By: Abdulrasheed Olokoto
The management of the University of Ibadan, on Thursday, February 5, 2026, inaugurated the elected student leaders of the University for the 2025/2026 academic session.
Held at Trenchard Hall UI, the inauguration ceremony saw an end to the administration of the Covenant Odedele-led Students’ Union Executive Committee.
Delivering his inaugural speech, the new UI’SU President, Deboye Temidayo, highlighted four concerns of the student community, which include the issues affecting a post graduate student, electricity inconsistencies, on-campus accommodation concerns and the challenges faced by the students living in off-campus communities.
Deboye noted that there is a postgraduate student who, according to him, has fulfilled all his academic requirements for graduation, but is yet to be formally cleared due what he described as some administrative challenges, urging the Professor Kayode Adebowale-led UI management to address his concern.
Electricity Issues
On the electricity inconsistencies, Deboye highlighted recurring challenges with the transformer serving the students in the Ring Road 5 halls of residence and the issues surrounding it.
“The transformer supplying this cluster of halls has become increasingly unreliable, often developing faults that result in prolonged power outages lasting several days,” Deboye said.
“Even after repairs are undertaken, the challenge frequently reoccurs, disrupting students’ academic work and daily living,” he added.
He further decried how the electricity issue has affected the University College Hospital (UCH), while acknowledging the existing infrastructure at the college.
“Given the demanding nature of medical training, which requires extended hours of study, clinical preparation, and access to stable electricity, these recurrent outages pose significant academic and welfare concerns,”
Accommodation Concerns
Deboye also mentioned the issues related to accommodation, stressing that the current hostel capacity does not meet the growing population of students, while calling for the federal government intervention.
“The growing student population has placed immense pressure on existing facilities, with direct consequences on students’ academic performance and mental wellbeing,” Deboye decried.
“I respectfully call on the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of the President of our dear nation, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to support the University of Ibadan in expanding its accommodation infrastructure,” he added.
Off-campus challenges
Deboye also highlighted issues affecting students residing within the off-campus communities, urging the Oyo State government to address their concerns.
“Students residing off-campus in areas such as Agbowo, Samonda, Barika, and their environs face significant challenges, particularly outrageous and unregulated agent fees, which expose students to financial exploitation and hardship.”
“We respectfully request government intervention through the regulation of agent fees by establishing a government-approved percentage to protect students from fraud and excessive charges.”
