FUOYE Students Blame Decades-Long Electricity Crisis for Poor Academic Performance

Students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) have raised concerns over what they describe as a long-standing electricity crisis, blaming the situation for declining academic performance and increased hardship on campus.

According to a recent survey carried out by CAMPUS REPORTER, more than nine out of ten students struggle to study effectively,  particularly during examination periods due to unstable power supply. Many noted that the situation has persisted for years without a lasting solution.

The survey conducted among FUOYE students found that 90.8 percent of respondents experience electricity outages that frequently disrupt their studies. Data gathered through questionnaires and Google Forms responses indicates that the most affected academic activities include charging devices needed for schoolwork (60.9 percent), online research and virtual classes (16.1 percent), and night reading (18.4 percent).

The findings highlight how unreliable electricity supply continues to affect learning in Nigerian tertiary institutions, where students increasingly depend on digital devices and internet access for academic work. 

Of the total respondents,  75.9% of surveyed students use rechargeable lamps or power banks, while others use generators, relocate to areas with electricity, or pause studying. The students added that the situation has increased their daily expenses, as they pay between ₦100 to charge a phone and ₦300 to charge a power bank at commercial charging outlets in the community.

Female students interviewed for the report said the situation creates additional challenges because they often spend long hours outside their residences monitoring their devices while charging.

Ademola Mary, a 400-level philosophy student, said the electricity problem forced her to charge her phone in public spaces where it was eventually stolen twice.

“Being in school without a phone is like not being alive at all. I lost my phone a week before exams, and it was very difficult because we mostly read with our phones through PDFs and online research,” she said.

Another student, Adeyemi Daniel, a 400-level English Language Education student, said unreliable electricity reduces study efficiency. “Unstable electricity often prevents me from studying, as my course materials and PDFs are on my phone.”

Similarly, Olugbenga David Dada, a lecturer in the Psychology Department at FUOYE, said irregular power supply disrupts teaching preparation and administrative work. “It has really affected my performance as a lecturer because most of the time I struggle to charge my laptop and print documents,” he said.

Meanwhile, FUOYE Students’ Union Government (SUG) has repeatedly protested but recorded no success. Speaking with CAMPUS REPORTER, SUG President Adio James, said a recent protest in Ado-Ekiti led to promises of improvement that lasted only a week before the situation returned worse.

“My cabinet and I organised a peaceful protest in Ado Ekiti regarding the unstable electricity, and they assured us there would be changes. The changes lasted just one week,” he said. “We are still utilising every effort available to us, and we are in a private discussion with the management,” he added.

Energy sector data suggests the problem extends beyond the university community. The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), which supplies electricity to Ekiti State, operates under a five-year Performance Improvement Plan approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, covering 2021 to 2026.

Energy data indicates that Ekiti State requires about 120 megawatts of electricity but currently receives only about 20 to 25 megawatts, contributing to frequent outages across communities, including Oye-Ekiti.  

At the government level, Honourable Yomi, representing Oye Ward 3, confirmed that authorities have held several meetings with Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) but gave no clear timeline for resolving the issue.

This report is a group work by the Nyatepe group for the 2026 FUOYE Next-Gen Campus Clinic. The group members are Ayeni Kehinde Silas, Aiyejuyo Daniel oluwajuwonlo, Ojolowo Oluwatobiloba Ezekiel, Sekoni Pelumi, Oluwatimilehin Deborah Ifeoluwa, Likidzo Victoria, Maryam Ali and Onugu Uchenna Okon. Other group members are Adewumi Oluwanifemi Bridget Erewunmi Peace, Salaudeen Aduragbemi and Moses Opeyemi.