Cynthia Ezegwu
The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has taken delivery of 21 brand-new shuttle buses donated by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as part of efforts to modernise the university’s transportation system.
The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the buses were received on Friday, October 10, 2025, one year after the First Lady made the pledge during a visit to the campus.
According to Olarewaju, the donation, which forms part of a total commitment of 50 buses, was met with excitement across the university community, as students and staff hailed it as a major step toward safer and more efficient mobility within the campus.
The First Lady, an alumna of OAU, had in October 2024 expressed concern over the widespread use of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okada, for intra-campus transport, describing it as unsafe and unbefitting of a modern institution. She then promised to donate shuttle buses to enhance safety and promote a more conducive learning environment.
Speaking during the handover, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, expressed profound gratitude to the First Lady, describing the donation as “a luminous act of benevolence that illuminates the path toward institutional excellence.”
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“This is not merely a gift of vehicles; it is a profound investment in the future of our scholars and the soul of our university,” Bamire said.
He added that the buses would help phase out unregulated motorcycles, establish dedicated routes connecting lecture halls, hostels, and administrative buildings, and reduce road congestion and accidents within the campus.
“These 21 shuttle buses, with 29 more expected, will revolutionise our internal mobility system,” the VC stated, urging other alumni to emulate Senator Tinubu’s gesture by supporting the institution’s development initiatives.