AS WE RESUME… A WELCOME ADDRESS

By Oladosu Olayinka

Well, 2015/2016 session is now a bygone and all that remains are the memories-the good and the not-so-good ones. A new session has begun. It is time to abandon the unprofitable ways and improve on the profitable ones. Here is another opportunity to be better. Okay, enough of the sermonic remarks and pieces of advice! This is the University of Ibadan and whether thou son or daughter of man is a fresh student or a returning one, you should know that when it comes to entertainment, some things just don’t change easily around here. So, as the fresh and returning students are welcomed to a new session, the “graduate but returning” entertainers should also be given good reception.(This set of people loves the University of Ibadan so much that they have refused to abandon us. Wawu! We love you too and wish you “blow” soon.) Senior¬-men, you are welcome to a new session.

An average first semester in the University of Ibadan does not attract much partying and entertainment events. Second semester has the bigger share of the fun. So, first semesters, here, are usually boring, save for the many Freshers’ Welcome parties and programmes organised by various departments, halls of residence, faculties and the Students’ Union. The Students’ Union Freshers’ Welcome Party is at the top of the hierarchy of Freshers’ Welcome Parties due to the status of its organisers. It attracts a huge crowd as fresh students are always overexcited to attend their first party as undergraduate students of the premier Varsity. Last session, the Students’ Union Freshers’ Welcome Party was spiced with a musical performance by Wande Coal, while the Mr. and Miss Fresher Contest was just a mere side attraction. So, it suffices to say that the Students’ Union Freshers’ Welcome Party will be the biggest entertainment event this semester. One can only hope the organisers do not feed our famished eyes with a cheap show.

Before we start to imagine a very uninteresting first semester, we should consider the fact that Jokes Apart, a comedy show put together by one of the finest comedians on campus, Gee-Jokes comes up this semester. That after the parade of Freshers’ Welcome programmes is done with, the varsity becomes a muted horror movie is not untrue. Students are usually seen running hurriedly with faces that fail to hide their worries to lecture rooms. On their ways back to their various halls of residence, the exhaustion and stress from running around like one who is chased by ghosts of undone assignments and tests is the first thing one notices. So, while students are abducted with the time-consuming and energy-sipping school work, Jokes Apart is expected to save the day.
That this semester will be relatively tedious is a done deal. However, the presence of many entertainers on campus should be a bail out for students who like to socialize and get their minds off school work for a while. “Big” stars on campus are enjoined to organize shows that prove their real worth as entertainers to the Unibadan community. Gad the Screamer, when an undergraduate, used to organize a mini OLIC on campus. So, acts like Sultan, Proof, Biggie (Alex Swagz), this finger has been pointed at you! Hope you have something dope in store for us? And with the Cent Brothers (Cool Cent) going all Falz on us by dropping their first single, Caro, this semester promises to be crazier.

To the fresh students, you are welcome to the University of Ibadan. Being a student here is a crazy ride. However, mixing the varieties of lifestyle making waves on campus makes one’s stay on campus worth the stress. Study and have fun. Be serious and silly. To clone the message of that popular hip hop slang (YOLO), you only school once…or not. Welcome to 2016/2017 academic session! Have a blast!