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Tag: UI students

  • UI students shine in national, campus competitions at Jaw War 2025

    UI students shine in national, campus competitions at Jaw War 2025

    The University of Ibadan’s debating teams once again demonstrated their intellectual prowess as they emerged victorious across multiple categories at the Jaw War 2025 grand finale on Saturday.

    The two-month-long festival of ideas and public speaking concluded at the International Conference Centre (ICC), attracting thousands of students, alumni, and dignitaries who came to witness a celebration of rhetoric, critical thinking, and youthful excellence.

    Organised annually by the Literary and Debating Society, University of Ibadan (TLDS), Jaw War has grown over the past 11 years into Nigeria’s premier university debate tournament, featuring Inter-Hall, Inter-Faculty, Rookie, and Nationals categories.

    This year, UI took the top spot in the Inter-Varsity National Oratory Competition, defeating strong contenders LAUTECH, which placed second, and Lead City University, which finished third.

    At the campus level, the Faculty of Clinical Sciences clinched the Engr. Femi Babalola Inter-Faculty Cup, with the Faculty of Education securing second place.

    The Prof. Kayode Adebowale Inter-Hall Cup was claimed by Sultan Bello Hall, narrowly beating Queen Idia Hall, earning recognition as UI’s leading debating hall.

    The President of TLDS, Babatimeyin Peace, described Jaw War 2025 as a milestone edition that showcased the depth of UI’s intellectual talent.

    “Today marks the grand finale of an event we began on September 16. We’ve had weeks of intense competition, Inter-Faculty, Inter-Hall, Rookies, and Nationals.

    “The whole essence of Jaw War is engagement. We teach tolerance, discuss socio-economic policies, analyse social issues, and most importantly, seek solutions.

    Read Also: Joy Madubuike advocates healthcare overhaul in Nigeria, seeks support for women in Africa

    “This is our 11th edition. We’ve grown from the small Trenchard Hall to the ICC and expanded our recognition nationally and globally.”

    Speaking at the programme, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, commended TLDS for shaping UI students into confident, intellectually grounded individuals.

    He said, “The Literary and Debating Society is the only society every student in this university belongs to; it is mandatory.

    The level of activity may differ, but it remains a platform for oratory, critical thinking, and intellectual discourse. Our training here is holistic: it builds confidence and sharpens the mind,” he said.

    The father of the day, Engr. Femi Babalola encouraged students to take the Jaw War seriously as preparation for leadership.

    “This platform prepares youths for the future. It teaches them to engage with ideas and articulate their thoughts. I urge every student involved to remain focused and learn as much as they can.”

  • JUST IN: UI students to embark on peaceful demonstration after 7-day ultimatum to FG over blackout 

    JUST IN: UI students to embark on peaceful demonstration after 7-day ultimatum to FG over blackout 

    The University of Ibadan students’ union is set to embark on a peaceful demonstration, following the expiration of the 7-day ultimatum given to the federal government to address the prolonged blackout faced by students at the University College of Medicine (UCH), Ibadan. 

    The students’ body, led by the Union’s president, Aweda Bolaji will converge on main gate of UCH at 7am on Wednesday Jan. 22. In a statement Aweda said: “Following the expiration of our 7 days ultimatum to the federal government of Nigeria to address the blackout at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, we are inviting you to a peaceful demonstration. 

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    “As an act of solidarity with our fellow students in Alexander Brown Hall and Ayodele Falase Postgraduate hall who have experienced blackout for 80days now. “Please join us tomorrow morning by 7am for this demonstration from UCH down to Secretariat. 

  • UI students protest hike in tuition fees, power supply rationing

    UI students protest hike in tuition fees, power supply rationing

    Some students of University of Ibadan, on Wednesday, took to the street to protest against the recent hike in tuition fees and power supply rationing.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesting students wore masks to hide their identities, with some blocking the main entrance to the school and others around the Senate Building.

    NAN also reports that a document sighted by NAN indicated that the decision to stage the protest was sequel to the resolution reached at an emergency congress held within the institution on Tuesday.

