By Akinmoyeje Timileyin Precious
The University of Ibadan – living up to its name as the first and the best -recently ranked as the best University in Nigeria, again! Well, that’s not even the big deal; the big deal is that it has moved very fast up the ladder of global recognition to being among the top 500 institutions in the world! Fam! Can your faves ever?
Despite the massive avalanche of challenges that has rolled at federal university education in the country, the institution has maintained its stand of excellence. Obviously, there must certainly be some distinct characteristics in both students and staffs of the institution. You know, it’s not easy and behind every success story, there are principles of excellence.
Dear freshmen (and aspiring students), below are a list of things you should know (and be) to be able to stand tall as you join the train of champions. I have decided to compile these after years of researching things common to UI students. You can’t say I didn’t do anything for you.
1. GOD’S TIME IS THE BEST: Have you ever heard the saying that “Patience is a virtue”? Well, if you don’t believe, the University of Ibadan is a living testimony to that. By now, you must have been taunted for gaining admission (or aspiring to gain admission) into a school that still runs the 2018/2019 academic session instead of 2019/2020 academic session. This should be your reply: “Is your school the first and the best?”. This alone, my dear, is enough to shut the haters up.
You can also take a cue from this; excellence is not by how far, but by how well. You’ve ever heard of the story of the tortoise and the hare? That’s it, slow and steady has always won the race. Therefore brethren, when coming to this great institution, leave your hastiness and lofty dreams behind. Good things take time to forge. Your patience is very important come along with it.
2. HUMILITY AND MODESTY: Sure, it is a thing of pride that you gained admission into this institution, in fact, you must have been among the best in your secondary school to achieve this feat. In case you don’t know, UI admits just about 0.09 of her applicants, well, that’s sure something to brag about. Perhaps, you had even won a scholarship or you have won many contests. Don’t let all these get to your head.
Beware; you are in the midst of people with similar achievements. However, the only thing you should be proud about is your ostentatious modesty. Note the word ostentatious please. You are probably thinking how can I be ostentatiously modest? That my dear, is summed up in a special skill called “Whining”. In case you are confused, which is very normal; here is how to go about it:
- Know how and when to use nice words to hail any of your colleagues or roommate. Nice words in this context are words like “boss”, chairman, chief, OG, Prof, and Emeritus. There is no end to these words, just learn how to be creative with them.
- Recognize only the achievements of your colleagues and sing their praises all the time to their ears. Here’s an example:
“Jide, the Emeritus!”. You should pause here and face another colleague.
“Guy! You know say this guy don finish the whole Ababio Chemistry text book?”
NOTE: Learn how to use drama to spice up your modesty. Smile vigorously, use your hands to indicate the supremacy of your colleagues and use Pidgin English for the special effect.
- If you are at the receiving end of a whining exercise, try as much as possible not to allow it get to your head. Modesty demands that you whine back, I repeat, whine back! You can smile but make sure to maximize the space in between to repay the favor.
- Don’t ever admit to being a serious student. No matter how much work you have done or how much book you have read, it is a crime against modesty to admit to it. Remember to always deny as vigorously as you can.
3. YOU ARE WHO YOUR HOSTEL SAYS YOU ARE: You are most likely aware that adaptation is a basic human characteristic and it is very important for survival. At the University campus, you must be able to wear certain character traits like a cloth as worthy ambassadors of your Hall of residence or your department. Let me state here, that there are certain characters peculiar to each hall of residence and each faculty on campus. It is important you are flexible enough to live a life that conforms to your hostel and Faculty stereotype. For instance:
- As a resident in the Great Independence hall or the Nnamdi Azikwe hall, you should assume the character of rebellion and free spirit. You should be able to live life like you do in the streets. You are automatically in a world of no rules and street life. You should be able to perform some ritual rites like basic Aro (a tradition of catching cruise especially with ladies), common pot, gyrations, bon fires and etcetera. Remember to always wear this superiority like a badge and consider other male hostels as beneath you.
- Being a resident in Mellanby, Kuti, Tedder or Bello Hall comes with a little bit of finesse, especially, in Kuti Hall. You are the royals of the school. You are unlike those rough lives are the outskirts of the University. You must learn how to assume the position of a wealth man’s child. Your dressing, your friends, your hair, your gait, everything must show finesse .Please do remember, all other Halls of residence are beneath you, irrespective of which, except of course, any one you forge an alliance with.
- The female Halls of residence come with different shades of peculiarities, most times, dictated by location. It is safe to assume that residents of each female hostel display peculiar characteristics as determined by their proximity to the school gate. You definitely don’t want to be caught slacking at Queens Hall and well, nobody cares about you at Awo Hall. Please know the peculiarities and wear them as proudly as possible.
4. FOLLOW THE FOOD, ITEM 7 IS KEY: There are many events on campus and there are going to be many more. This leaves you at a crossroad of which event to attend at which particular time. Voila! The trick to finding your way is simple. Ina long list of events, in case you can’t attend all, make sure you follow the food. You know, food is an important item and it is necessary for survival. Also, you can save your food stuffs this way. Be sure to listen for “Item 7 is guaranteed” while you are being invited for any events.
Make sure to invite your friends over in the event of a successful food hunting expeditions. You can create WhatsApp groups or social media pages to connect yourselves. You would not only learn team spirit, you would understand how altruism and solidarity works.
Note: The extent to which you can go to achieve this is greatly determined by your Hall of residence. Remember to always put that into consideration.
5. THE FEAR OF SDC IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM: Please remember that in anything you do fear the SDC. You can hunt for item 7 all you want, engage in activities all you want but please, always fear the SDC and by extension, your lecturers.
The University of Ibadan runs solely on discipline of the students and staffs. Discipline in this context means that:
- Don’t ever try to be the activist or the savior. It would definitely get you in trouble and well, you can try schooling in your house, good Luck with that
- Don’t ever call out the school. The image of the school is very important and it is something everyone should work towards building up.
- Your lecturers are always right. It would be foolhardy to try to correct a whole LECTURER! Are the doctorate degrees a joke to you? The institution has survived thus far because of discipline and maintenance of hierarchy. Be careful not to mess around.
If you have carefully read through the above, congratulations, you are on your way to becoming the ultimate ‘Omo UI’. You must be careful, this is not all you need to know, but this contains the most essential facts you need. The University of Ibadan was not joking around when they factored character in their certificates. Therefore, you must remember to always try to act your studentship (if you get what I mean). Practicing some of these things would be a great head start for you by the time resumption comes knocking. Till we meet again.
Adios, Amigos.
