by Ibrahim Taiwo, Usman
The 13th Assembly of the University of Ibadan Students’ Representative Council (UI’SRC) has held its first Ordinary Sitting today, Saturday, 25th of April, 2026 at the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Chamber, Kunle Adepeju Building.
A big agenda item of the sitting is the report on the state of the Union. The State of the Union Report as presented by the Students’ Union President, Mr Adeboye, was a five-page document consisting of 14 points on what the current Union executives have done since their inauguration on the 5th of February, 2026. These 14 points include the Academics, Fees and Special Interventions, Freshers’ Help Desk, Freshers’ Week, Interventions, NELFUND, Palliatives, Partnerships, School Fees, Security, Sports, Students’ Union Building (SUB), Town Hall Meeting, and Tribute.
On Freshers and Academics
The Freshers’ Week, which was tagged “The Grand Aura,” and held from Sunday, April 5th, 2026 to Saturday, April 11th, 2026. According to the report, the event includes several activities such as Mental Health Awareness Rally, Self-Project Orientation, Hall Oratory Competition, Presidential Essay Competition, Cultural Night, Health Day, Theatre Night, Sports Day, Pageantry and the first-ever Freshers’ Dinner Night.
Also, a Freshers’ help desk was set up on the 10th of February, 2026 to assist new students through volunteers with accommodation, course registration, medical screening and general onboarding.
Regarding academics, the report reported that interventions have been made to improve the students’ academic welfare such as through tutorials for students, especially 100 and 200 level students, the launch of Opportunity Desk, the orientation webinar tagged “Train the Trainers”, the Academic Summit, the creation of the Directorate of Academic Affairs, and constant engagement with the GST Directorate for better coordination.
On Town Hall and Interventions
Going further, regarding the town hall meeting, the report had stated that student-inclusive forums were held with representatives from departments, faculties, and halls to provide updates, receive feedback and improve governance.
Furthermore, another aspect of the State of the Union Report was titled “Interventions” where the Union presented areas in which they have been able to intervene. These areas include: transportation as they have been able to prevent fare increase despite fuel hike; garage development with the installation of floodlights for safety; accommodation logistics in managing the relocation of students from Queen Elizabeth Hall to Idia Hall.
Also, another aspect of the report was titled “Fees & Special Interventions” whereby the Union reported that they have intervened to ensure that there is no increase in accommodation and school fees, addressed power outages in Mellanby and Tedder Halls, supported solar installation at Alexander Brown Hall and assisted pharmacy students with portal issues.
In addition to the issue of power outage at Mellanby Hall, the Students’ Union President, Deboye responded to a question pointing out that the Union has been silent on the issue of power outage in Mellanby Hall. He responded that “it cannot be concluded that the Union has been silent on that, because it is the Hall Chairperson of Mellanby Hall that has not been responsible to the students”.
On the SU building, and School fees
Additionally, on the aspect of the Students’ Union Building (SUB), the report added that the Union has been able to engage with tenants in the SUB in order to ensure better services for the students. Also, according to the report, the Union had replaced the water pumping machine of SUB and had planned to renovate the roofing, drainage, reading room and game centre of the SUB. In addition, Deboye said the Union is communicating with the VC regarding the SUB to be renovated and maintained to represent the culture it is meant to.
On the aspect of school fees, the Union executives said they have been able to ensure that there is no increase in fees and advocated for the payment deadline to be extended from 16th of April to 30th of April, 2026 and still discussion is still ongoing with the VC to still extend it to the 5th or 10th of May, 2026 before the commencement of the GES examinations and in a way that it wouldn’t affect the academic calendar. Also, the report had reported that there is ongoing advocacy for the ₦20,000 late fee penalty.
On NELFUND and Pallatives
On NELFUND, while noting that neither the Union nor the school management has influenced the structure and operations of NELFUND, the Students Union, Deboye highlighted that in the past few days of Team Diligent Administration, they have been able to engage with Nigeria Education Loan Fund officials, create awareness on eligibility and application, protect applicants from deadline penalties and facilitate refund resolution.
For palliative, the report reported that the first phase of the disbursement was held on the 13th of April for only indigent students through a partnership with Flour Mills of Nigeria.
When asked how many students benefited from the palliatives and the free meal ticket and how they were able to secure funding for it, Deboye replied that 50 students benefited from the palliatives and it was financed by a family friend.
On Health, Sports and Partnerships
Moreover, in health, the Union reported that they have been able to advocate for an extension in working hours of professionals at Jaja Clinic for student registration. Also, the Union embarked on a “Clean My UI” sanitation campaign and conducted regular cafeteria inspections. Regarding the hygiene of halls, Deboye noted that the tank washing exercises are to be done once every semester. He also added that a letter has been sent to the VC to see to the renovations of toilets in the halls. According to him, work on the renovation of Halls’ toilets will commence before the end of the first semester and discussions are ongoing with the VC to seek financing.
Additionally, when asked about the effectiveness of the Union in ensuring the welfare of the Postgraduate students, most especially that the programme “Clean My UI” was not conducted in Postgraduate Halls, he replied that the programme is still ongoing and will get to the Postgraduate Halls.
On security, the Union reported that the Committee of Defence Ministers was created, regular campus patrols and improved night security were ensured and a garage floodlight project was done to ensure the safety of students on campus.
Regarding sports, the Union conducted an Inter-Hall Freshers’ Cup competition and also engaged with the Sports Council. Also, the ongoing 5th Edition of the Seals Cup is highlighted as part of the State of the Union Report.
On Partnership and other issues
On partnership, the Union notes that they have partnered with Mouka Foam to provide subsidised mattresses for students, especially during the resumption period. Also, there have been collaborations on student programs such as Leadership Summit, Research & Innovation Summit, Oratory & Essay Competitions and Health programs.
Regarding partnership, Honourables notes that the Union is not faring well in terms of funds as from the report it is obvious there are not enough funds to run the Union. It was recommended that the Union should not just seek a partnership, but also a financial partnership.
Finally, the State of the Union Report reported that the University of Ibadan students’ body mourned the passing of two students who are Akinmade Ifeoluwa Wisdom (an MBBS student from Zik Hall) and Abass Motunrayo (a Faculty of Science student from Idia Hall), according to the report.
Moreover, when asked what the Union is doing to mitigate the death of students on campus, Deboye responded that efforts have been ongoing and the Union will continue to conduct mental health awareness to address preventable student death. He noted that the Union will be represented at every Freshers’ Orientation of halls, faculties, etc. to address students regarding their mental health.
