As part of the activities lined up for Freshers’ Week ’25, the Office of the Vice President of the Students’ Union at Obafemi Awolowo University held a symposium on Wednesday, November 12, to welcome and inspire newly admitted students. The event, themed ‘Within and Beyond the Lecture Hall: Building Skills for a Changing World,’ brought together prominent speakers, student entrepreneurs, and special guests in an atmosphere of learning and motivation.
The symposium officially kicked off with an opening remark delivered by the Vice President of the Students’ Union, Falade Iyanuoluwa. In her welcome address, Iyanuoluwa appreciated the Queen for her time and support and acknowledged the presence of all guests. She mentioned that the theme aims to emphasise how to excel in academics and beyond the lecture halls. She encouraged all students to pay attention, as vital knowledge would be shared at the symposium.
After the opening session, there were games and giveaways from D’black and King Kay, who were the MCs, before the reading of the citation of Her Majesty, Queen Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi of the Ife Kingdom. The Queen’s citation was read by Esther, the chairperson of Moremi Hostel. She stated that Queen Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi is a force to be reckoned with! She is a British-Nigerian fashion entrepreneur, lawyer, and the wife of Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the 51st Ooni of Ife. She is the founder of Africa Fashion Week London (2011) and Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (2015), showcasing African talent globally. She also promotes Adire textiles through her Adire Oodua Textile Training Hub, empowering women and youth. As an author and producer, she wrote MAN, Maltreated Abused & Neglected and produced Queen Moremi The Musical.
READ MORE: Freshers’ Week ’25: Students’ Union Hosts Interfaculty Debate
Following the reading of her inspiring achievements, Her Majesty gracefully took the stage. In her keynote speech, she encouraged students to build employable skills while in school, as this is just the beginning of the journey. Drawing from her experience as a studentpreneur, she advised the freshmen and other students on how to navigate their university years while managing entrepreneurial pursuits. ‘Identify your strength, look for opportunities that push you out of your comfort zone, and know what you enjoy doing most as money follows passion,’ she stated, emphasising that these strategies make things easier for a studentpreneur.
After her speech, several students raised questions. Notably, a female law student with a background in fashion asked how she could participate in the African Fashion Week Nigeria event happening in Lagos. In response, the Queen graciously offered her an internship opportunity and also mentioned that more students could apply for internships, as she is always willing to provide moral and financial support.
Shortly after her session, Dr Olagunju, a lecturer from the Department of Foreign Languages (German Unit) and CEO of The Language Place, took the stage. He enlightened students on the importance of being multilingual and how it opens doors to numerous opportunities, such as scholarships and job prospects. Drawing on his personal experience as a multilingual individual, he encouraged students to visit The Language Place, an establishment he set up to help students learn new languages.
The event was enlivened by Gdave’s performance, during which he encouraged the freshmen to keep calm and do well. ‘Welcome to Oba Awon University,’ he said. The Vice President then presented an award of gratitude to Her Majesty in appreciation of her presence and contribution to the success of the event. Afterwards, various brands, clubs, and organisations that sponsored the giveaways were introduced, including Wole Music, Cassie’s Delish, Ifex Brands, Jlensshots, Kings Cab, Toronto Unisex Salon, Game Hub, Leisure, Prite, Drug-Free Club, JCIN OAU, Seyisusu Fashion Hub, Youth Amplified Club, Plastic Wise, and VARSE.
The President of the Tax Club, OAU, also introduced the club to the freshmen, stating the importance of tax payment and policy development in Nigeria. She encouraged them to join the club as recruitment is ongoing, adding that the club is open to students in all fields and that internship benefits will also be available.
Panel Session
The panel session that followed featured notable speakers, including Damilola Mogaji (Programme Manager, Community Building, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Tech Circle), Daniel Victor (Industrialist, Youth Empowerment and Public Speaking, Real Estate and Wealth Building), Mr Segun Aremu (a dynamic and results-oriented professional with excellent leadership qualities and a proven track record in investment and relationship management), and Barrister Peniala E.A (Human Rights, Business and Commercial Law, Criminal Litigation, Family and Immigration Law).
Their citations were read before the commencement of the panel discussions. The session explored themes of personal development, innovation, and career growth—topics that remain relevant to today’s students. The host, Freda, who had a fantastic session with the speakers, also shared with the audience the importance of skill acquisition.
In his conversation with Freda, Mr Segun Aremu mentioned that courage is lacking among today’s youth. ‘We live in a complex, evolving world; the choice and power are in the hands of students,’ he said. He concluded his speech by encouraging students to acquire IT skills, as this can never be overrated. Damilola Mogaji, in his opinion, believed that unemployability is another problem in Africa.
He quoted, ‘Early is an advantage,’ while sharing his experience on the OAU campus. He encouraged the freshmen to get things done as soon as they can and to also prioritise their commitments. ‘You cannot really balance it all in the real world; just know who you are,” he added. ‘Start developing skills from year one,’ he concluded, offering free mentoring to students.
Vision and clarity of direction are very important for all students—this was the view of Mr Daniel Victor. Victor, who is a final-year student at Obafemi Awolowo University, expressed his opinion, mentioning that looking beyond the surface to build depth helps to groom a better future. He questioned why people chase “nuisance value,” which he described as value from afar. Gaining personal clarity on where one is headed and building for substance value is what drives him. ‘Be intentional about your own life; irrespective of the noise, if you build true substance, you will be recognised,’ Daniel Victor stated.
Barrister Peniala Akintujoye, a pastor and former Students’ Union President in OAU, claimed that he learned leadership while in school. He encouraged students to make use of all opportunities and to find a purpose, as this brings fulfilment. In his approach to striking a balance, he advised students to allocate time to the various important aspects of their lives. ‘Live a regimented life,’ he concluded. The panel session was wrapped up with a question-and-answer segment. Afterwards, awards were presented to the panellists.
Faculty of Arts Wins Interfaculty Debate
To mark the end of the symposium, awards for the inter-faculty debate held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, were presented. The Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Computing Sciences came third and fourth, respectively; the Faculty of Dentistry placed second, while the Faculty of Arts emerged as the winner of the competition.