FRESHERS: A Newbie’s Guide to Communities in UI

By: Eriomala John

I do not welcome you to the best university in the supposed Giant of Africa. What I will do is ask how your first week has been. A mixed bag? Far from what you expected? Don’t care. On a serious note, welcome to UI. You’ve made one of the…choices you would ever make as an individual, and for the next four to six years – depending on the duration of your study – you’ll get to decide the outcome of said choice. 

To make things easier and give you some insight into how UI works, here’s a guide on one of the most critical aspects of this university: community. For all the times someone uttered the “Don’t just pass through school. Let school pass through you” cliche, they likely referred to `community` in some way. Community in UI is a multi-faceted subject deserving of a final-year thesis. (Seriously, someone from the Humanities or Social Sciences should consider researching strata and the societal makeup of UI). It’s one of the factors that shape your trajectory as a student. And is vital to survival, for the most part.  As such, a fair deal of knowledge of what exists is essential. This article will explore some of the different bodies and organisations available in the First and Best and what they do. I hope that it helps one or two people settle in nicely*. 

Social Impact

If you’re interested in social impact, e.g. advocacy, raising awareness, philanthropic endeavours, etc, then UI is the school for you. Examples of organisations you could sign up for include: 

1. Asido Campus Network, UI: Think mental health, think Asido. Asido Campus Network, UI, is the campus arm of the Asido Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that “engages in advocacy and intervention activities aimed at improving the mental health needs of the Nigerian population”. They do everything their parent body does but are oriented towards students. Asido has partnered with multiple organisations, both within and outside UI, with programs and outreaches that have significantly impacted the student populace. They also extend beyond mental health advocacy to sexual health advocacy, student engagement via public speaking contests, drama as an awareness medium, and fund-raisers for causes like Autism. 

2. Boys Without Borders, UI: BWB is one of the most unique organisations on campus. And this is primarily due to their area of advocacy, the boy child. Founded in 2020, Boys Without Borders focuses on “wholesome boy child upbringing with a desire to make a difference in the world, one boy-child at a time”. They recently hosted the maiden edition of the Ibadan Boys Conference and have a variety of initiatives and campaigns, some of which incorporate members of the university community on a large scale. (PS: This is not a red-pill organisation. Don’t get it twisted.)

3. Civic Club: The Civic Club is one of the youngest organisations on this list, having just emerged last year. However, their area of interest, civic engagement, sets them apart from most. The Civic Club promotes political participation, recognition of history, and upholding democracy through art and physical and online campaigns. In February, they co-hosted a screening of Biyi Bandele’s adaptation of the Chimamanda Adichie classic, Half of A Yellow Sun. 

4. Slum and Rural Health Initiative Network, UI (SRHIN):  You’ll notice that a fair number of organisations in this article are oriented towards healthcare/health advocacy. (Short explanation: It’s a UI thing. Long explanation: The University of Ibadan has had a long, complicated relationship with health in Nigeria. To use late 2010s Nigerian pop-culture parlance, “We’re everybody’s Daddy”). SHRIN “focuses on improving healthcare access and outcomes in underserved urban slum and rural communities in Nigeria by implementing community-based programs targeting maternal and child health, infectious disease control, and mental health to address the unique challenges these marginalised populations face”. The UI chapter embodies the above, with its most recent outreach just a few days ago. 

5. A Pad For Her: Period poverty is still a big issue the world over, despite advancements in science and technology. A Pad For Her is one of the organisations actively fighting against it. Via a yearly outreach focused on providing education, spurring conversations and providing palliative materials for women, and year-long online campaigns, the organisation has reached over 10,000 women and girls and set up pad banks in five states.

6. Homeless Not Hopeless Nigeria: Homeless Not Hopeless Nigeria is a student-led non-profit organisation that aims to ” address homelessness and alleviate the sufferings of both the homeless and the insecurely sheltered”. Fun fact: it was partly inspired by John Grisham’s The Street Lawyer. Homeless Not Hopeless is an excellent place to start for anyone interested in tackling the often-overlooked problem of homelessness

Skill Acquisition and Self-Development

If self-development is more ‘your speed’, UI has the right blend of organisations to become a part of. Even better is that none of them will allow you to slack off. Here, growth isn’t optional. Such organisations include: 

1. Literary and Debating Societies: This is a good time to abandon whatever notions you have of the nature of varsity debating.Yes, even if you have watched Jaw War videos. Reality is different. Best way to enjoy it? Become a part of your Hall or Faculty’s Literary and Debating Society. You’ll be glad you did. Literary and Debating Societies train you in everything from speech writing to stage management, impromptus, delivery, and research, and overall make you part of one of the largest networks of individuals in the university. Depending on your constituency, it might also mean inheriting grievances and rivalries and screaming out your lungs at the Faculty of Science’s New Faculty Lecture Theatre. If you’re unlucky, it would mean being on the losing side at the Jaw War Finals, a fate I do wish on many. 

