The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) 49th convocation, held for three consecutive days, brought about a significant improvement in the management of student transportation, especially for students living off campus. Unlike the previous years that were chaotic, rowdy, and marked for frequent theft, this year’s convocation really stood out for its level of order, safety, and coordination at the bus stop leading into campus, courtesy of the office of the university Welfare Officer, Osunleke Musab Okunola popularly known as Musab, and his team members.
Due to the influx of visitors, vendors, and celebrants, convocation periods on the OAU campus are typically characterised by overcrowding at bus stops. Over the years, students living off campus have struggled to board buses during these periods which eventually leads to stampeding, injuries, and rampant theft of valuables, particularly mobile phones. According to Musab, incidents during convocation periods often record the theft of no fewer than one hundred phones, as criminals take advantage of the disorder.
Speaking to our respondent at InFocus News Agency on what informed his decision to intervene, the Welfare Officer, Musab, explained that his actions were driven by recurring cases of theft and student injuries during previous convocations. He revealed that during the last convocation, he single-handedly controlled student movement at the gate as a member of the security committee, an effort that proved effective and led to the arrest of some thieves.
‘No less than a hundred phones are stolen during convocation periods, especially in the first 2 days,’ he disclosed.
Building on that experience, Musab stated that this year’s intervention was carried out in his official capacity as Welfare Officer, alongside members of the security committee. He noted that uncontrolled movement not only exposed students to theft and injuries but also left victims without clear channels to report such incidents.
The Intervention
On the planning process, Musab disclosed that he arrived at the bus stop as early as 7:00 a.m. to commence operations. Despite the large crowd, he was able to control them as he emphasised that effective crowd control required discipline and firmness. He explained that prior meetings were held with his team members before the convocation plan on how to effectively carry out their plans. Upon arrival at the bus stop, the town-gboro bus drivers were instructed to properly line up their vehicles, while students were organised into a single queue. Students were boarded in batches of 14 per bus, with deliberate spacing maintained between individuals. Thus, any student who attempted to close gaps in the queue was treated as a potential suspect, a measure aimed at discouraging theft.
When asked what primary safety risks he was trying to prevent, he mentioned that the primary safety risks targeted by the intervention were phone theft and physical injuries resulting from rushing and overcrowding. Musab confirmed that as early as 7:00 a.m. on the first day of the convocation, two cases of phone theft were reported, reinforcing the urgency of his presence.
However, following the introduction of the organised queuing system, no other theft cases were recorded throughout the convocation period. The only later report of a missing phone was eventually resolved through the bus owner, marking a significant improvement compared to previous years.
Initially, some students perceived the queuing system as stressful and slow. However, as the process continued, many students came to appreciate the orderliness and safety it provided. The Welfare Officer noted that several students reached out to him on WhatsApp to commend the initiative.
While a few students felt delayed, Musab emphasised that the system was based on fairness, stressing that students boarded buses according to how early they arrived rather than by pushing or bypassing others. He added that in more disciplined societies, rushing is unnecessary, and order naturally ensures efficiency.
The transportation organisation during the 49th Convocation represents a commendable achievement in student welfare and campus security. Through proactive leadership, discipline, and collaboration, the Welfare Officer and his team successfully minimised chaos and protected students from theft and injury.
The Welfare officer ended his interview with the respondent of Infocus News Agency by urging future Welfare Officers to sustain this legacy by remaining vigilant and prioritising student safety, especially during large-scale campus events.