Claim:
A viral post on X (formerly Twitter) by user @Jeff_Okhai claims that the Day 2 event on the OAU Students’ Union Freshers’ Week schedule is titled “Operation Catch Them Young.” This post, which includes a screenshot of the supposed schedule, has generated reactions online, with users expressing surprise and amusement at the phrase.
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About OAU Freshers’ Week
OAU Freshers’ Week is an annual event organised by the Great Ife Students’ Union to welcome newly admitted students into the Obafemi Awolowo University community. It serves as an orientation and celebration period designed to help freshers acclimate to campus life, understand the university’s traditions, and connect with student leaders and organisations.
The week typically features a variety of activities like symposiums, campus tours, debates, sports events, Thanksgiving services, and social gatherings. Each activity aims to promote unity, creativity, and academic awareness among students. Beyond the excitement, Freshers’ Week also educates new students about their rights and responsibilities.
ACJOAU Findings
To verify the claim, we checked the official communication from the Vice President of the Great Ife Students’ Union via their WhatsApp channel, where the authentic schedule for Freshers’ Week 2024/2025 Academic Session was posted.
According to this official announcement, the event for Day 2 (Tuesday, November 11, 2025) is titled ‘Interfaculty Debate,’ with the venue being 1K Seaters. There is no mention of ‘Operation Catch Them Young’ or any similar phrase on the verified posters released by the Students’ Union. The official design also maintains a consistent theme, colour scheme, and font style that differ from the altered image circulating on social media.
Further investigations revealed that the viral image had been edited, with the text for Day 2 replaced by the misleading phrase. This doctored image has been shared in several group chats, contributing to confusion about the actual event lineup.
ACJOAU contacted the Vice President of the Great Ife Students’ Union, Falade Iyanuoluwa, via phone call to verify the authenticity of the circulating graphics. In her response, she clarified that if the design did not originate from the Students’ Union, it should not be considered official. She also stated that she had not seen the graphics in question.
Verdict
The claim that ‘Operation Catch Them Young’ is listed as Day 2 of the OAU Freshers’ Week schedule is FALSE.