Four years later, 2Baba’s donated music studio continues to benefit OAU students and lecturers

By Samuel Faseyitan and Israel Alowolodu

Four years after Nigerian award-winning singer Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, donated a music studio to the Music Department at Obafemi Awolowo University (O.A.U.), assessment were made by our Reporters on the studio’s usage, accessibility, cost implications, maintenance challenges, and impact on music students.

The studio, donated on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, is located on the top floor of the department, facing the Admin Extension in a serene, clean, and well-kept environment.

At the entrance is a commissioning plaque bearing the inscription, “The 2Baba Music Studio,” which also identifies 2Baba as a Fellow of the School of Music at OAU.

We spoke with students and the departmental head to understand who uses the studio, at what cost, and how much impact it has had.

HOD explains academic Impact and student access

The Head of the Department (HOD), Professor Olusegun Stephen Titus, speaking on the facility, said it remains useful for students’ practical training, despite the maintenance challenges and equipment shortages.

“The studio has been very useful for us as a practical room, especially in courses and specialization of music production,” he said.

Adding that the department now has two studios: the 2Baba Studio, which serves both commercial and student practical purposes, and another studio recently installed for students.

He explained that the 2Baba Studio exposes students to real-life recording experiences. However, he noted that for about four years before becoming HOD, the studio was not fully used because there was no engineer or manager.

“For about four years, we didn’t have an engineer, so there was no full commercialization. We have lecturers who manage the place, but lecturers are always busy,” he said.

He added that since becoming head of the department in August 2025, he has brought in someone on a pro bono basis, while the university later provided another studio staff member, both of whom now manage the studio.

On payment, he clarified that students do not pay for classes, practicals, or academic performances.

“When you take courses there, you don’t pay. We do practical performance there; we don’t pay,” he said.

He, however, said students pay a small token for personal or commercial recording, mainly for maintenance while it’s free for academic staff.

“If you want to do real recording, you have to pay a token, far less than what they pay outside. But if it is just a normal class, a normal practical, it’s free.”

Studio maintenance challenges 

On maintenance, the professor said the studio has faced serious challenges, including roof leakage, which damaged instruments, like keyboards and organs.

“After a year of being installed there, the roof was leaking terribly, and it damaged two organs and two keyboards,” he said.

He said the department had to borrow and raise money internally to fix the roof and repair some damaged parts.

“We had to borrow almost a million naira as we could not get any support from the university.”

He added that some equipment remains damaged or unavailable because it is costly. According to him, the studio still needs cameras, speakers for live recording, and other equipment to function at a higher standard.

“There are several other things that need to be there, which are thousands, even millions of naira, that will make it a global thing,” he said.

He also explained that the studio is used for podcasts, rehearsals, pictures, church services, birthdays, and other programs, not just music recording.

Students speak on access and usage

For many students, the studio is a nice place to be, but some believe it only opens for specific occasions. A student, who spoke anonymously, said access is still limited.

“It’s not really open to students. Only when we are having rehearsals and all that is when we can go and use the place. Apart from that, the place is always closed. And there is a fee for that, which is ₦5,000, if I’m not wrong. But people come from outside to use it because it’s a standard studio,” he said.

However, some students said access has improved under the new departmental leadership.

A 200-level student of the department, Feranmi Olagunju, said that although he has not personally recorded there, students can now use the studio once they meet the right lecturer or the HOD.

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“It was not accessible before, but as we have a new head of department now, if any student wants to use the studio, it is now accessible. Once you meet the right lecturer or the HOD, they give you access,” he said.

On payment, Olagunju said outsiders pay more, while students use it mainly for projects.

“For outsiders, you pay more, but students can use the place for their projects. I’m not sure if it’s the ₦5,000 they collect from them; however, it’s not free,” he said.

Another 200-level student, Joy Alabi, said the studio has helped students, especially those involved in production.

“I think it’s actually okay for us. Sometimes we go there and do rehearsals. For production people, they go there and learn things, so it helps,” Alabi said.

On payment, she added that she had a rehearsal there a week earlier and was not required to make any payments

Another student in the department , Gideon Ayodeji, explained that the studio is used almost every day, but access depends on purpose, as personal use attracts payment.

“The moment you want to use the studio for personal stuff, maybe an outside gig or personal rehearsal, then you have to pay for the sessions; however, there is no restriction as long as it’s a departmental project,” he said.

Further inquiry showed that the studio charges ₦20,000 per hour, ₦40,000 for two hours, and ₦60,000 for three hours; hiring a recording engineer costs ₦30,000, mixing and mastering cost ₦50,000. Fuel also attracts an optional ₦10,000 charge, depending on the power supply.

Editor’s Note: This report was originally produced by the Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ), Obafemi Awolowo University, and is reproduced by The Lagos Voice with permission to amplify its findings and reach a wider audience.