Campus OLDIES

By DOYIN ADEOYE
Initially known as the University of Ife, the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), was established in 1962, with a little over 200 students as its founding students.

With its temporary site at the then University College of Ibadan, the institution started with five faculties, which included the Faculty of Agriculture, Arts, Social Science, Law and Science, while teaching at the university started with a total teaching, administrative and technical staff strength of about 80.

The first students’ hostel at the home campus, the Adekunle Fajuyi Hall, was named after the then military Governor of Western State, Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, after he died in 1966, as he contributed immensely to the development of the school. And by 1967, most of the faculties had moved to the permanent site in Ile-Ife.

Professor Oladele Ajose was the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the institution and he also had a lecture hall, the Ajose Hall, named after him.

The slang ‘Great Ife’, as synonymous with the institution, first emerged at a football match on the grounds of the University of Ibadan during the 1965 West African University, Games (WAUG), where just five universities participated.

Vibrant socially, ideologically and in all other facets of academics, the University of Ife, hosted the third Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) Games in 1970 and also in 1984.

The institution’s name was changed to the Obafemi Awolowo University in May 1987, in honour of the vibrant educationist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Obafemi Awolowo hall was built in 1970, as a temporary female hostel.

The Ife University Teaching Hospitals Complex, now Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, was established in 1967, to cater for the health of the people of the state, but by 1972, the Faculty of Health Science of the institution was created.

Most prominent of the founding social clubs at the institution then was the Kegites’ Club.