ILE-IFE – The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has officially expressed its profound appreciation to the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, following the successful delivery and deployment of 50 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and 30 tricycles to the institution.
In a statement released on Monday by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, the management described the gesture as a “classic demonstration” of the First Lady’s unwavering commitment to the welfare and mobility of the student body.
A Commitment Fulfilled
The donation marks the completion of a pledge made by Senator Tinubu, an alumna of the university, to modernize the institution’s internal transportation system. The initiative was born out of her observation during a visit in late 2024, where she expressed concern over the heavy reliance on commercial motorcycles (Okada), describing it as “unbefitting of a 21st-century world-class African university.”
The newly inducted fleet, which includes eco-friendly CNG-powered vehicles and solar-powered tricycles, is expected to drastically reduce the transportation deficit that has long plagued the sprawling campus.
Royal Facilitation and Operational Adjustments
The university also extended high praise to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. The frontline monarch was credited with playing a “pivotal role” in facilitating the logistics and delivery of the vehicles. The management noted that the Ooni’s continued support for educational development remains a cornerstone of the university’s recent advancements.
However, as the new fleet begins full integration into the campus ecosystem, the university has appealed to students and staff for patience.
“As with any new system, this initiative is still a work in progress. Necessary adjustments, route optimization, scheduling improvements, and operational enhancements are actively being undertaken to ensure efficiency, safety, and maximum benefit for all users,” the statement read.
Impact on Student Welfare
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, had previously noted that the intervention would not only ease movement but also enhance the security and safety of students by providing regulated, structured alternatives to unregulated transport.
The OAU Students’ Union has similarly welcomed the development, noting that the introduction of 80 new units will significantly reduce waiting times at various campus bus stops and lower the cost of commuting within the university gates.
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The university management assured the community that all operational concerns raised by the students during this transition period are being carefully reviewed to ensure a seamless and sustainable transport service.