OAU Kilonshele News Outfit

 Olanrewaju Lawal Upon arriving at the BOO B lecture theatre for a Physics class, attention was drawn to the neighboring BOO C theatre, where about 600 first-year students were crammed into a hall meant for only 350. The excitement of these students from the faculties of Technology, Science, Agriculture, and Environmental Design and Management quickly faded in the sweltering heat of an overcrowded space. Inside, many students had to stand or sit on the floor due to a lack of chairs. The air conditioning units struggled against the heat, making it hard for students to pay attention to their lectures. “Learning here wasn’t just a challenge; it was a battle—one fought with sweat, patience, and dwindling hope,” said one student. Michael, a Mechanical Engineering student, expressed disappointment: “I had high hopes for this university. I imagined a stimulating environment, not this oppressive heat on my first day. It’s tough to understand what the lecturer is saying when you can barely ...

 Ojo Mercy Mental health is a critical concern among students, who pressures from academic work and personal challenges. Mental health is the state of mind and the overall well-being of a person. It encompasses our emotions, psychological, and social status. The need to maintain one's mental health is the ability to cope with stress, maintain relationships, and manage academic, social, and daily activities. Common health concerns include stress, anxiety, and depression. Mental health is a prevalent issue among students on campus, who deal with a lot of pressure from academic work, coupled with growing concerns about how to survive life generally. Students are expressing growing concerns related to their mental health, including the challenges they face and how they cope. "I can't say my mental health is really in a good state right now. Having to juggle different discourses and balancing non-academic activities to sustain myself is a whole lot that seems to be affecting me...

 Abdulkareem Basit, Esther Olatunji Students from the Department of Local Government and Development Studies at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, joyfully welcomed back their lecturer, Dr. JM Etebom, after his two-year postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Alabama, USA. The welcoming event took place in the Local Government and Development Studies Department on December 10, where students expressed their excitement to have Dr. Etebom back, especially as many others were leaving for opportunities abroad. Dr. Etebom left Nigeria in October 2022 for his fellowship and returned with valuable experiences to share. In his speech, Dr. Etebom thanked the students for their warm reception. He recounted his time at the University of Alabama, where he worked under Professor Albert on comparative policies and civil-military relations. He highlighted the focus of their research on issues affecting developing nations in the Global South. Dr. Etebom expressed his commitment to ...

 Abdulkareem Basit The Nigerian government has allocated ₦23.18 billion to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in its 2025 budget, presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on December 18, 2024. The total budget proposal for 2025 is ₦47.9 trillion, with the education sector receiving ₦3.52 trillion, which is approximately 7.3% of the overall budget. This marks a slight increase from the 6.5% allocated in 2020, 5.6% in 2021, and 5.5% in 2023 but still falls short of the 15-20% recommended by UNESCO for developing nations. OAU's allocation of ₦23.18 billion represents about 0.048% of the total budget and about 0.66% of the education sector's funding. In comparison, OAU received ₦17.1 billion in the previous year, indicating an increase but still lower than allocations for other federal universities like the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, which received ₦44.38 billion, and Ahmadu ...

 Abdulkareem Basit Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has been identified as one of the institutions that failed to meet ethical standards in the 2024 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) released by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on December 19, 2024. The EICS is an annual assessment tool designed to evaluate Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria for their adherence to ethical standards, policies, and anti-corruption measures. The scorecard aims to identify organizational gaps, provide actionable insights, and promote self-evaluation within MDAs to enhance compliance with integrity requirements. In this year's assessment of 330 MDAs, OAU received a score of 0%, indicating a complete failure to meet the required ethical standards. This poor performance places OAU among 15 MDAs that did not comply with the EICS criteria. The report highlighted several reasons for this non-compliance. According to ICPC C...

 Esther Olatunji  The Renovation Needs Assessment Building, known as 1k sitters, is in dire need of salvation. Once a convenient lecture room for one thousand students, it has deteriorated into a space with collapsed, dusty, rusty, and uncomfortable chairs. Many are broken; others have fallen, and tables are damaged, creating a chaotic atmosphere. Olusanmi Blessing, a concerned student, shared: "It's a cool lecture theatre with a public address system, we can hear the lecturers clearly. The only issue are the seats. What was barely sufficient is now reducing in numbers. The authorities should please address this," she said. Esther Ibukunoluwa Adesina expressed disappointment: "I had classes there in my first year, so I've seen how it was. Now, in my second year, I no longer use the lecture theatre. However, I recently visited with a friend to study, and we were shocked and disappointed by its deteriorated state. We had to leave and find another study space,"...

 Adeyemi Michael The Department of Dramatic Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) held its annual initiation ceremony for new students on Thursday, December 18, 2024. This event marks an important rite of passage into the world of theatre and is a well-known tradition within the department of dramatic arts, often referred to by students as "Introduction to Ritual Madness." The initiation serves as the peak of a rigorous six-week training program designed to prepare the inductees for the demanding life of a thespian (actor). During this period, students undergo intensive training in stage acting and management, African dance, drumming, voice and song training, acting, and speech. They also participate in endurance exercises such as jogging, jumping, squatting, and overnight rehearsals to develop flexibility and adaptability. The three-day initiation ceremony began with a two-day play staging on Tuesday and Thursday, showcasing the inductees’ theatrical skills. The finale on...

 Abdulkareem Basit Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has launched a groundbreaking Strategic Plan for 2025-2050, aiming to transform the institution into a world-class center of academic excellence and research innovation, while simultaneously grappling with substantial electricity costs that drain nearly N195 million from its monthly budget. The plan was unveiled during a management conference titled 'Envisioning a Great Future: OAU Strategic Plan (2025-2050)', which brought together leading academics, experts, and university stakeholders to chart a bold new path for the institution. "We spend over N195 million monthly on electricity," Prof. Abayomi Daramola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), candidly stated, "and we urgently need to invest in alternative energy solutions to mitigate this cost." Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simeon Adebayo Banire emphasized the plan's inclusive approach, which involved input from all faculties and departments. The strateg...

 Abdulkareem Basit  First Lady Oluremi Tinubu challenged graduating students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to make Nigeria their top priority during the institution's 48th Convocation Ceremony on Saturday. Speaking at the event where she received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Public Administration, Tinubu emphasized national unity and encouraged students to dream big. She announced a significant N200 million endowment to the university, demonstrating her commitment to education. "Nigeria should be first on your agenda," Tinubu told the graduates. "We must be united and committed to nurturing our nation for current and future generations." The endowment will be distributed across multiple initiatives, including N50 million for the Faculty of Education, N50 million for the best female graduating student in Biology Education, N50 million for the best female graduating student in Mathematics Education, and N50 million for the Obafemi Awolowo University Found...