At the end of every taxing and tumultuous semester, students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) heave a sigh of relief and patiently await the next phase of result processing. However, prolonged delays in result release have taken an additional toll on students’ mental health. This recurring issue has raised serious concerns across different departments, highlighting major causes, consequences, mental health risks, and students’ criticisms.
Students have expressed frustration over the delay, noting that it deprives them of privileges and opportunities tied to scholarship initiatives, online training, and internship programs that depend on current academic performance. Many attribute these delays to administrative lapses within the university management.
Similar delays have been observed in previous semesters. According to Tomiwa, a part 3 student of the Department of Clinical Sciences, students in the College of Health Sciences typically access their in-course results within a few days, or at most a week, after examinations. This highlights the discrepancies in the university’s result-processing system and suggests that other departments could adopt similar practices to restore students’ trust.
The prevalence of this issue has resulted in worst-case scenarios, causing anxiety among students seeking local or international scholarships and creating confusion regarding prerequisite courses. Students who may have failed a prerequisite course often have no way of confirming their status, further delaying course registration.
Students’ Experiences
Favour, a part 3 student of the Faculty of Law, described how the combination of a large student population, limited lecturers, and lecturers handling multiple courses concurrently contributes to delays in result uploading. He suggested that faculties should admit only as many students as their resources allow and recommended hiring more diligent staff to ease the burden on existing lecturers.
Ibukunoluwa Soyelu, a part 3 student of Human and Dietetics, expressed that delays make it difficult to plan for subsequent semesters and can lead to stress and anxiety among students.
Oluwadamilare Opeyemi, a part 3 student of Civil Engineering, mentioned that he has been awaiting the release of one of last semester’s results, which is MEE 204, attributing the delay to administrative issues or late submission of scores. While he noted that the delay does not directly affect his academic expectations, it introduces uncertainty that hampers planning and focus.
Adediwura Aderayo, a student in the History Department, shared that delays in the uploading of results negatively affect her mental well-being. ‘It is hard to plan or stay motivated when there’s no clarity. I am constantly overthinking and stressing over something I cannot control. It has drained my motivation, because how do you keep pushing when you don’t even know where you stand?’
Terwase, a part 3 English student, lamented that his last result was only released a few days ago, while the semester is almost over. He stated that this delay is unsurprising, describing it as ‘OAU culture,’ which causes fatigue, tiredness, and a loss of zeal to study.
A part 3 student of Broadcast Journalism, who requested to stay anonymous, explained that result delays leave students feeling ‘always on the edge’ and sometimes ‘numb’ when others can apply for opportunities while her department holds theirs. Her pending courses include CMS 202 and CMS 204, adding to the stress and uncertainty she experiences.
A part 4 Mass Communication student reported pending results from her 300-level second semester. Although she is not overly concerned, she emphasised that the timely release of results would allow her to understand her academic standing and properly plan for her final year.
Causes of Result Delays
Several factors contribute to the delays. High lecturer workloads, where individual lecturers handle multiple courses concurrently, coupled with a limited number of lecturers relative to student enrollment, create bottlenecks in result processing. Late submission of exam scripts and administrative inefficiencies further exacerbate the problem. Terwase emphasised that the lack of effort by some lecturers contributes to the delays. At the same time, some students, including the anonymous Mass Communication student, are unsure of the exact causes but acknowledge the persistent problem.
Ripple Effects
The delays in result release have far-reaching consequences. Students frequently experience fatigue, loss of motivation, and anxiety due to the uncertainty surrounding their academic performance. Those seeking scholarships or registering for courses dependent on prerequisite results often face additional stress. International scholarship opportunities may be missed because of delayed GPA or CPGA verification.
Oluwadamilare Opeyemi, MEE 204, noted that although his academic expectations were not affected, the delay introduces uncertainty that impacts his planning. The part 3 student of Broadcast Journalism highlighted that being unable to apply for opportunities while others proceed adds mental strain, frustration, and feelings of being left behind.
Students’ Criticism and Suggestions
Students have criticised the system and suggested practical solutions. Many argue that faculties should admit only as many students as the available resources can accommodate. There is also a call for hiring additional diligent staff to reduce the lecturer workload. Students suggest that lecturers should mark exam scripts promptly, submit them to the appropriate administrative quarters, and approve them for uploading. Timely result release is seen as essential for restoring trust, motivation, and proper academic planning among students.
Both student accounts and scientific perspectives identify anxiety as a significant stressor in daily campus life, particularly in relation to persistent delays in result uploading. Improving and upgrading the university’s result-uploading system would not only safeguard students’ mental well-being but also enable them to pursue academic progression, scholarships, and other opportunities without unnecessary uncertainty.