By Mariam Alabi

Shortly after midnight in February 2025, Rasheedat Oluwasolafunmi walked into the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) health centre with a pounding headache and a plea for help. Instead of relief, she said she was met with hostility.

“Something would happen to you people during the day, but instead of coming immediately, you wait until midnight,” she recalled the nurse on duty telling her.

By the time she left the clinic without a proper examination, advised only to buy paracetamol, her condition had worsened.

“I couldn’t walk again. The headache was so intense that I had to remove my hijab and I was rolling on the floor at the bus stop near the health centre, that was where my friend saw me,” she said.

Her friend contacted some students’ union officials, who intervened after initially finding the clinic gates locked.

“If they were not there, only God knows what would have happened,” she said.

For Ms Oluwasolafunmi and many others, that night marked a turning point, the moment confidence in the university’s primary healthcare facility began to erode.

A facility under strain

Established to serve over 40,000 students, the OAU health centre is meant to be the first point of care for the university community. But interviews with students suggest a growing reluctance to use the facility, driven by complaints of long waiting hours, drug shortages and what they described as unprofessional conduct.

Many say they now seek treatment off campus, despite the higher personal cost.

Grace Oduyemi, a 300-level student in the Faculty of Science, said excessive delays have become routine. “Tell me why I would get to the clinic by 4.00 p.m. and not leave until 9.00 p.m.,” she said.

On one occasion, she said she saw another student visibly shaking while waiting to be attended to, raising concerns about how emergencies are handled.

She also questioned the strict requirement for students to present health centre cards before receiving treatment. “When you are sick, your priority is treatment, not cards,” she stressed.

Beyond Delays: Students recount insensitive care

Another student, Theresa Oyewusi of the Faculty of Administration, said that the issue goes beyond waiting time.

During a visit to the clinic on 23 December 2025 with symptoms of malaria and severe cold, she said she was asked why she had not travelled home.

“I was embarrassed,” she said. “When you are sick, you need kindness and comfort. Even a simple smile can make a difference, but the reverse is the case here.”

Although she eventually received medication, she said students with more serious conditions are sometimes asked to purchase drugs outside the clinic.

A 400-level Education student, Victoria Obehi, also narrated her experience during a visit to the Optometry unit for eye pain.

“Close the door!” a staffer of the clinic reportedly shouted at her, startling her and causing her to injure her finger while trying to comply.

Victoria later sought care elsewhere, where she said that she received faster and more efficient care. “I would want to go to the clinic, but honestly, I’d be scared,” she admitted.

Management explains

In response to the concerns, the Director of the Health Centre, Asimiyu Olatunji, a doctor, acknowledged delays but attributed them largely to staff shortages.

According to him, the clinic requires 21 doctors and 30 nurses to function optimally, but currently operates with only 10 doctors and fewer than 30 nurses. He said the shortfall reflects a broader national trend of medical professionals leaving Nigeria for better opportunities abroad.

He defended the clinic’s drug supply, maintaining that the facility has adequate stock comparable to many hospitals nationwide.

“When ranked among university health centres, ours would likely be among the top five,” he said.

The Head of the Nursing Department, Kehinde Ojo also addressed complaints about students being asked to purchase drugs and contribute small amounts for items such as gloves.

“Nothing is free in Nigeria,” he said, explaining that government-subsidised drugs are not adequately provided.

He added that the ₦6,000 annual health fee paid by students is insufficient to cover comprehensive medical care while he pointed to increased workload during examination periods due to stress-related illnesses. Mr Ojo called for improved staff welfare, saying better working conditions would enhance service delivery.

Despite these explanations, many students say their trust in the campus clinic has been shaken.