Tension is mounting at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, as the delay in the issuance of student identity cards has escalated into a full-blown campus standoff. What began as a quiet demand for an essential document has now stirred widespread unrest, with student leaders threatening a campus-wide shutdown if the issue remains unresolved.
On Saturday, 24th May 2025, the Central Executive Council of the OAU Students’ Union issued an open letter to the university management, criticizing what they described as repeated failures to fulfill promises regarding the production of student ID cards. The letter outlined how the delay has negatively affected students, from being unable to access scholarships to facing routine harassment and missing job opportunities.
“The ID card is our basic identification as students. Without it, we cannot complete scholarship applications, apply for jobs, or even identify ourselves during campus security checks,” the statement read. “Now, NYSC registration for graduating students is also being jeopardized.”
The mounting frustration culminated in a protest on the evening of the same day. In a follow-up move on Sunday, 25th May 2025, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) convened an emergency plenary session where a motion titled “NO CLASSES TOMORROW” was debated and passed. Hon. Corlins from the Faculty of Agriculture moved the motion, seconded by Hon. Romeo from the Faculty of Law. They instructed all SRC members to convene at Campus Road 1 by 7:00 am the next morning for a sit-in protest.
The SRC warned that any council member absent at the meeting would risk losing their seat, signaling the gravity of the decision. Sources within the Union disclosed that this is the first time in over a decade that such a motion has passed without opposition.
In a swift response, the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) issued a press release at exactly 5:16 a.m. on Monday, 26th May 2025. Signed by the Dean of DSA, Professor J. A. Odedire, and published on the University’s official Twitter handle, @OAUniversity, the release acknowledged the students’ concerns and attributed the delay to logistical complications linked to the embedded smart features in the new ID cards.
“The unintended delay, which is attributable to the logistics of the incorporation of the smart features embedded in the ID card, has been addressed by the company charged with production,” the statement read. “The University authorities are prioritising the delivery of the first batch of the ID card by Wednesday, 28th May 2025.”
According to the DSA, the smart ID card project includes high-level security and digital wallet capabilities, a process that required significant backend infrastructure and collaboration with an external production company. The Dean assured students that the matter had received the highest level of administrative attention.
“The University administration will do all within its power to ensure that students’ rights are not tampered with in any way,” Professor Odedire stated, reiterating the administration’s commitment to student welfare.
This controversy is not the first of its kind. In August 2024, during the 2022/2023 academic session, student press group ACJ OAU reported that the same ID card initiative had been delayed due to changes in card design and the planned integration of smart features. At the time, officials had promised prompt action, but the delivery never materialized.
Data obtained from internal sources indicate that over 28,000 students across various faculties are yet to receive their ID cards, despite the N3,000 fee attached to the item, which was included in tuition-related charges.
As of press time, no physical copies of the smart ID card have been issued to any student, and concerns remain over whether the promised 28th May 2025 delivery date will be met. Student leaders say they will not back down unless they see concrete results.
“We’ve been patient long enough,” said a member of the SRC who requested anonymity. “The ID card issue is symbolic of deeper issues around student welfare and accountability. If we must sit at the gates every day to be heard, we will.”
With examination timetables looming and NYSC registration deadlines fast approaching, the delay has become more than an inconvenience. For thousands of students, it is a roadblock to their future. Whether the university management can meet the new deadline remains to be seen.
