Students of the Faculty of Education at Obafemi Awolowo University have expressed concern about the current state of the Faculty building. For decades, the Faculty of Education at OAU has been regarded as the “Mother of All,” with thousands of successful alumni spread across the globe. A mother she had been, but now?
The “Mother of All” has given birth to a generation of students adept at dodging broken bannisters and leaky restrooms, purging the faculty floors with their vetiver scents. In a faculty that prides itself on pedagogy, it is ironic that the most pressing lessons seem to be on “how to make do with limited resources.”
In a conversation with Oyindamola, a part four student of the faculty of education, she made her grievances known about the dilapidated structures of the Faculty building. She said, ‘Firstly, the Faculty of Education needs to stand its ground because other faculties don’t rate us at all. And probably change the paint and fix where there are loopholes. The broken bannister is a threat not only to the students but also to the lecturers. They should try and fix it and not wait until one of us is hurt.’
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Ire, a 200L Education student shared, ‘The faculty building doesn’t look good like other faculty. First, the water around the toilet shouldn’t be there. That makes it smelly and disorganised. Also, the paintings are faded, and the faculty looks old, unlike others.’
The library, a conducive and comfortable abode for learners, is slowly turning into a luxurious spa, complete with sneaky, leaky faucets. Mother has lost her glow, her hands can no longer hold; It has broken in places. How will she have us in a warm embrace if her hand can no longer stand strong?
In addition, lost louvres, leaking restrooms, broken bannisters, and sinkholes have reshaped the identity of this faculty. The deteriorating state of this faculty might, in the long run, reduce her reputation or lead to decreased student satisfaction if not checked.
In an interview with the faculty’s President, Adelakun Damilola, he noted, ‘The truth is that we are planning to do all these with the management, but finance is impeding us greatly. About the toilet leakage, the ESAN executives are even writing to philanthropists to help with the renovation.’
‘Also, about the painting, it is a concluded deal already, and possibly the work will commence this week. We are trying to make necessary adjustments to the dilapidated segment before we paint the building. A temporary solution will be done on the toilets before the permanent one. Trust us, your welfare and esteem are our utmost concerns.’
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A student, Olubunmi, added, ‘Honestly, I think the general state of the Faculty of Education could be way better. The building needs renovation; it should be repainted and made more vibrant. We also need more seats and tables for students to sit, read, or just hang around comfortably. Right now, the environment doesn’t invite students to stay. A lot of people would rather be in the Faculty of Administration because the atmosphere there just feels better.’
Furthermore, Olubunmi stated, ‘But to be fair, I think the executives in the Faculty of Education are doing a great job with the little they have. You can tell they’re trying. Still, there’s so much more that can be done. One thing I feel would help is organising more student-focused events that help us get to know the executives better and feel more connected to the faculty. Even if many students don’t show up, I believe the few who do will gain something. More fun, more engagement, and more people proudly repping EDUCATION. You know the vibe.’
She noted that if the faculty’s former glory is to be restored, then the space itself should inspire learning and belonging. Faculty of Education should be leading by example, as it is not a small feat to be the Mother of all Faculties. She mentioned that the broken bannisters on the second floor of the faculty building are a big threat to students.
She said, ‘It’s honestly dangerous. Imagine if someone is in a rush or just not paying attention and leans on it; it could lead to a really bad accident. Things like that shouldn’t be ignored. We can’t be in an academic space worrying about basic safety. It’s not just about the look of the faculty anymore, it’s about protecting lives. That should be a top priority, not something we leave until something bad happens.’
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The president noted that the problems affecting the faculty are not merely physical, but are also affecting the very foundation of education. ‘It is time for stakeholders to restore the glory of this faculty’, she said.
‘The facelift of our faculty infrastructure is paramount to both the faculty management and ESAN executives. We are trying our best, but you know, funds are needed to do all of these. We trust God that our unseen efforts will be crowned and we will have tangible success to show for it soon.
‘About the topmost rear staircase, it has been something of an emergency, and many letters and reminders have been sent to the school Management on that and many other needs of the faculty, but no response so far.’ The President added.