The ‘No Turning Back Tour’ event, which took place on campus on December 15, 2025, was an electrifying evening at Oduduwa Hall as Gospel artiste Gaise Baba brought his ‘No Turning Back Tour’ to the university, where students from the University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin, and University of Lagos, amongst others, benefited from his performance.
The show, originally scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m., was filled with much anticipation as the crowd waited for hours for the headliner to step onto the stage. By 7:02 p.m., the artiste had yet to make an appearance, but the spirit inside Oduduwa Hall never dwindled. DJ sessions playing various songs kept the students dancing and vibing, while Biyi Praise hosted an opening set to entertain the restless audience.
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‘I came to see Gaise Baba, but he is not here yet,’ said Ajayi Prosper, a 100-level Architecture student. Another student, Anjolaoluwa Taiwo from the Department of Educational Management, voiced her frustration: ‘I cannot wait because I stay off campus. I thought he would just come immediately.’ Reina, a Part 4 Law student, also left before the main headliner came on to perform.
Cheers erupted when Gaise Baba finally took to the stage, kicking off his performance with the Great Ife Anthem and the Great Ife chants, which sparked a sense of nostalgia and belonging among the students. He spoke about his time at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and revealed that he once stayed at Awo Annex, Block 4, Room 106.
‘In 200 level, I organised a show here, and it did not sell,’ he revealed. ‘But by 400L, in 2008, I organised a concert, and this place was packed.’ The crowd roared in excitement as he connected this story to his song ‘Gbagbe Oshi,’ revealing that he studied Economics and graduated with a second-class upper grade.
Gaise Baba’s show was a blend of live instrumentation, including drums and keyboard, and lyrical fusion. He was particularly energetic and engaged with the crowd. His performance of ‘Elijah Level’ filled the hall with energy despite the extreme heat and the massive turnout. Supporting acts like Tkeyz, who sang ‘Oluwatosin,’ thrilled the crowd, and a dance crew added colour to the night’s atmosphere.
He finished his thrilling performance by 8:20 p.m., prompting Noah Daniel, a 100-level Law student, to say, ‘I loved it.’ A female student added, ‘I came late, but it was a banger; I love Gaise Baba so much.’ Another 200-level Accounting student stated that his favourite part of the show was after the star’s performance: ‘Honestly, for me, it was the after-party. After Gaise Baba finished ministering, a dancer performed, and afterwards, there was a worship session. It was awesome.’
The event made sure the wait was worth it, offering OAU students a night of nostalgia and rhythm from an inspiration who used to be one of their own.