    “The resolution of the emergency congress/demonstration on the night of 16th July, 2024 is that the union will embark on a peaceful demonstration on 17th July, 2024 by 5.30 a.m.

    “Sequel to this, there is to be a mass boycott of lectures and classes today as transportation will not be available on campus,” the document, signed by Council of Faculty President (COFP), read in part.

    It listed the demands of the students to include: reversal of the new electricity rationing policy and total reversal of school fee hike.

    A 200-level student of Political Science, who spoke with NAN, said that the Federal Government and the school management should help Nigerians who were already grappling with the present economic hardship to have education.

    According to him, some of his colleagues are now contemplating quitting their studies because of the hike in the school and utility fees.

    “The present school fees are too much for us; we can’t afford it. We need education subsidy.

    “Those studying Psychology are now to pay N140,000, while those in Political Science are paying about N80,000. There are some other departments that are paying more than N300,000.

    “There is so much anger among the students, but this is a peaceful protest to call on the federal government and the school management to reconsider their stand on the tuition fees,” he said.

    The student said that the management had, on Monday, released a memo notifying them of electricity rationing and 100 per cent increase in the utility fees.

    Another 300-level Theatre Arts student said that fee increment at the university had now become an annual thing.

    She said that she paid N70,000 in 2023 and about N100,000 now, lamenting that the fees had continued increasing since she gained admission into the university.

    The student expressed the regret that nothing seemed to be working anymore in the institution, as many lecturers were now in the habit of cancelling lectures at will.

    “Jaja Clinic is not functioning as it should. We have just one doctor taking care of about 4,000 students.

    “There is no light; there is no water; I felt that if we kept quiet, the situation might get worse,” she said.

    The student said that the hardship had become unbearable, as they fetched water from private hotels in the school to bath and wash their clothes.

    Read Also; Tension as UI students decry incessant robbery attacks

    Another student also said that the electricity rationing was not in the best interest of the students.

    “We are given only five hours during the day and five hours at night and this only favours us when we are in the classrooms but by the time we get back to our hotels, there will be no light,” the student said.

    NAN reports that the institution, in an internal memo dated July 16 and signed by the Director of Works, Mr O.A. Adetolu, said that the Vice-Chancellor had approved a 10-hour daily electricity supply on campus.

    According to the memo, there will be electricity supply from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

    Efforts by NAN to contact the Students’ Union President of the institution proved abortive, calls put across to him were not answered.

    However, in her reaction, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mrs Joke Akinpelu, said that the management had been meeting with the students to resolve the issue.

    “We just had another meeting with the students now to resolve the issue,” she said.

    (NAN)

  • Union’s scholarships for six indigent UI students

    Union’s scholarships for six indigent UI students

    Six students yesterday benefited from the 2023 Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Indigent Students’ Scholarship Award, presented by the University of Ibadan (UI) branch of the union.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the awards, divided into national and branch categories, were presented at the institution.

    NAN also reports that the national award of N200,000 each was presented to two students by the Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of the union, Prof. Oyebamiji Oyegoke.

    The branch award of N100,000 each was presented to four other students by different members of the union.

    Oyegoke, also of ASUU at the Ogbomoso branch of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), hailed the UI branch for its contributions and faithful representation of the union.

    According to him, another attestation to the good work done by the UI branch is the presentation of the ASUU indigent students’ scholarship awards.

    “If you look at the branches that are in Ibadan zone, UI is giving the highest,” he said.

    Read Also: Tension as UI students decry incessant robbery attacks

    ASUU Chairman for UI branch, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, said the presentation of the awards started in 2018 and had continued till date, except in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Reiterating the union’s commitment to sound and quality tertiary education, Akinwole said the process of selecting beneficiaries was stringent, as indigence and brilliance were considered.

    NAN reports that the beneficiaries of the national award are: Abdulkabir Ilori, a 200-level student of Medicine and Surgery, and Mariam Busari, a 200-level student of Microbiology, both from UI.