2.  Local Press Organisations: The umbrella body for campus journalists at the University of Ibadan is the Union of Campus Journalists. All Faculty, Hall, and Departmental bodies operate under them. You have probably seen a couple of articles from the ones you’re associated with by virtue of your course or residence. Press bodies are excellent platforms for honing writing skills, developing as a journalist, and gaining exposure to several opportunities. Your associated LPO recruits soon. Stay on the lookout. By the way, signing up places you at odds with others for the rest of your stay as a Campus journo. It’s automatic, sorry. 

3. Google Students’ Developer Club (GSDC): The Google Developers Student Club, UI is a community of students interested in Google developer technologies. However, it’s also open to students interested in other developer technologies. It’s a helpful peer-to-peer environment and one of the most vibrant tech spaces on campus. And the programs? Fun, fun, and fun. They recently had a two-month-long hackathon featuring GSDCs from eleven other universities. They also participate in external competitions from time to time. 

4. Student Finance Club, UI (SFC): Uites win every time. We can’t help dominating. We just can’t. One of the best places to win is the Students’ Finance Club, UI. The SFC is an entirely student-run organisation “focused on preparing its members for success in professional roles at all levels of Finance, particularly in Investment Banking/Private Equity, Asset Management and Securities/Research”. They boast an active and influential alumni base. The SFC’s annual Finxposition is also a highlight, drawing professionals from these industries for a fantastic event. 

5. Intellectual Property and Technology Law Club, University of Ibadan (IPTLC UI): (If you haven’t already figured it out, this is a school of nerds) IPTLC primarily aims to create intellectual property awareness across all disciplines and facilitate contributions to general and theoretical knowledge on the subject. Perhaps the – actually, my – favourite thing about IPTLC is their structure. Everything in IPTLC is categorised: divisions, content etc. They organised the Nigerian Creative Conference sometime in April. If you have a knack for inventions or are generally interested in patent and IP ownership, then this is the place for you. 

6. The Tax Club, UI: All eyes journeyed to UI when 21-year-old Orire Agbaje was inaugurated as a part of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. Why? She was a UI Student and the school’s Tax Club President. That action soon drew a whirlwind of attention to the club, attention they’ve been able to thrive in because, let’s face it, they’re no strangers to capacity. The Tax Club, UI, aims to “prepare students for opportunities in taxation as an area of career and to promote the awareness and relevance of taxation in the various sectors of the economy”. In case you were wondering, they accept students from all courses. It doesn’t have to be finance-related. 

Networking and Community Engagement

And if you want a mix of the two above but with a slight inclination towards networking and community engagement, the below are good bets: 

1. Junior Chamber International, UI: JCI! Standout conventions, a carriage that tells you immediately that said person is a Jaycee, and the most prominent award ceremony on campus, the Fifteen Outstanding Personalities Awards. JCI is a “consortium of young leaders, active citizens, and entrepreneurs, developed towards changing the world”. It’s an organisation that spans multiple institutions and countries worldwide, with a massive alumni base and an even more extensive network of students. The JCI Collegiate Convention is scheduled for next month, so maybe you can become a Jaycee before then. (PS. The parties are out of this world). 

2. Kegites Club: Scrap whatever notions and misconceptions you have of the Kegites Club. They’re way cooler and oriented towards the advancement of students’ interests. Best of all, they know how to jollificate! The Kegites Club, UI, serves as the National Headquarters, with over a hundred other Ilyasis (chapters) within and outside Nigeria. The gyrations? Heavenly! 

3. The Sigma Club: The Sigma tie is one of the – if not the – most recognisable items of clothing in the University of Ibadan; purple, embossed with the club’s logo. Founded in 1950, the Sigma Club is supposedly the oldest student organisation in Sub-Saharan Africa. It’s an exclusively male club. While many of their activities are shrouded in relative secrecy and codes, their programs, such as the Roseline Etuokwu Sigma Secondary School Quiz Competition and the Sigma Chief Cup, are quite publicised. Sigma might be the place for you, Sigma Male (lousy joke intended). 

4. AIESEC UI: The first thing you learn about AIESEC is that everyone in AIESEC is cool. The next thing you learn about AIESEC is that everyone wants to join AIESEC. AIESEC is an acronym for Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales ( in English: International Association of Students in Economics and Commercial Sciences). They are a youth-led organisation “striving to achieve peace and fulfilment of humankind’s potential by activating leadership qualities in youth through learning from practical experiences in challenging environments”. By the way, AIESEC-ites have to be under 30. 

5. Rotaract Club, UI: Much like AEISEC, the Rotaract Club is only open to people under 30; 18 – 30, to be precise. It also ties to a parent body, the Rotaract Club. The Rotaract Club aims to “develop people vocationally, offer them professional, leadership, and public speaking skills, community impact, and earn a global citizenship recognition”. They meet by 2 PM on Sundays at the SUB and have maintained an active online and offline presence in recent times. 

Chances are that one or more of the above appeal to you, in which case I would be delighted*. Many others haven’t been listed here.  Check them out in your free time.  Ask questions about their various activities and programs and scroll through their socials to determine which fits your ideals and goals just fine. Or join none. Like I said, I do not welcome you. 

* Indicates a (not) so serious statement.