Vox Pop With University Of Ibadan Hall Chairpersons

By Prisca Aniemeke

The year 2020 has almost come to an end, and students of Federal Universities have spent nine months at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ASUU strike.

Earlier this year in the University of Ibadan, some students were elected as chairpersons of their halls and presidents of their faculties and departments but have not begun their administration due to the “long holiday.” On this note, UCJ UI meets with the chairpersons of Halls of Residence in the University and asks them how the Pandemic and ASUU strike have affected their tenures.

Name: Ejemeka Ogechi Joshua           

Department: Crop Protection and Environmental Biology

Post: Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall Chairman

ASUU strike for one has delayed the official handing over of power in my hall and has also made running some activities almost impossible, for example, seeking sponsorships, carrying out timely projects etc.

Secondly the prolonged ASUU strike has dampened the spirits of a lot of students as most have moved on and might not be willing to actively participate in the various activities in the hall upon resumption.

The pandemic on the other hand has brought about inflation of prices and here in Nigeria, recession. This might affect us when seeking for sponsorship as the potential sponsors are also facing these challenges. Also there’ll be increased administrative running cost.

Name: Olaogun Temitope Olafimihan           

Department: Veterinary Medicine

Post: Administrator General Elect, Great Independence Hall

The COVID-19/ASUU strike has affected me both negatively and positively. Negatively, by wasting my precious nine months because by now, I am supposed to be rounding up with 500 level already. It has also delayed my administration from being handed over to when I am supposed to be preparing to hand over to the coming AG after me.

Positively, by delaying my administration till next year, it will make my administration to celebrate the once a decade anniversary, the 60th anniversary. And I have the opportunity and time to get and gather contacts of alumni in preparation for the 60th anniversary.

Nevertheless, I thank God for my life and the lives of my precious people of Katanga Republic. Greatest Katangites, anticipate PROJECTION ’20, the vibe is still alive. We are not here to lead but to serve… Awa lo ni Indy Hall, kole bajẹ.

Name: Osuolale Omowunmi Damilola    

Department: Theatre Arts

Post: Queen Idia Hall Chairperson-Elect

My tenure as the Chairperson of my hall, Queen Idia Hall of the University of Ibadan, though not fully kick-started, has nonetheless been affected both by the pandemic and the ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) since March 2020 and which is now nine-month old. All of this, to me, doubles the sense of urgency to prepare for the new normal when school resumes, to seek to recreate the hall atmosphere of festive and academic experience like never before. This may call for virtual online hall weeks and other entertaining activities to first limit full-fledged gatherings, and I seriously consider it as a proactive idea.

This present experience has inspired the need to step up on creating approaches to curb uncertainties. The fact is, it will take some time, some adaptation and re-imagining before school will run like normal as it was before now. But eventually a balance will emerge. I believe schools should figure things out with a partial opening. I am of the opinion that activities will return to normalcy when school resumes and that the new normal- social distancing and online virtual approaches will have to be- should and could take a long time to do away with.

Name: Badmus Ismail Opeyemi                

Department: Veterinary Medicine

Post: Kenneth Mellanby Hall Chairman

The pandemic coupled with the ASUU strike has really affected a lot of things in my tenure. We had already made plans for the smooth running of the administration; and to get sponsors after the strike and pandemic will be very hard.

Because, people that didn’t want to give anything before, who did not have plans to sponsor any event, now have good excuses to give. They’ll say the pandemic affected their businesses and all sorts of things.

Now, we have to think of other ways to get sponsors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of our sponsors are even lecturers and they also have not been paid. That is another problem we have.

Also, by now, we should have been preparing to handover to a new administration, because it’s already like eight to nine months since our resumption into office. We have really faced a lot of things. On the other hand, the pandemic is actually a blessing in disguise. At least, have been able to do some things during the break, even though they are little things. Some people have even moved on, doing one or two things.

Name:  Adebayo Adewale                                        

Department: Veterinary Medicine

Post: Hall Mayor, Sultan Bello Hall

The pandemic and ASUU strike has affected me both adversely and positively- administration wise and personally. Positively, it gave room for re-strategization in the sense that I’ve been able to create various options and solutions for issues that might come up in the administration, more critical thinking is being done on how to make the administration better and how to make some things work out for good.

Adversely, a pause in the session actually has debarred us (myself and my colleagues in the administration) from being handed over to. This is restraining the impact I can make before the session begins. Reaching out to the Alumni has also been constrained in the sense that most people we reached out to for the courtesy visit we planned rejected it, because they want to keep their family safe and they want to make sure they are following the COVID-19 preventive guidelines. Furthermore, the enthusiasm and the morale has been reduced,  but I know once the session resumes, everyone will get back up on their feet.

On a personal note, it has helped me create time for myself, for personal development and spending time with family members.

The downside for me is that the session being paused has only made me spend more years in school than expected. You know by now, one ought to be done with a session and just be preparing for the next level and next phase of life. Thank you.

Name: Jimoh Olasunkanmi Yusuf          

Department: Aquaculture and Fisheries Management.

Post: The Hall Chairman, Ransome Kuti Hall

On how my tenure has been affected, hmm I’d say nine months ago, I was quite pumped up, excited. I was unconsciously prepared. But, coming off a hard 400 level would probably have had its toll on me. But the long break has helped me look at things in new perspectives. I feel I am better ready and my team has had more time to get to know each other. The challenges we’d be facing would be from crippled sponsors, who are still feeling the after effects of the pandemic, and the low morale that students will definitely be bringing back to school. But at the same time, we’ve had quite some time to stay on sponsors who may come through, time we wouldn’t have had on a normal. So, everything has left me with mixed feelings for now. I am very optimistic though.

Name: Jesukemi Babatola                                             

Department: Faculty of Law

Post: Chairperson, Queen Elizabeth II Hall

Tiring is just the perfect word. It has been awesome nine months of staying at home and doing other things but at the same time, terrible nine months of academic delay and disruption of life plans. I would have been a graduate by now. I would have served Queens hall with the best of my abilities. I would have organized programs and met the needs of students but now…all hopes have been shattered, everything looks bleak. From students’ participation and involvement, to sponsorship, to assistance of the management and all other things that would have made my tenure a success. The question now is “God, which way?” I can’t wait to resume so we can serve Queenites the way we promised them we would.