Why OAU declined venue for Peter Obi lecture

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has explained its decision to deny approval for a lecture featuring Peter Obi, citing late notification by the organisers.

In a statement issued by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the university said it was not given sufficient details about the event and its guest until just a day before the scheduled date.

According to the management, visits by high-profile personalities require adequate planning, including security coordination with agencies like the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services.

It noted that the short notice made it impossible to complete necessary logistical and security arrangements, leading to the refusal to approve the use of Oduduwa Hall for the event.

The university stressed that the decision was based solely on safety and protocol considerations and was not a reflection of Obi’s status, whom it said is held in high regard.

Earlier, Obi had raised concerns over what he described as a growing pattern of cancelled engagements at Nigerian universities, revealing that similar incidents had occurred more than 10 times.

He warned that the trend could signal a threat to intellectual freedom within the country’s higher institutions.