Students at Obafemi Awolowo University Demand Resolution of Welfare Issues
Students from the Obafemi Awolowo University Students’ Union organized a protest on campus on Tuesday, voicing urgent demands regarding ongoing welfare and academic challenges. The protest drew substantial participation, with video footage capturing students marching and chanting in front of the main entrance.
The demonstrators asserted the peaceful nature of their actions, emphasizing their intent to restore normalcy to university life. This movement followed an earlier resolution established during a convention at Awo Café on Monday, where the union formally endorsed the protest.
Union Leadership Highlights Commitment to Peaceful Protests
A statement released by the union, signed by President Aderani David and General Secretary Habib Oke Issa, underscored the commitment to non-violence. “The Student Union held a peaceful demonstration at 6 a.m. on April 28, 2026, aiming to block main access points to the campus until our demands are met,” the statement noted. The union stressed its tradition of orderly protests, assuring participants that the demonstration would remain peaceful.
Students were encouraged to participate responsibly while maintaining order, with the leadership urging all members and students alike to join the planned peaceful protest.
Frustrations Over Transport and Accommodation Highlighted
The protests emerge amid rising frustration over various issues affecting the student body, notably transportation difficulties, accommodation problems, and lengthy delays experienced with the university’s electronic portal. In a separate statement issued on April 25, the union rejected a proposed mid-semester evacuation of students from Blocks 7 and 8 of Awolowo Hall for renovations, labeling it ill-timed and impractical.
The union firmly stated, “We cannot support such an evacuation without proper notice, planning, or alternative accommodation for affected students.” Additionally, the ongoing upgrading of the electronic portal has left many students unable to register for courses or access their results for weeks after the term began.
Students Express Concerns Over Transportation Challenges
Despite the tense atmosphere, the union reiterated its stance on peaceful engagement, cautioning that their patience was wearing thin. “We cannot continue to watch students suffer needlessly. The university administration must provide concrete, immediate solutions,” the report conveyed.
Recent reports reveal that students have been enduring long lines and delays due to management’s introduction of compressed natural gas-powered vehicles. This transition comes following a significant donation of 80 CNG buses and tricycles by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, aimed at improving mobility on campus.
Transition to CNG Vehicles Creates New Obstacles
However, students have voiced that this change has brought about new challenges, particularly with restrictions on movement around the campus, further complicating daily activities. This wave of discontent follows the conclusion of a 72-hour lecture boycott earlier in April, initiated to protest against the transport issues significantly impacting both academic activities and students’ daily commutes.
