OAU announces three-week mid-semester break following student protests

Obafemi Awolowo University shut down academic activities and ordered a three-week mid-semester break after student protests over transport, accommodation, and e-portal issues disrupted campus operations and raised safety concerns.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has instructed all students to proceed on a three-week mid-semester break after protests on campus intensified over transportation and welfare issues.

In an official statement released on Tuesday by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the decision was approved by the institution’s Senate in response to the growing unrest.

According to the statement, students are to vacate campus immediately for the duration of the break. The university explained that the move became necessary after demonstrations disrupted major access routes within the campus and raised concerns about safety for both students and the wider community.

Management noted that despite efforts to calm tensions and engage students, the situation continued to escalate. The break is therefore intended to create space for dialogue with relevant stakeholders and to restore normal order on campus. Students were also urged to remain peaceful and law-abiding during this period.

The protest was organised by the Students’ Union, with participants demanding urgent solutions to transportation challenges, accommodation issues, and delays linked to the institution’s e-portal upgrade.

Earlier, a student congress held at Awo Café approved the protest, emphasizing that although it would be peaceful, it would disrupt activities until authorities addressed their concerns. The students carried out demonstrations that included blocking major roads and entrances to the campus.

Among their grievances were the planned evacuation from Awolowo Hall and the difficulties caused by the ongoing e-portal upgrade, which affected course registration and access to academic results.

Tensions were further heightened by complaints over long queues following the introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses for campus transportation. Although the buses were introduced to improve mobility, students argued that the implementation created additional challenges.

Overall, the protests led to a temporary suspension of academic activities, with the university opting for a shutdown to ease tensions and find lasting solutions.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, THE NATION