    The branch beneficiaries were: Olanrewaju Osiga, a 400-level student of Aquaculture and Fishery Management; and Hope Adesina, a 200-level student of Archaeology.

    The other two branch awardees are: Ruth Folorunsho, a 200-level student of Medicine and Surgery; and Samuel Ekpo, a 200-level student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

    Busari expressed appreciation to the union on behalf of her colleagues.

  • Four UI students for $1m Hult Prize

    Four students will be representing the University of Ibadan at the Semi final of the 2017 Hult Prize challenge holding in any of the following cities: Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai or Shanghai.

    The four students, Onele Peter Cole, Amolegbe Abdul Mojeed, Sadik Oluwagbenga, and Adegoke Rafiat, emerged from 20 teams that competed at different stages of the Olfloohcs-level competition, which doubles as the Quarter finals of the Hult Prize Challenge.

    Their team, Facts Count, pitched on deploying the force of the digital media to telling the refugee story around the world, providing specialised data services and creating a social media platform to connect refugees’ offerings to the rest of the world.

    The 2017 Hult Prize “President’s Challenge” is themed “Refugees – Reawakening Human Potential” and will focus on restoring the rights and dignity of people and societies who may be, or are forced into motion due to social injustices, politics, economic pressures, climate change and war.

    Eight panelists including: Alhaji Oladotun Bello, CEO AzemoAgribiz; Irabor Pacqueens, State Officer for Bank of Industry; Mr Emeka Ossai, Entrepreneur Developer; and Temitope Samson, Executive Director, Bovas & Company Limited drilled the students.

    Others are: Oluwasola Obagbemi, Communication Expert; Babatunde Afonrinwo, Relationship Manager, First Bank; Dr ‘Demola Lewis, a lecturer; and Dr Ayotola Aremu, Acting Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, UI.

    In his opening remarks, Campus Director of the programme, Samuel Babalola, said the Hult Prize Foundation is a start-up accelerator for budding young social entrepreneurs emerging from the world’s universities.

    Each year, Babalola, said former U.S. President, Bill Clinton, selects a critical social problem on which the challenge is based.

    “Teams of 3-4 students are challenged to develop a custom-tailored innovative start-up enterprise to eradicate the problem. Access to education, clean water, affordable housing, clean energy, solar power,  food insecurity, and healthcare are some of the issues tackled since the competition’s inception,” he said.

     

  • UI students hold debate on economy

    UI students hold debate on economy

    The Literary and Debating Society of the University of Ibadan (UI) has begun her third yearly Jaw Wars with a focus on the economy.  MERCY ADEDIGBA (100-Level Communication and Language Arts Education) reports on the issue.

    The third yearly Jaw Wars kicked off at the University of Ibadan (UI) on Wednesday last week with students of various halls of residence challenging  proving their supremacy on the  economy.

    The Literary and Debating Society provided the platform, and the Theme for the debate, which will last until November was: “Nigeria: Africa’s heartbeat in coma.”

    The halls were represented by two students each.

    Chief Judge, Dr Demola Lewis, gave the rules of the game and the acceptable way of comportment during a debate or speaking competition.  He urged the students to snap their fingers rather than howl and clap in favour of their speakers – because noisemaking tends to hinder the flow of thought and words of the speakers; and because judges may assess speakers poorly if they do not hear them.

    Chants of stand up, speak up or shut up rent the air as the event was formally opened.

    There were a total of five rounds in the first stage of the event. The first round topic was “Should special courts be set up for corruption cases?”  And the debate was between the male hall of residence, Tedder Hall which spoke in favour of the topic and the female hall of residence, Obafemi Awolowo Hall, which spoke against the topic.

    The second round was between the Independence Hall and Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, both male halls of residence. “The abolition of religion; a just cause?” was the topic and Indy Hall spoke in favour, while Zik Hall spoke against it.

    Sultan Bello Hall was up against Alexander Brown Hall for both male and female students of College of Medicine battled in the next round. Sultan Bello Hall spoke against the topic: “Nigerian prison system; a reformation of criminal”.

