By Prisca Aniemeke
After the matriculation event on Tuesday 16th March, 2021, UCJ UI’s Interview Editor meets with five of the matriculants and asks them how they feel about getting matriculated, their expectations from the university and their experiences so far as students of the University of Ibadan.
Name: Waleeyah Olalekan
Department: Law
Well, I felt thankful that atleast, I’m still on earth peacefully. My expectations are numerous, some of which are: good and effective lectures at the right time, benefits from extra curricular activities such as press, literary and debates, university campus journalism, junior chambers international and other related societies. Also, inculcating morals and virtues which is part of the school teaching which says ‘character and learning’ and so much more expectations.
Okay, the experience is actually not bad as the virtual classes are remotely going and impacting. In short, the experience is not bad and I hope and pray to explore more.
My aspirations… To develop and achieve greater heights in spiritual, academic, social life as well as maintaining forefront in extra curricular activities.
Name: Hakeem Hauwa Omowunmi
Department: Economics
Matriculation was okay, although I didn’t really enjoy it because it wasn’t physical. But, we thank God. I feel so glad. I’m a UITE at last, a student of the first and best. UI experience has not been good so far. The virtual stuff is somehow, we are just trying to adjust.
Name: Oluborode Bukunmi Ifeoluwa
Department: Sociology.
How I feel getting matriculated is an amazing question to me. My matriculation was something I thought will be earlier than this, at most, June in the year 2020. But a lot of factors proved me wrong , Corona virus pandemic and some other things. But right now, I feel very happy, the school has finally recognized me as its own. Yipeee.
Lots of things that were said during my matriculation ceremony geared me to expect more from the first and the best. I therefore expect to grow excellently in all areas of my life in my stay in UI.
My UI experience has been great and challenging, I am still new to the environment, its system of learning this semester and other things but I hope things will change for the better as times goes on so my 100 level experience will be a great one to share later.
I desire that my stay in UI brings out the best in me as I excel in all areas of my life, I also aspire to grow and change my society, my country and the world at large.
Name: Abiodun Dorcas
Department: Physiology
To be honest, I didn’t expect to feel different or special while awaiting the matric, and somehow, I managed to feel even less special with the virtual matriculation. It was like attending another awkward zoom class.
My expectations however are not mind-blowing and intense like I believe most freshers’ are; I simply want to excel via the Nigerian federal school system, which is a great feat in itself, if you ask me.
My experience so far has been, due to lack of a better word- different. It has been very different from what I was expecting. With the stress of the LMS platform to the incompetent online lectures, it has definitely been different from what I expected.
I aspire to be in one piece at the end of my stay in this great institution.
Name: Victor Stella
Department: Zoology
The virtual matric was not what I wanted at all but all the same, I’m happy I got matriculated. I wanted my family members and well wishers to be there with me but, it’s all good. The matric was really dry, I didn’t enjoy myself at all. There was no food, snacks or anything. The funniest thing was that some students went to school, rented gowns and snapped pictures… well, that wasn’t bad.
More than education, I feel the university is also to get connected to better and beneficial people.
The virtual class has not been going well, there’s too many problems. Some students are yet to access their LMS portal. Classes on Zoom aren’t stable, some lecturers will only drop slides without any voice explanation, etc. It’s all well, we’ll overcome it.
