How Accommodation Challenges Continue to Affect OAU Students

Benjamin Oluwakasayo Emmanuel 

The issue of accommodation has long been a pressing problem for students at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). Every academic session, many students, both freshers and senior students face difficulties securing on-campus housing. Some are forced to sleep in lecture theatres, while others rely on friends’ hostels, buy expensive bedspaces, or pay exorbitant fees for on/off-campus private hostels.

There are only around 7,200 bedspaces currently available on campus to cater for a large student population, leading to overcrowding. Many students living in private hostels express concerns over security and high rent.

A first-year student from the Department of Information Science narrated the ordeal of his early days on campus. “I had to be sleeping around on campus when I first resumed because I was unable to secure accommodation due to late admission which prevented me from balloting for bedspace. When I resumed, I first slept in the SUB TV room before I went to a RCCG church at the religious ground where someone helped me get an empty room in the school hall. I was able to manage there before finally securing residence off-campus,” he said.

Another fresh student shared her confusion and hardship. “I thought accommodation was automatic for freshers after admission. I could not ballot for hostel when others did because I was on the Additional Interim Admission Programme (AIP) then. All efforts to get a hostel on campus failed, and I am currently staying with a friend off-campus while hoping the portal will reopen for another ballot,” she said.

Ayomide, a second-year student, described his experience of being locked out of campus hostels. “I had to get a private hostel because I could not ballot for a hostel. When I logged in to ballot at 11am as stipulated, I was told bedspace was exhausted. I had no option but to get a private hostel where I paid a large amount, but the facilities were not worth the money,” he said.

A third-year student expressed his frustration with the inadequate arrangements. “Ever since I resumed, I have been sleeping at Awo Upper Buttery because I couldn’t get a bedspace. I keep my load with a friend who secured a bedspace. I only go to shower in the morning and then leave for class; in the evening, I go back to sleep there. I have visited the Division of Student Affairs many times but they always tell me to check my portal. I am tired because there is no change,” he said.

The recurrence of this accommodation crisis at OAU disrupts student welfare and academic focus, with off-campus living often exposing students to additional financial and security risks.

OAU management has in recent times announced plans to build more hostels and introduce shuttle services to ease transportation issues, but students continue to face daily housing difficulties.

The university is urged to implement practical steps for expanding affordable accommodation options and improving hostel management to ensure a conducive environment for learning and living.