Light Inside UI: Does It Really Serve Students?

 

By Ojemakinde Bolatito Maria

At the University of Ibadan (UI), electricity supply has become increasingly unpredictable. Sometimes, power is available; at other times, students are left without it for extended periods. Even when electricity returns after an outage, it may only last briefly before another interruption. For students who depend on electricity for their academic and daily activities, this inconsistency is more than an inconvenience.

A Reluctant Shift from Stability to Scarcity

There was a time when power supply was reliable. Students could rest assured that electricity would be available upon returning from lectures to charge their academic devices and continue their learning.

Not anymore.

The inconsistency in power supply has left students uncertain about when electricity will be available, making it difficult to plan around a basic utility that should support their academic and daily activities.

This uncertainty raises a pressing question: what is really happening to the power supply at UI?

The Academic Toll

The effects of unreliable electricity extend beyond the inconvenience of having no light.

Since students rely heavily on electronic devices for lectures, assignments, research and other academic activities, prolonged power cuts can disrupt their routines and limit their ability to keep their devices charged.

Students may also have to seek alternative locations to charge their devices or find other ways to cope when electricity is unavailable. When access to power is uncertain, simple academic tasks can become unnecessarily difficult.

Beyond academics, the inconsistency can also affect students' daily routines and make it difficult to plan around a basic utility that should support campus life.

A Temporary Fix, Not a Permanent Solution

Some hostels have turned to alternative power sources, such as solar energy, to cushion the effects of unreliable electricity supply. While these interventions provide some relief, they should not become substitutes for a dependable campus electricity system.

Alternative power sources can help bridge the gap, but a chronic shortage of reliable electricity should not become the norm in an institution of learning.

It is time to look beyond temporary solutions and address the need for a more reliable electricity supply at UI. A conducive learning environment requires dependable basic utilities.

For students, reliable electricity is not a luxury. It is an essential part of creating an environment where learning, studying and everyday campus life can take place effectively.