OAU Students Protest Over Delayed ID Cards, Vow Not to Sit for Exams Without Proper Identification

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) have declared a protest over the prolonged delay in issuing identity cards, citing repeated negligence and empty assurances from the university management.

The students are demanding that the ID cards be issued promptly, stating that "no ID card, no examination" is their stance.

The protest has gained momentum across faculties, with student leaders expressing outrage over the university management's handling of the issue. The students claim that the absence of ID cards has exposed them to undue hardship, including police harassment and challenges in accessing scholarships, job opportunities, and NYSC mobilization.

The university's Division of Student Affairs has attributed the delay to logistics issues related to incorporating smart features in the new ID cards. The Dean, Prof. J.A. Odedire, has assured students that the first batch of ID cards will be ready for distribution by Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

Despite the university management's assurance, the Students' Representative Council (SRC) has reaffirmed its protest stance, resolving to suspend academic activities until the ID cards are delivered. The SRC has also called for mass sensitization and campus mobilization to raise awareness about the issue.