    Queen Elizabeth II Hall spoke in favour of the topic: “Euthanasia: Justifiable or not” as it competed against Kenneth Mellamby Hall.

    The final round was between female hall of residence, Queen Idia, and the male hall of residence, Kuti, which debated on “Strike: A panacea to the problems of the nation’s educational sector?” Kuti hall spoke in favour of the topic.

    After five rounds of listening to mind blowing, educating and informative speeches the judges, Dr Lewis, Odebowale, and Mr Tunde Ogundare were saddled with the responsibility to choose the best speakers. After much deliberation, Queen Elizabeth II hall won the first stage of the competition with 84 per cent, Mellamby hall came second with 81.2 per cent; and Sultan Bello, third with 81 per cent.

    But the event was not all about debates alone.

    An entrepreneur, Miss Bukunmi Adeaga, related the topic to entrepreneurship.

    She urged the students to invest in themselves and be disciplined.

    “As an entrepreneur it is not about who is going to let you but about who is going to stop you. Your certificate is not a means of grading yourself. (You are rated) by what you known and can do and by yours skills. All this is possible by investing in yourself daily and continuously,” she said.

    Opaleye Akintunde recited a poem entitled: “The dark Nigeria”, which focused on the need to have faith and hope in Nigeria. It also speaks on the need to imbibe African values and shun corruption.

    The Jaw wars theme song was presented by Michael Olaoye.  It focused on the need to use words to speak and do positive things.

    In his speech, the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Abdulrasak Alada, expressed the joy of being among the students in an educative and fun filled event.

    The President of the Literary and Debating Society, Catherine Tomosori, also spoke on the past and future of Jaw Wars in the university and the nation.

    The event was rounded up with  Olaoye singing the Jaw Wars theme song.

    The finale of the competition takes place on the November 3, 2016 at the large lecture theatre of the faculty of Social Sciences, with a debate among the different faculties in the university to determine the winners.

    Tedder Hall and the Faculty of Social Sciences won the 2015 edition of the competition.

    Important figures in the university and students union, including the President, Ojo Oluwanifemi, attend the event.

  • UI students hold debate on economy

    The Literary and Debating Society of the University of Ibadan (UI) has begun her third yearly Jaw Wars with a focus on the economy.  MERCY ADEDIGBA (100-Level Communication and Language Arts Education) reports on the issue.

    The third yearly Jaw Wars kicked off at the University of Ibadan (UI) on Wednesday last week with students of various halls of residence challenging  proving their supremacy on the  economy.

    The Literary and Debating Society provided the platform, and the Theme for the debate, which will last until November was: “Nigeria: Africa’s heartbeat in coma.”

    The halls were represented by two students each.

    Chief Judge, Dr Demola Lewis, gave the rules of the game and the acceptable way of comportment during a debate or speaking competition.  He urged the students to snap their fingers rather than howl and clap in favour of their speakers – because noisemaking tends to hinder the flow of thought and words of the speakers; and because judges may assess speakers poorly if they do not hear them.

    Chants of stand up, speak up or shut up rent the air as the event was formally opened.

    There were a total of five rounds in the first stage of the event. The first round topic was “Should special courts be set up for corruption cases?”  And the debate was between the male hall of residence, Tedder Hall which spoke in favour of the topic and the female hall of residence, Obafemi Awolowo Hall, which spoke against the topic.

    The second round was between the Independence Hall and Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, both male halls of residence. “The abolition of religion; a just cause?” was the topic and Indy Hall spoke in favour, while Zik Hall spoke against it.

    Sultan Bello Hall was up against Alexander Brown Hall for both male and female students of College of Medicine battled in the next round. Sultan Bello Hall spoke against the topic: “Nigerian prison system; a reformation of criminal”.

    Queen Elizabeth II Hall spoke in favour of the topic: “Euthanasia: Justifiable or not” as it competed against Kenneth Mellamby Hall.

    The final round was between female hall of residence, Queen Idia, and the male hall of residence, Kuti, which debated on “Strike: A panacea to the problems of the nation’s educational sector?” Kuti hall spoke in favour of the topic.

