Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest over what they described as worsening welfare conditions and academic challenges on campus.
The protest, organized by the Students’ Union, began in the early hours of the day, with large numbers of students gathering around the institution’s main gate. The demonstrators marched in groups, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards to draw attention to their demands.
According to the union, the action followed a resolution reached during a congress held on Monday at Awo Café, where students agreed that urgent steps were needed to address issues affecting their daily lives and studies.
In a joint statement signed by the Students’ Union President, Adelani David, and the General Secretary, Habeeb Oke Isa, the leadership stressed that the protest was peaceful and in line with the tradition of the institution.
“The Students’ Union staged a peaceful demonstration on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 6am, with the intention to block major roads and gates leading to the campus until our demands are met,” the statement said.
They added that the protest would remain orderly and non-violent, urging students to act responsibly while expressing their grievances.
Despite the early morning disruption, videos circulating online showed no incidents of violence, with protesters maintaining discipline as they moved through designated areas of the campus.
The demonstration is the latest in a series of student actions in Nigerian universities, where welfare concerns and infrastructure challenges have often led to protests. At OAU, widely known as “Great Ife,” students have historically organized peaceful demonstrations to press home their demands.
At the centre of the protest are complaints about transportation difficulties within and around the campus. Students say the situation has made it hard to attend lectures on time, especially for those living far from their faculties or in off-campus hostels.
Many students also raised concerns about accommodation, noting that available hostel spaces are limited and often overcrowded. The issue became more serious following plans by the university management to evacuate residents of Awolowo Hall Blocks 7 and 8 for renovation.
In an earlier statement dated April 25, the Students’ Union strongly opposed the move, describing it as poorly planned and insensitive to the needs of affected students.
“The Union categorically rejected the implementation of such an evacuation without adequate notice, proper planning, or the provision of alternative accommodation for affected students,” the statement read.
Students argue that forcing residents out without providing replacement housing could worsen an already difficult situation, especially for those who cannot afford private accommodation in Ile-Ife.
Another major concern is the ongoing upgrade of the university’s e-portal, which students say has disrupted academic activities. According to the union, many students have been unable to register their courses or check their results weeks after the semester began.
The delay, they warned, could have serious consequences for academic planning and graduation timelines if not resolved quickly.
Some students who spoke during the protest said the combination of transport problems, housing uncertainty, and academic delays has created unnecessary stress.
“We are not asking for too much,” one protester said. “We just want a system that works so we can focus on our studies.”
For decades, institutions like OAU have struggled to balance growing student populations with limited resources. While managements often cite funding constraints, students insist that better planning and communication can ease many of the problems.
The Students’ Union, however, maintained that it remains open to dialogue with the university authorities. The leadership called on management to urgently address the issues raised and restore normal conditions on campus.
“We remain committed to peaceful engagement,” the union said, while warning that continued inaction could lead to further disruptions.
As of the time of filing this report, the university management had not issued an official response to the protest.
However, stakeholders say timely intervention will be key to preventing the situation from escalating and ensuring that academic activities continue without further interruption.
For now, calm has returned to the campus, but students say they will be watching closely to see if their concerns are addressed in the coming days.