Members of the Great Ife Students’ Union staged a bold and coordinated demonstration this evening, marching through the university’s halls of residence to demand the immediate issuance of student identity cards ahead of the upcoming examination period. The protest, characterised by the rallying chant “No ID Card, No Examination,” stems from a long-standing grievance regarding the university’s failure to provide student ID cards, which are essential for student identity and have not been issued throughout the academic session.
Earlier in the day, the Great Ife Students’ Union released a public letter addressed to the university management, expressing deep frustration, disappointment, and a sense of urgency. Signed by the union’s President, Secretary General, and Public Relations Officer, the letter outlined that students have been waiting since the beginning of the session, now in the ninth week of the second semester, for identity cards they paid for and promised.
The letter accused the university administration of negligence and insensitivity. Despite numerous meetings, formal letters, and follow-up discussions initiated by the Students’ Union, there has been no positive outcome. Instead, the process has been plagued by unfulfilled promises and indefinite delays.
According to the union, this lack of action has not only caused inconvenience to students but also endangered their safety and deprived them of valuable opportunities. Having no official means of identification, students are exposed to unpalatable situations like being harassed by the police and denied opportunities to apply for scholarships, jobs, or grants. Even recent graduates of this great institution of learning are not left out, as they are stuck in their preparation for NYSC without an official identity card from the school.
This evening’s protest was not merely symbolic; it was a strategic mobilisation. Union leaders, along with scores of students, visited various halls of residence—Awolowo, Angola, Fajuyi, Akintola and Moremi Halls, engaging students about the ID card issue and the Union’s position. With megaphones in hand, they reiterated their message: if student ID cards are not distributed to all students before examinations begin, then students will not sit for any exams.
They emphasised that this stance is not a threat but a call for dignity and accountability. The union clarified that the protest was not meant to disrupt academic progress but to assert students’ rights and challenge administrative inefficiency.
Many students have expressed their solidarity with the Union’s position. Iremide, a part three student from the Faculty of Education, stated, “Yes, the school should do something about it. I’ll be graduating next year, and the only ID card I have is the one I received when I was in my first year.”
Her sentiment reflects the widespread frustration among students who feel neglected in a system that expects them to meet all obligations without receiving basic services in return.