OAU Approves 50 Additional Shuttle Buses to Ease Campus Transportation Challenges

The Senate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has approved the re-deployment of 50 additional campus shuttle buses, popularly known as Town Gboro, in a move aimed at strengthening transportation services within the institution.

The decision was taken on Thursday, June 5, 2026, during the university Senate meeting as part of efforts to improve student welfare and enhance mobility across the expansive campus.

The newly approved buses will operate alongside 50 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and 30 electric tricycles recently donated to the university by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Operations are expected to commence on Monday, June 8, 2026, coinciding with the grand finale of activities marking the university’s 65th anniversary celebrations.

The development has been welcomed by students and members of the university community, who described it as a practical response to long-standing transportation concerns on campus.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, said the approval reflects the institution’s commitment to students’ welfare and its drive to provide an enabling environment for teaching, learning, and research. He noted that while the university continues to pursue major infrastructural and academic development projects, attention must also be given to issues affecting students’ daily experiences.

Members of Senate who spoke after the meeting described the approval as timely and strategic.

A Senate member stated that transportation has consistently been one of the key concerns raised by students during engagements with management, adding that the decision demonstrates responsiveness to student needs.

“The Senate carefully considered the situation and agreed that improving transportation is essential to students’ academic success and overall campus experience. This decision demonstrates that the university is listening and responding appropriately,” the member said.

Another Senate member described the move as evidence of participatory governance, noting that universities function effectively when communication channels between stakeholders remain open.

Students also reacted positively to the development. A student leader described the approval as proof that constructive engagement between students and management yields tangible results.

“Transportation has been one of the most recurring concerns among students. The approval to bring back 50 Town Gboro buses shows that students’ voices matter,” he said.

Another student noted that the expanded transport fleet is expected to reduce waiting time at bus stops, ease congestion, and improve punctuality for lectures and other academic activities.

Beyond immediate benefits, students and stakeholders described the intervention as a reflection of improved relations between management and the university community, driven by dialogue and collaborative problem-solving.

The development comes as OAU marks 65 years of academic excellence, with the university increasingly positioning itself as an institution that combines heritage with practical solutions to contemporary challenges.

With the reintroduced buses set to return to campus routes, the institution signals a renewed focus on responsiveness and service delivery aimed at improving everyday student life.