Beyond Aesthetics: Addressing Infrastructure Challenges at Obafemi Awolowo University

Upon arriving at the BOO B lecture theatre for my Metaphysics class, a lively hum drew my attention to the neighbouring BOO C lecture theatre. Peering through the doors, I was met with the sight of struggling students packed up like sardines inside the hall. The hall, originally designed to accommodate a modest number of students – at most 350, was overflowing with eager first-year students – roughly about 600 without exaggeration, from four faculties—Technology, Science, Agriculture, and Environmental Design and Management (EDM) whose initial happiness and enthusiasm for university life was visibly dimmed, suffocated by the stifling reality of an overcrowded, oppressive environment.

Inside, the atmosphere can be described as draining and suffocating and as such, unbearable. Many students were forced to stand, while others squatted on the floor in desperation as a result of scanty chairs while making an effort to grasp what the lecturer was teaching. The Air Conditioning (AC) units in the hall, though present, were grossly overpowered by the boiling heat, leaving the room stiflingly hot and uncomfortable. The environment was not only physically draining but also mentally taxing, making it difficult for students to focus or retain information as they should. Learning here wasn’t just a challenge; it was a battle—one fought with sweat, patience, and dwindling hope.

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Curious to understand their experiences, I spoke with several students. Michael, a Mechanical Engineering student, shared his disillusionment:
“I had high hopes for this university. I imagined a stimulating environment, not this oppressive heat on my first day. It’s tough to grasp what the lecturer is saying when you can barely breathe.” His words reflected the sentiments of many who shared his plight.

Oyindamola, an Agricultural Engineering student, expressed similar frustration:
“The administration should have planned better, knowing the number of students registered. This isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s unfair. I arrived barely five minutes late, only to find the hall was packed up. I’ve been standing for 45 minutes, trying to follow the lecture, but I can’t lie, it’s exhausting.”

These accounts highlight deeper concerns about the university’s preparedness to accommodate its growing student population. While Obafemi Awolowo University prides itself on being “Africa’s Most Beautiful Campus,” with iconic landmarks such as the Spider Building, Oduduwa Hall, and the Ajose Lecture Theatre, the beauty of the campus is overshadowed by infrastructural deficiencies and lack of proper maintenance that directly impact the academic experience. Classrooms and the provision of basic infrastructure such as toilets, which are fundamental to effective learning, are jettisoned in place of superficial aesthetics.

The disparity between the university’s reputation and the reality faced by students raises critical questions: Are resources being allocated where they are mostly needed? Is the administration attuned to the needs of the entirety of Great Ife students? The answers lie in addressing these glaring issues. Providing adequate classroom space, improving ventilation, and ensuring that facilities align with the university’s growing population are not just improvements—they are fundamentally important necessities.

The unfortunate collapse of the Amphitheatre some months back, which tragically injured innocent students who attended a lecture on an unfortunate rainy Monday morning, serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting the needful and taking steps when the unfathomable nearly occurs. It underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to prevent future tragedies and ensure the safety and well-being of Great Ife students.

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In recent times, one of the pressing issues on campus has been the deplorable state of conveniences across departments, faculties, and hostels. For students who are pressed—whether minor or major—the struggle to find clean and adequately equipped restrooms is nothing short of distressing. Many conveniences are in a state so appalling that they defy description. Broken flushing mechanisms are the norm, and even when these are functional, the persistent lack of water renders them almost useless. This has led to an unsettling habit among some students: leaving unflushed waste in the closets, further compounding the mess and making the experience both irritating and unhygienic. 

Conversely, the appalling state of classrooms, particularly those in the Humanities block, is also a focal point that deserves emphasis. These classrooms, integral to learning, lack basic facilities essential for effective learning. The scarcity of seating chairs, functional fans, and teaching tools such as whiteboard markers creates an environment far from conducive to education. HB Room 403, for instance, exemplifies the point I have been making. Securing a decent seat there often feels like a battle, and the general condition of the room is nothing to write home about. 

Whenever I attend a lecture in that room, one question lingers in my mind: “Is OAU truly Africa’s Most Beautiful Campus?” It’s hard to reconcile the prestigious moniker with the reality of classrooms that seem frozen in time, their outdated and neglected state undermining the university’s reputation. Ironically, the state of these facilities paints a picture that starkly contrasts with the lofty standards expected of an institution so proudly labelled “Oba Awon University”. One cannot help but wonder how long this crisis of outmoded infrastructures will persist before meaningful action is taken by the appropriate authority.

Beyond classrooms, the broader Great Ife student community has long called for essential amenities such as reliable electricity, constant water supply in hostels, and functional conveniences across departments and faculties. These are some of the true and fundamental metrics that contribute to a university’s excellence aside from academics and research—not merely its external beauty but the quality of its content and the friendly environment which provides an ambience which makes learning easier.

On this note, it is with profound respect that I urge the university’s management to reevaluate its priorities and give lasting attention to pressing demands. While the preservation of the campus’s aesthetic appeal is commendable, it must not come at the expense of looking away from pivotal needs that beg attention. Besides, what is beauty without substance? An institution’s greatness lies in its ability to balance form with function and aesthetics with purpose.

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This essay, as said, is not an inflammatory critique but rather a heartfelt appeal—a call to action. The Great Ife student body collectively urges the management to prioritize the urgent refurbishment of restrooms, alongside the modernization of outdated classrooms, particularly those in the humanities. These requirements are not trivial inconveniences; they are fundamental to the health, dignity, and academic productivity of Great Ife students. Greatness isn’t found in empty titles but in the fulfilled dreams of those it serves. Obafemi Awolowo University can still live up to its name—not only as a facade of beauty but as a bastion of true excellence.

The time to act is now. Hence, the management should strive earnestly to see the pressing issues highlighted so that it can reaffirm its commitment to make life comfortable and soothing for students and uphold the university’s legacy as a bastion of academic excellence. Let us not settle for a facade of greatness while ignoring the foundational elements that truly define it. The needs of the students—the heart of the institution— are fundamentally important and should come first.