OAU Students Conclude 72-Hour Lecture Boycott as Management Faces Monday Deadline

The 72-hour lecture boycott at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, officially ended at midnight on Thursday, April 16. While academic activities are expected to resume today, Friday, April 17, the Students’ Union Government (SUG) has warned that this is a “strategic window” for the university management to implement transport reforms or face a total campus shutdown.  

The Three-Day Stand

The boycott, which ran from Tuesday, April 14, to Thursday, April 16, was strictly enforced across all faculties. Union monitoring teams reportedly cleared lecture theaters and ensured total compliance. The protest was triggered by the “failed” implementation of a new transport system following the donation of buses and tricycles by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Students cited severe overcrowding, long wait times, and a lack of coverage for the school’s 35,000-strong population.  

Current Status: The Monday Ultimatum

The SUG leadership, led by President Adelani David and Secretary-General Habeeb Oke, met with university management during the boycott period. While the management appealed for patience as more vehicles are deployed, the union has remained firm on its “Red Alert” status:

The Demand: An immediate return to the hybrid transport model (reintroducing the old system alongside the new one) and the addition of more drivers.  

The Deadline: If the mobility crisis does not show visible improvement by Monday morning, April 20, the union has authorized a transition to a “mass protest/march” that may include blocking the campus main gate indefinitely.

Management’s Response

The university administration has acknowledged the operational gaps and stated that additional drivers are being screened to handle the new fleet. They have urged students to resume lectures while these technicalities are finalized.