Ojewande Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Friday, July 10, concluded its annual July 10 commemoration with a symposium themed “Redefining Student Unionism: Combating Cultism While Strengthening Collective Participation in the Digital Era.” The symposium served as the grand finale of a three-day programme held from July 8 to July 10, 2026, in honour of the five students who lost their lives during the July 10, 1999 cult attack on the university campus. The commemoration featured a series of activities, including an anti-cultism rally, the screening of the July 10 documentary, public engagements, and the concluding symposium. These activities were aimed at preserving the legacy of the fallen students, promoting consciousness, awakening the spirit of activism, and renewing commitment to the fight against cultism within the institution. The event attracted a diverse audience, including serving Students’ Uni...

          Ijeoma Anele The Psychology Students' Association, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (PsychIFE), held an academic summit themed “Beyond Passing” at the SUB TV Room on Monday, July 6. The event focused on positioning Psychology students for excellence and opportunities, where participants were enlightened on different career paths within their field. It also featured a panel session, inter-level debate, question-and-answer session, among others. During his keynote address, Uthman enlightened students on the significance of passion in learning, explaining that passion is the foundation of excellence and what helps individuals build the right systems and remain committed to the sacrifices required for exceptional performance. “Without the right mindset, it’s easy to settle for average,” he said. He also emphasised that excellence requires sacrifice, as achieving one’s goals involves choosing what truly aligns with one’s purp...

        Adedeji Fawaz & Abiola Iyelomo In a bid to protect young women from cervical cancer, the Health Equity Initiative Africa (HEIA) Society, in partnership with the Campus Health Rights Initiative (CHRI), OAU, has launched a human papillomavirus (HPV) sensitisation campaign on the Obafemi Awolowo University campus. The initiative aims to improve students’ health outcomes and reduce the burden of cervical cancer. The awareness campaign, held on Friday, June 26, was spearheaded by Fumilayo Shopade. It sought to educate students on the importance of preventive healthcare, particularly regarding HPV and its link to cervical cancer. Fumilayo Shopade, a 400-level medical student and founder of HEIA, stated that the organisation is committed to enlightening students about HPV and promoting preventive measures, including accessible screening at a subsidised fee of ₦500 for consumables. “It was born out of a desire to advance equ...

            Fawaz Adedeji The third edition of the Faculty of Arts Distinguished Alumni Lecture, held on Thursday, July 2, at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), enlightened students on how formal education transforms melody into mastery, passion into profession, and sound into a structured body of knowledge. The event explored how discipline within formal education helps students actualise their dreams, visions, and career aspirations, while equipping them to think critically, act with precision, and contribute meaningfully to society. In his welcome address, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Gbenga Fasiku, commended the guest lecturer, principal officers, and students in attendance. He emphasised the significance of studying music as an integral part of human existence. “Music is one of the oldest expressions of the human spirit. It is the heartbeat of memory, the architect of rhythm, and a bridge betw...

          John Alabi The Office of the Financial Secretary of the Great Ife Students’ Union, led by Dare Ogunleye (FACT), hosted the second edition of the OAU "Who Gets to Be a Millionaire" competition on Saturday, June 27 at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University. Enoch Eyiaro, a student of the Department of Accounting, emerged as the overall winner after a rigorous intellectual contest involving 29 other participants, clinching the grand prize of one million naira. The academic competition, conceived during the tenure of former Financial Secretary, Damilare Fashina (D-Blaq), is designed to test students’ academic depth, critical thinking ability, and encourage healthy intellectual rivalry. It draws inspiration from the popular Who Wants to Be a Millionaire format, with questions spanning current affairs, university history, and general aptitude. The event attracted Students’ Union officials, brand representatives, and a wide c...

