Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Monday staged a peaceful protest at the institution’s main gate to express their frustration over the prolonged delay in the issuance of student identity cards.
The protest, led by members of the university’s Students’ Union, disrupted the free flow of traffic along the busy Ife/Ede road, as demonstrators blocked commercial vehicles from entering the campus. This led to heavy traffic and left many commuters and business owners stranded or delayed.
While the students declined to speak directly with journalists, the reason for the protest was detailed in an open letter addressed to the university management. The letter was signed by the President of the Great Ife Students’ Union, Isaac Omoboriowo, along with two other union officials.
According to the letter, the students vowed not to participate in the upcoming second-semester examinations unless the university produces and distributes identity cards to all students.
“This issue is not new,” the union said. “We have been engaging with the management since before the start of the academic session. Now in the ninth week of the second semester, there has still been no resolution.”
The letter cited several consequences of the delay, including harassment by security agents due to lack of identification, and missed opportunities for scholarships, grants, and job applications. It also noted that graduating students face uncertainty regarding their NYSC mobilization without valid school-issued IDs.
“With exams approaching, the same students who paid for ID cards still don’t have them. Therefore, we make this clear declaration: if the university fails to issue ID cards to all students before the examinations begin, students will not sit for any exam. This is not a threat; it is a legitimate demand against administrative negligence,” the letter read.
In response, the university management, through a statement signed by the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor J. Odedire, acknowledged the delay and assured students that efforts are being made to resolve the issue.
Odedire attributed the delay to logistics challenges related to the integration of smart features into the ID cards. He explained that the company handling the production has addressed the issue and assured that the first batch of cards will be delivered by Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
“The university is giving this matter top priority,” the statement read. “The administration remains committed to providing a conducive environment for all students and will ensure that their rights are protected.”