    After five rounds of listening to mind blowing, educating and informative speeches the judges, Dr Lewis, Odebowale, and Mr Tunde Ogundare were saddled with the responsibility to choose the best speakers. After much deliberation, Queen Elizabeth II hall won the first stage of the competition with 84 per cent, Mellamby hall came second with 81.2 per cent; and Sultan Bello, third with 81 per cent.

    But the event was not all about debates alone.

    An entrepreneur, Miss Bukunmi Adeaga, related the topic to entrepreneurship.

    She urged the students to invest in themselves and be disciplined.

    “As an entrepreneur it is not about who is going to let you but about who is going to stop you. Your certificate is not a means of grading yourself. (You are rated) by what you known and can do and by yours skills. All this is possible by investing in yourself daily and continuously,” she said.

    Opaleye Akintunde recited a poem entitled: “The dark Nigeria”, which focused on the need to have faith and hope in Nigeria. It also speaks on the need to imbibe African values and shun corruption.

    The Jaw wars theme song was presented by Michael Olaoye.  It focused on the need to use words to speak and do positive things.

    In his speech, the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Abdulrasak Alada, expressed the joy of being among the students in an educative and fun filled event.

    The President of the Literary and Debating Society, Catherine Tomosori, also spoke on the past and future of Jaw Wars in the university and the nation.

    The event was rounded up with  Olaoye singing the Jaw Wars theme song.

    The finale of the competition takes place on the November 3, 2016 at the large lecture theatre of the faculty of Social Sciences, with a debate among the different faculties in the university to determine the winners.

    Tedder Hall and the Faculty of Social Sciences won the 2015 edition of the competition.

    Important figures in the university and students union, including the President, Ojo Oluwanifemi, attend the event.

  • UI students protest over lack of power, water

    Students of the University of Ibadan (UI), yesterday morning staged a peaceful protest to express their displeasure over poor infrastructural facilities and epileptic power supply which have been plaguing the university community for some time now.

    The students, who were seen chanting songs and carrying placards with the inscription ‘no light, no water,’ barricaded the gate leading to the university around 11:05am, while motorists made attempts either trying to park or make u-turns to avoid falling victims to the angry demonstrators.

    The protest resulted into a major gridlock in all the major roads leading to the institution.

    The premier university has been suffering from epileptic power supply in recent times. This has resulted to lack of water in hostels and other parts of the community.

    Thousands of students who participated in yesterday’s demonstration ensured that all activities in the school were paralysed.

    They accused the school authorities of ignoring the problems in spite of the several efforts made to call its attention to the situation.

    President of the Students’ Union, Mr. Olateju Oladimeji, lamented that the union had written the authorities over the problem but that there had been no positive response.

    He said: “We have been living on the campus without electricity and water for the past three weeks. Sanitary situation on the campus is currently at its lowest and we notified the school authority, but it refused to take any action. The management is insensitive to our plight.”

  • UI students protest colleague’s death

    UI students protest colleague’s death

    The University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State,  was yesterday paralysed by a massive students’ protest over the death of their colleague.

    Mayowa Alaran was a 200-Level student in the Department of Human Kinetics Education.

    He reportedly died due to the “negligence” of the university’s health centre management.

    At 8am, the university’s four gates  were locked as the students moved around, disrupting lectures.

    According to them, Alaran was asthmatic and was watching the European Champions League match in Independence Hall on Tuesday night, when he fainted.

    It was gathered that calls were made to the University Ambulance Service to pick him but there was no response.

    He was taken to the health centre, Jaja Clinic, a few metres to Kuti Hall.

    The Students Union President, Odesola Olufemi, alleged that rather than start  treatment, the health centre workers asked for Alaran’s health centre card.

    This, he said, caused the student’s death.

    Odesola said the students want better welfare and proper emergency service from the authorities.

    He added that the “management’s irresponsibility” had been  affecting them.

