By Adedoyin Oguntade
Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have resumed academic activities today, 19 May, following the end of the three-week mid-semester break declared by the university management after protests over transportation challenges and other welfare concerns.
An internal memorandum released on 17 May by the university Senate and signed by the Principal Assistant Registrar, Senate Division, I.B. Aronkola, stated that the decision followed a review of issues that led to the temporary suspension of academic activities.
The memorandum, addressed to all Deans of Faculties, noted that the Senate approved the resumption after deliberating on developments that triggered the break.
“After an exhaustive deliberation on the matter, Senate agreed that students should resume on Tuesday, 19th May, and all academic activities will commence immediately,” the statement partly read.
According to the university, the three-week break was introduced to give the administration time to address concerns surrounding the newly introduced transportation arrangement and related issues affecting students and members of the university community.
The Senate added that the concerns raised had been “sufficiently addressed” following discussions held during a special meeting on Thursday, 14 May.
University authorities also directed Deans and relevant officers to take necessary actions in line with the resolution.
Background to the crisis
The break commenced on 28 April after students staged protests over transportation difficulties linked to the university’s newly introduced transport system.
The development came after months of growing discontent among students, who complained of high transportation costs, long waiting times and movement difficulties across the expansive campus.
The protests followed earlier actions by the Students’ Union, including a 72-hour lecture boycott and a subsequent 48-hour ultimatum issued to the university management.
Students had argued that the new arrangement disrupted movement, particularly after the withdrawal of the popular Towngboro buses and commercial motorcycles (okada), which many relied on for quicker and more flexible transportation, especially those living off-campus.
The protest later expanded to include concerns over the planned evacuation of residents of Awo Hall blocks seven and eight for renovation works, with students insisting that adequate notice and alternative accommodation should have been provided.
The university management subsequently announced a three-week mid-semester break, citing safety concerns and the need to restore order and create room for consultations.
However, the Students’ Union rejected claims that the protest turned unruly, maintaining that the demonstration remained peaceful and was restricted to the campus gate area.
Intervention efforts
A day after the suspension of academic activities was announced, leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) met with the university management as part of efforts to resolve the impasse.
The resumption now marks the return of students to campus after weeks of consultations and deliberations over the transport reforms and other welfare-related concerns that triggered the unrest.
Although the university said the issues had been adequately addressed, details of the specific measures taken to resolve the transport concerns were not contained in the Senate memorandum.
