‘By Wale Olaogun
Why do we keep deceiving ourselves? This is a question I have asked myself several times, yet I have got no response. In Nigeria, normally, everything is labelled with irregularities, even the educational institutions who are meant to be agents of emendation, also need to be corrected. This is not farfetched as the Premier University itself does not know which way or not to follow. In this article, the process by which the respected University of Ibadan deploy to tackle the spread of covid-19 virus is analyzed;
“…you can definitely not be infected with coronavirus while exiting the University of Ibadan, it’s only when you are coming in that you can be prone to it… “
Subsequently, after the resumption of physical activities on campus in the just concluded semester, “NO NOSE MASK, NO ENTRY” was written everywhere on campus, even bolder than the school logo. Everyone uses their nose masks or they are denied entry into the school. Hilariously, after all awareness, what I noticed again was that nose masks are only compulsory to wear if you want to enter the school, but if going out, you are free to contract the virus, then come back inside school with a nose mask which you didn’t wear while going out.
“…nose masks are the only preventive measures of covid-19, no sanitizers at UI main gate…”
Another comical act displayed by the University is the non-provision of sanitizers and other washing equipment at the school entrance. People use nose mask at UI gate and yet, shaking hands with as well as hugging one another, even at the presence of the security officials. I wonder if coronavirus can only be contracted through the mouth and the nose, while hands are free, naked like a newborn baby.
Objectively, this is not to downplay the actions of the University’s management toward the curtailment of the virus because the management provided sanitizers and washing hand basins at the entrance of each halls of residence, but then, from UI gate to each halls is a journey on its own that if a communicable virus would spread, it would. We need to be reminded that there is a thin line between life and death.
“…coronavirus only passes through the main gate, anybody can enter and exit Ajibode and Shasha gates with or without a nose mask...”
This is, no doubt, another thing that the University is not getting right. Walking through the gate that leads to Ajibode from UI does not require any safety measure to prevent the pandemic —no nose mask, no sanitizers, nothing!!! Here, I think, the virus has a covenant with the gate that anybody who passes through it won’t be infected. The security officers too are always looking unperturbed, sitting idly as if they are all immune to the virus.
“…coronavirus does not travel at nights, it could only spread at daylight…”
One Friday morning, I and a friend left school for Agbowo —a student-based environment, unknowing that we left our nose masks on campus. We discovered when we were about returning to school and the only solution my friend could proffer was that we wait at Agbowo till night, that from 7pm onward, the security men would no longer be there to check for nose masks.
Well, I bought his idea and we waited. To the glory of God and humanity, we met a huge crowd at the gate; those who were buying and selling, and those who were hanging out with one another with averagely no breathing space among them. Pitiable!
Conclusion: Now, news came to us that an academic staff —a Professor died recently due to the virus. What next? I think this is the next crucial question to ask. Are we to return to our virtual learning which was no success during the concluded semester? Or we continue dwelling with the virus? In this school, solution is a wandering answer.
