As a matter of tradition laid down by generations before ours, we are already creeping into the series of weeks that the University of Ibadan is known for. These weeks may include faculty weeks, departmental weeks, and even various fellowship weeks.
The subject of debate should now be an identification of the merits and demerits of these weeks? To start with, we have to look at the merits of the ‘weeks’.
In an environment like UI’s where the learning environment is conducive, but monotonous, students claim that the fun they get to enjoy during the course of the entire session is in the second semester, where they get to socialise and where they are free from major school work, for a week or two.
Another school of thought will say that the learning process should be complemented with a little bit of fun. They say, “All work and no play make jack a dull boy”. Their statement is true to the letter, but even as we encourage these ‘weeks’, do we really pay attention to the expenses the different faculties, departments and even faculties incur from celebrating these weeks? It is not strange for the executives of the halls, faculties or departments, to present enormous budgets, and many a time, on hearing the total amount of money budgeted, I wonder if it’s not just an event, organised by students for students.
I am not saying I’m not a beneficiary of these weeks, and I’m not also advocating for the scrapping of these weeks, but all I’m saying is that the rate at which money is spent on all these activities, is rather high, compared benefits that we’ve gained from them, and resulting in a lopsided cost-benefit ratio. These ‘weeks’ barely educate the recipients. Most times, the only thing students remember from these weeks is the fun, the only educational highlight being a personality lecture that is organised by some.
Also, on the issue of funding these costly enterprises, one must wonder how the money is gotten, and if all is not gotten, how more than half of the money is gotten. Most people send letters, and ‘source for funds’, to the extent that some people trade their bodies for the much needed funds that would be wasted. Students, especially the concerned executives skip classes, in a bid to ensure that money is gotten from alumni, wealthy individuals and even some lecturers. Many even borrow money, thus leaving the next administration to settle the debts they incurred.
Some people might argue that it is the price of leadership. I agree to that school of reasoning, but another question we should ask ourselves is how many people benefit positively from those wasteful ventures. If these ‘weeks’ should continue, there should be paradigm shift from how it used to be, to how it ought to be. These celebrations should be aimed at developing the minds of individuals, not just having fun and remembering the fun.
HALL WEEKS, FACULTY WEEKS, DEPARTMENTAL WEEKS, MUST MOVE FROM ‘WEEKS’ AS USUAL, TO ‘WEEKS’ AS APPROPRIATE.
