A quiet revolution is underway at Obafemi Awolowo University, driven by boldness, innovation, and a refusal to wait for opportunities. Today’s OAU students are not just scholars — they are entrepreneurs who balance academics with business, proudly displaying their products, in classrooms or across faculties.
Gone are the days when running a business on campus was seen as a distraction or a source of embarrassment. But today, OAU students demonstrate confidence, ingenuity, and tenacity when they walk into lecture rooms with goods in their hands. It’s a way of indicating they’re not waiting for others to give them opportunities; they’re making their own. Whether they’re delivering orders during lecture-free periods or while in their hostels or faculty basements, these students do it to build their brands, earn income or to gain real-world skills.
One of these students is Gift, a 300L student of Public Administration, who spoke with a correspondent of ACJOAU about the reason for her venturing into selling zobo (Hibiscus Tea), a locally produced natural beverage. Her reason was more than just economic.
‘I almost lost my life,’ she said. She continued, ‘I used to drink soft drinks excessively, which harmed my kidneys. That health scare altered everything for me.’ Following her recovery, Gift became more conscious about what she was consuming. She turned to natural drinks like zobo, which are high in antioxidants and provide numerous health benefits. But she did not stop there. Realising how many other students were inadvertently on the same path, she decided to turn her rehabilitation into a business and an advocacy.
She added, ‘I want people to consider zobo as a healthy option to soft drinks that are slowly damaging their system. Yes, I’m making money, but more importantly, I want people to live better and drink better.’ Gift enters lecture halls with her bottles of zobo confidently in her hand, not hesitant or afraid.
Another female student, Mary, a 300-level student, sells peppered ponmo during and after class. ‘I started ponmo last semester,’ she explained. ‘It isn’t a big business, but it helps me to support myself without always contacting home. I understand what it’s like to need N500 and not have it.’
She joins many other students who carry around snacks for sale, or craft and sell handmade shoes. They all strive for financial independence.
This openness to entrepreneurship defies old stereotypes that students should focus solely on academics. Instead, OAU students embrace this opportunity and no longer hide in shame.
Walking around campus with items in hand is more than just selling; it’s about taking charge of one’s future. It’s about demonstrating that ambition doesn’t stop just because you’re at school. It is about redefining success according to their terms.
Every OAU student who is hustling proudly, whether it’s shoes on their arms, food on their heads, or fashion on their backs, inspires others. At OAU, there is no shame in hustling. There is only pride in daring, and at OAU, that pride is present and thriving.