Jeremiah Adinnu
“We find it difficult to read well at night. We struggle to charge our phones and devices to stay updated on academic activities. And this affects our performance. Most of my lecture notes are on my laptop and phone, so I can not read once all my devices are flat. Throughout the day, it was difficult to be productive.”
The above were the words of Favour Oluwapeju, an off-campus student at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko(AAUA), Ondo State, whose academic performance and productivity are hampered by incessant poor electricity supply.
Students like Oluwapeju solely depend on a constant power supply to power their gadgets, devices, equipment and machines for more productive campus life; however, the epileptic power supply is a twist of fate and a threat to their academic performance and small businesses.
According to a study on “Epileptic Power Supply And Its Impact On The Academic Performance Of University Students.” The lack of a constant electricity supply poses a challenge to students as it reduces productivity and impacts academic achievement.
Some other students of AAUA shared their constant frustrations that arise from the poor supply of electricity. Some students who live in off-campus areas like Permanent Site, Cele Street, Uncle Tunde Street, and the Medoline area expressed their frustration over the lack of a constant electricity supply for a prolonged time.
A 200-level student of Mass Communication, Praise Lauretta, complained about the poor state of electricity in Akungba, the host community of AAUA, lamenting that residents barely enjoy a stable electricity supply.
She said, “Most times, what we see is a very low current, so low that we can not even charge our phones or power basic appliances.”
Similarly, Adeojo Opeyemi, a 100-level student of the Faculty of Management Science, echoed the same concern. “It’s frustrating,” he said, “The current power supply is so poor that we cannot do anything meaningful with it.
Poor Electricity, Poor Businesses
Apart from the effects on academic performance, students who run businesses to support themselves in school narrated how the lack of a reliable power supply affects their businesses.
One of the AAUA student entrepreneurs, Oyindamola Oguntebo, a baker around Adefarati area, said, “My baking business heavily depends on electricity. My tools are electrical, like my mixer and chiller, both can not work without a power supply, which means I have to wait till there is light before I can use them. This delays my customers’ orders.
“I sell perishable products that need to be preserved, which do not work without a power supply. This often leads to spoilage of products and a decrease in profit.”
We’re pushing for urgent assessments of electrical infrastructure– AAUA Students’ Union
In an interview with the AAUA Students’ Union President, Comrade Salami Akeem (Ologbon), stated that he understood the frustration and difficulties students are experiencing due to the unreliable electricity supply on campus.
He said, “The Union has already initiated discussions with the university administration and facilities management team to highlight the severity of the problem. We are pushing for urgent assessments of the campus electrical infrastructure.”
The Way Forward
Some students urged the government to act quickly to resolve the issue. According to Favour, “The government and AAUA management’s quick intervention in providing stable electricity both on-campus and off-campus areas is very important to academic excellence. Success and productivity cannot be achieved without adequate infrastructure, such as a power supply.”
Another student, Ayoade Cephas, suggested that “The government should find a way to regulate the Distribution Companies and reduce the instability of electricity tariff on customers. That way, there will be relief among customers across the country.”
As far as Lauretta is concerned, investing in renewable energy sources will go a long way in addressing this problem as well as improve infrastructure, promote energy efficiency, and provide support for alternative power solutions like solar panels or generators.
“The government and private sector should collaborate, and create policies and initiatives that prioritise a stable electricity supply,” she said.
#Jeremiah Adinnu, fellow of Africa Foundation for Young Media Professional Campus journalism, ethics, safety, data-driven fellowship 2025 sent this in from Akungba Akoko.
