By; Ogunleye Kolapo Olayemi
The long-awaited University of Ibadan Students’ Union Week 2025, tagged “the Ivory Fest,” officially began with a press conference that set the tone for a vibrant and activity-filled week on campus. The session, led by the Students’ Union Vice President, Olabisi Owadayo, brought together members of the campus press who discussed and sought clarity on key events lined up for the week. The Vice President addressed several questions ranging from the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” quiz to the upcoming food carnival and cultural rally. She confirmed that the quiz would feature a cash prize for winners, explaining that the “millionaire” tag was more symbolic rather than literal. “There’s definitely going to be a cash prize, and winners will be credited today,” she said. “But we added the tag line ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ as a mindset thing, it’s not about the amount, it’s about ambition.”
She also spoke about the transparent process behind selecting contestants for the quiz. According to her, about seventy students participated in an online preliminary round, and only the top six to eight advanced to the finals.“The results were sent to the group, so everyone saw how the finalists emerged,” she noted, emphasizing fairness and transparency.
Beyond the quiz, the Vice President highlighted the level of coordination that had gone into planning the entire Union Week. She credited the hall chairpersons and faculty representatives for helping to mobilize students across campus, ensuring that each event records strong attendance.“We’ve been liaising with hall chairpersons and faculty reps to make sure UItes show up in numbers for every event,” she said, adding that “a lot of planning and sleepless nights” had gone into preparing for the celebration. Speaking on the cultural carnival, she revealed that a detailed graphic showing the carnival route would be released to guide participants. On the talent show, she explained that the judges would focus primarily on creativity and originality, while the judging criteria and winners would be announced at the event. The Vice President also addressed concerns about the food carnival, clarifying that it would not be a free-for-all meal session but more of a subsidized food carnival. “We’re bringing in tasty diners to sell at the venue—it’s not free food,” she said with a smile, reassuring students that adequate measures were in place to maintain peace and order during the event.
The 2025 Ivy Fest features a rich lineup of activities designed to celebrate intellect, creativity, and unity among UI students. The week began with the opening ceremony and press conference, followed by the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” quiz competition on Saturday. Food carnival, rally, and carnival would be featured on Sunday, a lively procession that embodies the energy and togetherness of the UI community. The tech conference would be held on monday. While Tuesday promises to feature health day and trace in the city. Wednesday will spotlight the inter-hall cooking competition day, where halls of residence showcase their mouthwatering and skillful dishes and cooks. On Thursday and friday would be for the sport carnival. The celebration will climax on Saturday with the UI’s Got Talent Grand Finale, where creative performers will take the stage and compete for prizes.
As the press conference drew to a close, the Vice President extended an open invitation to all students to be part of the Ivy Fest experience.“On that note, I welcome all students of this great institution to the grand opening of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union Week,” she said. “Thank you for coming, and see you at the events.”