    His words: “Because of the inadequacies of the clinic and the workers’ slowness in acceding to emergencies, Alaran died.

    “Now we are demanding for a total revamping of health emergencies in Jaja and for other amenities, such as water, electricity.

    “We are tired of the management’s irresponsibility and we shall use this struggle to fight for our rights.

    “We have been speaking to the management over time on this issue and nothing was done, but now we are tired.

    “We lost a colleague and friend and the university management should be held responsible for his death.”

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adewole, addressed the students at Jaja Clinic.

    He set up a five-man committee to harmonise their demands and assured them that the university would investigate the matter.

    But the angry students were not convinced; they blocked major roads on the campus.

    Those who had businesses to do on the campus climbed fences and trekked.

    During the protest, a correspondent of the New Telegraph, Sola Adeyemo, was assaulted.

    It was learnt that the reporter attempted to take the photograph of a university official, who was addressing the students, when his phone was seized.

    Despite identifying himself as a reporter, the students  “roughened him up”, insisting that he delete the pictures he took.

    He said: “An elderly policeman asked for my mission and I told him I am a reporter. But while I was explaining, the students started beating me, hitting me on my head.

    “One was pulling my shirt from behind, another my trousers till the belt snapped and the trousers came down.

    “A younger policeman insisted on collecting my phone and I handed it over to him.

    “He had the tag Oladepo Ebenezer on his uniform. I released the phone to him, believing that it was safer with him than with the students.

    “The elderly policeman tried to whisk me away from the place but the students will not let him.

    “Eventually, two of the students took me away to a safe place.

    “When I made an official compliant, I was directed to the security post. The guards followed me back to retrieve my phone.

    “On meeting the policeman, he told us that the students had collected the phone from him.”

    The Registrar, Olujimi Olukoya, described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the Vice-Chancellor had addressed the students.

    “The issue of student going outside the campus to block the main road is uncalled for and I find it hard to believe that these are the same students the VC addressed,” Olukaya said.

  • UI students win debate

    Trenchard Hall at the University of Ibadan was filled to capacity last Saturday as students from the University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and University of Lagos (UNILAG) gathered to witness a debate between the three institutions. The debate, which was tagged: Clash of the Sages V, was between Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall in UI, Awolowo Hall, OAU and Mariere Hall, UNILAG.

    The event, which was organised by the Literary and Debating Society of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, was held in honour of Prof Francis Suleiman Idachaba, former Vice-Chancellor of Kogi State University, Anyigba. The topic for the debate was Secession: Panacea to Nigeria’s socio-political quagmire.

    Representing Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall (UI) at the debate were Usang Enang, a 400-Level English and Literary Studies, and Adedayo Adegeye, 400-Level Biochemistry. Mariere Hall (UNILAG) was represented by Oluwatosin Adewole, 200-Level Philosophy, and Oludare Amusan. Awolowo Hall (OAU) was represented by the duo of Taiwo Ogunleye, 200-Level Law, and Tope Akinyode, 400-Level Law.

    The Nnamdi Azikiwe debaters were against the motion while their counterparts in Awolowo Hall and Mariere Hall supported the motion.

    At the end of the debate, Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall garnered 132 points to win the contest. Awolowo Hall came second with 122 points while Mariere Hall came third with 106 points.

    Prof Idachaba, who was represented by his son, Barrister Unekuojo Idachaba, appreciated the students for the honour, while praising the debaters for their wisdom and intellectualism.

    Oluwatosin, in an interview with CAMPUSLIFE, said: “The debate was fantastic and electrifying but I could predict the outcome of it from the beginning. I really felt shortchanged. Without being biased, Mariere Hall deserved the first position.”

    Taiwo, on his own part, said: “I don’t feel bad with the second position. I only feel bad that Mariere Hall didn’t come first because they had the best presentation.”

    Usang, who was the best speaker in the contest, said the outcome of the debate was neither sentimental nor biased.

    The event also featured “Aro” performance by Awolowo boys. A football match was also played by Azikiwe and Awolowo students. The encounter ended in 1-1 draw.