The Nigeria Education News team was live today at two major halls of residence in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife — Fajuyi Hostel and Samuel Ladoke Akintola (Akintola) Hostel — to engage students on their daily experiences and challenges within the university’s hostel system.
At Fajuyi Hostel, popularly known as one of the largest male hostels on campus, students expressed deep dissatisfaction over the lack of running water. Despite the hostel’s size and number of occupants, residents claimed they often have to roam around the hostel compound and even beyond in search of water for basic needs such as bathing, cooking, and laundry.
One student, who identified himself simply as Michael, said, “We wake up very early just to fetch water. Sometimes you will see queues by tanks and still end up without any water. It’s stressful.” The hostel has multiple blocks and floors, but only a few functioning water storage tanks scattered unevenly around the compound.
Another student who resides in House 3 of the hostel noted that the tanks are not only few but are poorly maintained. “There are tanks, but they are either dry or far away from our block. You’ll see students trekking long distances with buckets every day,” he lamented.
Over at Samuel Ladoke Akintola Hall — a major female hostel on campus — the situation appears just as troubling. Students complained not only about the water scarcity but also about the absence of designated washing areas, leaving them no choice but to do their laundry in the open compound.
A 200-level student in the Department of Linguistics told our reporters, “There is no washing area here. We wash our clothes on the hostel ground and spread them there too. If you’re not careful, your clothes may be stolen before they dry.” She added that security around personal belongings, especially laundry, remains a persistent concern for residents.
Others echoed similar sentiments. A final-year student in Akintola hostel added, “You can imagine the stress of having to look for water and still not have a place to wash. And then, you’re monitoring your clothes like a hawk until they dry. It’s draining.”
Aside from water and laundry issues, students in both hostels complained about inconsistent electricity, poor lighting in hostel corridors, and frequent power outages during study hours. “Even when we want to read at night, we sometimes have to use torchlight because the corridor lights won’t come on,” a student at Fajuyi Hostel told The Nigeria Education News.
Despite repeated complaints to the Student Affairs Division and the Hall Wardens, students said little or no action has been taken to address their concerns. “We have reported to our porters and even filled complaint forms, but the response is always slow or ignored,” said a 300-level student in Akintola hostel.
In reaction to the students’ complaints, a porter in one of the hostels, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the management is aware of the issues and some repairs are already being scheduled. “The water supply has been a long-standing issue. We’ve informed you of the necessary units. Hopefully, they will attend to it soon,” she said.
Students, however, are demanding urgent intervention. They are calling on the university management, particularly the Division of Student Affairs, to prioritize basic amenities in the hostels. Many believe that such neglect is not befitting of a university like OAU that prides itself as “Great Ife.”
As The Nigeria Education News continues its on-ground coverage of students’ welfare on campus, we will keep engaging both the students and university authorities to ensure these pressing issues are addressed with urgency and fairness.
