Oluremi Tinubu Redeems Promise to OAU, Delivers 21 Shuttle Buses

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has fulfilled her promise to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, with the delivery of 21 brand-new shuttle buses to the institution, marking the first phase of her earlier pledge to improve campus transportation.

The donation, which arrived on October 10, 2025, is part of a total commitment of 50 buses aimed at modernizing OAU’s internal transport system and eliminating the heavy reliance on commercial motorcycles (“okada”) within the campus.

Speaking during the official handover ceremony, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Bamire, commended the First Lady for what he described as a profound gesture of goodwill and commitment to education.

“These are not just vehicles; they represent a deep investment in the welfare of our students, the safety of our community, and the future of learning at OAU,” Bamire said, adding that the initiative will significantly improve movement within the university.

According to the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the buses will operate along designated routes linking academic areas, hostels, and administrative buildings to ease congestion and ensure the safety of students and staff.

The First Lady had made the initial pledge in 2024 during a university event, where she expressed concern about students relying on motorcycles for transportation across the vast campus.

She described the practice as unsafe and unbefitting of a leading institution like OAU.

Students and staff of the university have since hailed the gesture, describing it as timely and transformative. Videos circulating on social media showed excited students and campus drivers inspecting and test-running the buses.

The 21 buses represent the first batch of a 50-shuttle fleet, with the remaining 29 expected to arrive in due course. University authorities said arrangements were already underway to integrate the new buses into the school’s official transport network.

Prof. Bamire urged other well-meaning Nigerians, especially alumni, to emulate Mrs Tinubu’s philanthropic spirit in supporting the development of the nation’s educational institutions.