As students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, brace for the commencement of the 2024/2025 semester examinations on Tuesday, July 1, tensions are rising on campus over unresolved identity card issues. Dozens of students have expressed frustration over their inability to collect their official student ID cards, which remain a mandatory requirement for accessing examination halls.
According to affected students, despite having registered online for their ID cards, their names were omitted from the distribution list, leaving them stranded. Many students reportedly queued for hours at the Student Affairs Division only to be turned back, told that their names were not available in the current batch for card issuance.
“I registered early, yet I still can’t find my name,” said Aisha, a 300-level student from the Faculty of Arts. “Now exams are tomorrow, and they’re saying we can’t write without our ID cards. This is unfair, especially when it’s not our fault.”
The school’s Student Affairs Division had earlier announced via internal circulars and WhatsApp platforms that registration for the new identity cards would close on Friday, June 27, 2025. However, some students claim that they were unaware of the deadline or encountered technical hitches during the registration process, including failed submissions and login errors.
“Not everyone had access to the circular in time,” said Emmanuel, a 200-level Engineering student. “I was trying to register on Thursday night and the portal kept crashing. I thought they would extend it, only to find out today that the link has closed. Now I’m stuck.”
With exams set to begin tomorrow, students are now appealing for urgent intervention. They are calling on the Student Affairs Division and university authorities to either reopen the registration portal briefly or issue temporary clearance for those who have proof of registration but are yet to receive their cards.
Some students have suggested that the administration should adopt a simpler and more efficient distribution process. “There should be a backup for emergencies like this,” said Tosin, a final-year student in the Department of Sociology. “Why should a technical issue stop a student from writing an exam they’ve prepared for all semester?”
However, the Student Affairs Division has maintained its stance that the deadline was communicated ahead of time and that all students were given ample opportunity to comply. A staff member, speaking anonymously, noted that “exceptions cannot be made for everyone at the last minute” and encouraged affected students to write a formal appeal for special consideration.
The situation has sparked mixed reactions across student groups. While some believe the school should enforce its deadline for orderliness, others argue that flexibility is necessary, especially when the academic futures of students are at stake.
As the clock ticks toward the first exam papers on Tuesday morning, the pressure on both students and the administration continues to mount. Whether a last-minute resolution will be reached remains uncertain, but for many students caught in the middle, the anxiety is real, and the stakes are high.
