Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a prominent university located in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Established in 1962, it was initially known as the University of Ife before being renamed in honor of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a Nigerian nationalist and statesman. OAU is renowned for its academic excellence and has produced many notable alumni in various fields.
20. Oau is nicknamed “Oba Awon University,” which means “King of all Universities.
19. The current vice chancellor is Prof. Bamire Adebayo, a lecturer from the department of Agricultural Economics.
18. OAU is large as it is situated on 13,000 acres (53 km2) of land.
17. OAU guys are easily going and militant in their approach to activism
16. The OAU sports complex is now turned into a praying ground at night. Sports complex in the morning, praying ground at night.
15. OAU is one of the most religious campuses in Nigeria with over 50 fellowships
14. There is an accessible data plan that students can use for just #100 to browse all through the night whenever they are around the academic area.
13. OAU students make use of different slang to communicate.
12. OAU students believe that their school anthem is the most melodious compared to other universities.
11. The university was formerly known as the University of Ife and later renamed “Obafemi Awolowo University” on May 12, 1987, in honour of Obafemi Awolowo, the first premier of the Western Region of Nigeria and the visionary behind the university.
10. OAU is situated in the heart of Ife believed to be the cradle of all Yorubas with its motto also standing the institution out” for learning and culture, sport and struggle”.
9. In 1975, the University of Ife became a Federal University under a new military government. Tragically, in 1999, members of the Black Axe Confraternity perpetrated the Obafemi Awolowo University massacre, resulting in the death of student activists.
8. The central library, named Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library, is at the heart of the campus. It has a seating capacity of 2,500, providing Internet access to a vast collection that includes over 300,000 titles, 762,000 volumes, government publications, theses, and audio-visual materials. The library’s digitization efforts and the establishment of the e-library in July 2008 have enhanced accessibility for staff and students.
7. The Ile-Ife campus spans about 5,000 acres, with halls of residence that include Awolowo Hall, Angola Hall, Alumni Hall, Education Trust Fund (ETF) Hall, Adekunle Fajuyi Hall (FAJ), Ladoke Akintola Hall, Moremi Hall, Mozambique Hall (Moz), and Murtala Muhammed Post Graduate Hall. These halls accommodate both male and female students, with Murtala Muhammed Hall serving as a mixed hall for postgraduate students.
6. The academic area to the student hostels is trekkable making it easy and accessible without incurring extra cost.
5. OAU ife is rated as most beautiful Nigerian university campus
4. OAU has active student Unionism and activism
3. The first vice-chancellor of the OAU Ife was Professor Oladele Ajose (MD, PhD) a Glasgow University graduate and Nigeria’s first professor of public health recruited from the University of Ibadan and served from 1962 to 1966.
2. OAU Ife has a Computer Assembly Plant
1. Obafemi Awolowo University formerly known as the University of Ife, was founded in 1962 and the name was changed on the 12th of May 1987.
