Johannesburg, Wednesday, 28 January 2026 – South Africa’s favourite youth radio station, 5FM, is hitting the road in a partnership led by Standard Bank, the youth’s biggest cheerleader, to bring the heat to campuses nationwide for O-Week 2026.

This year’s theme, “Your Campus Adventure Starts Now”, celebrates the thrill, chaos and possibility of stepping into varsity life. From orientation jitters to late-night study sessions and unforgettable social moments, 5FM and Standard Bank are showing up together to ampli5 and celebrate every chapter of the student journey – on campus, on air and online.
Catch the 5 Lunch duo, Lula Odiba and Nadia Romanos, broadcasting live from campuses across the country. Each stop highlights a different chapter of first-year life:

-29 Jan — University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

-30 Jan — Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch

-5 Feb — Rhodes University, Makhanda

-13 Feb — University of the Free State, Bloemfontein

-26 Feb — University of Pretoria, Pretoria

The week culminates in First Big Friday, with a live set from Lula Odiba to celebrate surviving week one in style.
5FM and Standard Bank co-created a mix of on-air and on-campus experiences designed to be fast, fun and useful for students:

-State of 5 Nation – quick, relatable takes on first-week realities like The First Lecture and Campus Life.

-Stereo Typical – playful sketches of campus archetypes that students instantly recognise.

-Campus Confessions Booth – anonymous, hilarious and chaotic first-week stories recorded on site.

-Co-Creator Fridays – campus radio talent joins Lula and Nadia live on air.

Student Montages – real student-shot clips under the theme Your Campus Adventure Starts Now.
All content is designed to be concise, shareable, and authentically student focused.
This year’s activations go beyond entertainment – they’re edutainment. Standard Bank is turning financial learning into interactive, relatable experiences that build confidence:

-Games simplify complex topics such as student loans and budgeting.

-Interactive stations turn fear into understanding.

-Fun lowers barriers to asking real questions and makes learning memorable.

This approach supports Standard Bank’s position by offering a hand up through practical products, such as the MyMo Account voted the best Youth account by South Africa; exclusive benefits via Varsity Vibe; education funding through student loans; and immersive experiences that help students grow with confidence.

“We are more than a bank – we are a lifelong partner to young South Africans. From their earliest money habits to post-matric studies and everything that follows, we’re there to guide, support and empower. By making financial education engaging and interactive, we help students build lasting confidence and skills. Education is a key pillar of our commitment, and we walk with young people at every step of their journey. O-Week is a powerful opportunity to show that we’re not just a provider – we’re a true partner” – Tshiamo Molanda, Head Youth and Mass Market PPB SA.

Masi Mdingane, Business Manager for 5FM and Good Hope FM, says the partnership with Standard Bank is rooted in celebrating and amplifying the full spectrum of student life.
“Our partnership with Standard Bank is an all-out celebration of students and student life, but it’s also a recognition of the real challenges, questions and quirks that come with stepping into varsity for the first time. O-Week is electric: it’s discovery, freedom, pressure, excitement and limitless possibility all in one. In proud association with the team at Standard Bank, we’re helping students navigate this new study, party and bonding ground, Ampli5d by 5FM, and setting them up for massive success as they begin writing the next chapter of their lives.”

With the hottest music, the biggest vibes and the most relatable student content, 5FM is ready to make O-Week 2026 unforgettable on campus, on air and online. Your varsity adventure starts here, and 5FM is right there with you.

ABOUT STANDARD BANK
Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by assets, operating in 20 African countries, 4 global financial centres and 2 offshore hubs. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, we are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with share code SBK, and the Namibian Stock Exchange, share code SNB. Standard Bank has a 162-year history in South Africa and started building a franchise outside southern Africa in the early 1990s. Our strategic position, which enables us to connect Africa to other select emerging markets as well as pools of capital in developed markets, and our balanced portfolio of businesses, provide significant opportunities for growth. As at 30 June 2024, Standard Bank Group had 19.5 million clients, employed over 50 000 people (including Liberty) and had almost 1 200 points of representation and 5 500 ATMs on the African continent. The group’s largest shareholder is the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the world’s largest bank, with a 19.4% shareholding. In addition, Standard Bank Group and ICBC share a strategic partnership that facilitates trade and deal flow between Africa, China and select emerging markets. For further information, go to http://www.standardbank.com