          Adedeji Fawaz & Abiola Iyelomo The Ife Arts Conference, held on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the ACE Conference Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), brought together students, scholars, and media professionals to interrogate the evolving roles of media, technology, and leadership in promoting democratic accountability. Tagged “Artisphere ’26,” the conference was themed “Media, Technology and Leadership: Advancing Democratic Accountability in the Digital Age.” It featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, interactive sessions, and award presentations recognising academic excellence and institutional leadership within the Faculty of Arts. Students of the faculty turned out in large numbers, reflecting growing interest in the intersection of digital innovation, governance, and civic responsibility in contemporary society. In his opening remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Gbenga Fasiku, urged students to ...

          Fawaz Adedeji The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Festival 2026, held on Saturday, June 20, at the ACE Conference Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), spotlighted the reimagination of African creative expression through literature, cinema, and technology. The event emphasised African creative works that are rooted in Africa, reflect African realities, and are produced for African audiences. It explored the intersection of culture, emotion, philosophy, and technology in shaping contemporary African narratives. The festival featured a rich blend of artistic performances, including poetry recitations, fiction showcases, music, dance, and film screenings, all centred on African futures grounded in post-colonial realities, indigenous knowledge systems, and cultural histories. The programme attracted distinguished scholars and creative professionals, including Prof. Gbemisola Adeoti (Department of English), Prof. Tchokossa Pa...

            Fawaz Adedeji The National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Chapter, on Tuesday, hosted the NASELS 3.0 Summit at the ACE Conference Hall, aimed at equipping humanities students with relevant technological and media skills. The summit, themed “Humanities in the 21st Century: Exploring New Opportunities in Tech, Media and Creative Writing,” focused on expanding students’ understanding of the evolving role of humanities in a technology-driven world. It provided a collaborative platform for content creators, digital entrepreneurs, media practitioners, and tech enthusiasts to share insights and foster innovation. The event, held as part of the NASELS Week, featured academic and industry experts, including the Head of Department, Prof. E.T.O. Babalola, Prof. K.O. Ayoola, Mrs Bukola Olafenwa, Matthew Ibiyemi, Ariyo Isaac, and the President of the Association of Campus Jo...

          Taiwo Adelusi  Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has announced the commencement of its 2026 Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) screening exercise for candidates seeking admission through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE). According to a statement signed by the university register, Adetunji Bakare, eligible candidates include those who selected OAU as their first choice in the 2026 UTME and scored a minimum of 200, as well as applicants who applied through the Direct Entry mode. The registration exercise is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 16, and will close on Friday, August 14, 2026. Candidates are required to complete their registration via the university’s admissions portal, where they are expected to verify their details, make the necessary payment, fill out the application form, and submit it before the deadline. The statem...

              Taiwo Adelusi When you walk around OAU campus, you will see “the productive students." They are either in the library or in a lecture room, books in hand, headphones on, and laptops open, moving with purpose. However, the truth is that productivity doesn’t always look the same from the outside. A productive day as a student can take different forms, students have their own interpretation of productivity. While some consider it the ability to complete a daily to-do list, others sees it as finishing a challenging task they have been working on for weeks. There is a common belief that a productive day means waking up at 5 a.m., attending every class, studying for hours without distraction, and completing every task on your to-do list. However, in reality, most students fail to live this way, and those who try often experience burnout. A truly productive day is not about doing everything; it is about doing what matters most. Prod...

            Fawaz Adedeji Media professionals and student journalists from across Nigeria converged at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on Saturday, June 6, for the 2026 International Campus Journalism Conference (ICJC ’26), aimed at strengthening youth-driven journalism and fostering the transition from campus journalism to mainstream media practice. The conference, organised by the Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ), OAU, held at the ICT Conference Hall, attracted participants from several universities, including the University of Ibadan (UI), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Osun State University (UNIOSUN), and Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), among others. With the theme, “Active Voices: Youth-Driven Journalism for National Cohesion,” the conference underscored the role of journalism in promoting accountability, public enlightenment, and effective two-way communication. Speakers highlighted the media’s influence on the soc...