First: RESTART

When your computer or device messes up, the first thing you usually do is panic. That is soooo wrong. The first thing you should do is Restart.

A lot of people don’t realize the power there is in restarting a computer or a device.

I personally can’t even tell you I understand why it works so well,  but it does work, a lot of times, like  magic.  On a serious note, the ability to restart your device at will is a very powerful tool in the hand of device users.

Somebody once said that when you restart a computer, you are giving the internal demons of the computer a chance to figure out what went wrong with them and correct it internally, since they are most probably more intelligent than we are (LOL).  Anyway,  the thing is , just restart first.

If your computer hangs, Restart.

If your modem hangs, Restart (that means remove and re insert again)

If your phone misbehaves, Restart first.

I once had a situation whereby my phone went into factory mode and started running crazy codes I didn’t really understand, after freaking out for about 10 minutes, I mistakenly pulled out the battery. On re inserting it, I started up the phone and voila, all was well, and is still well actually.

What else?

There is only one issue with restarting though. If you are working on stuff and you have not saved, there is a high probability that most of the unsaved parts of your work might be lost. Or you might just be lucky. That’s to tell you to save often. Okay, maybe we’ll talk more about that next time. Thanks for reading. & Welcome to a new Session.

Okemakinde Samson

Read more

WELCOME ADDRESS

WELCOME ADDRESS TO A NEW STUDENT

I was at Bello Hall a week ago when I met this young man complaining about everything. He told me I wouldn’t understand if he explained but I told him I wanted to hear. He said he applied to study Law, scored 71 and the cut-off mark was put at 73. He was angry that he would have to study Educational Management instead of Law. I sat him down and explained to him why sometimes we should be contented with what we get. I reminded him of those who would not mind any course they are given but are still out there, with the hope to get lucky someday. Then I also challenged him that if truly what he wanted was Law, he should convince them at the Faculty of Education with an exceptional performance at the end of the session. That is enough stories, I think!

You are welcome to the University of Ibadan, which you saw only little of its structure from outside. Perhaps you were more mesmerised by the respect paid to the graduates of the institution and for long dreamt of becoming one of her student. You should know that you are a lucky one, if you don’t already know this. The fact that you will be matriculated in this university soon should be a source of happiness. Some people no matter how much they try will never get close to getting into the university. So I advise you to get over being ungrateful and embrace the lots of work you have before you.

I must tell you that there are a lot of races to run so you can be prepared for them. It is better to get things right than to come looking for solutions after making mistakes. It is easy to say that you now have freedom; ability to decide whatever you like. But don’t forget that you are responsible for the choices you make in the end. You may think you can choose who to make friends with but if you make the wrong choice, no one will carry the blame for you when that decision makes you slip. You will need a lot of guidance because you are new; you know only little or nothing about how the system here is operated. Making friends with the right people will be just a nice idea.

Lecture notes are not things you leave to pile up. As you take new steps in class, you read them up after the day’s lectures. Anything that confuses you about your course, don’t allow pride steal humility from you. It is alright to ask people for help, especially in your studies. You must have heard different stories about CHE157 by now. I will tell you my part today: CHE157 is a silly course people make you fear unnecessarily.  If you work hard and believe, you will have seven points in it without too much stress.

I can only tell you this but I can’t make you believe: university is not only about books. The lesson you can learn here are just very many; both the right and the wrong ones. You have freedom now, to choose between only books and building a better you. There are good organisations you can join. They will eat your time but you can decide how much they eat of it. The Press, the L&D and other groups are very good if you join. But they must never get more priority than your studies. If you know how to play your game, you will always win.

Perhaps you have seen posters hanging all around or you have been approached by any of them. The season of exaggerated piety and humbleness is here. The time for electing new officers to the Students’ Union will soon come. You should know that it is not their Union but ours. So everybody has a stance. Do not let beauty override your objectivity. Beauty doesn’t rule in office, intelligence does. Do not vote for friendship, vote for sincerity and integrity. When they approach you campaigning, ask them what change they will bring; question their plans and policies; dust their manifestoes and bring out the lies. Whatever we do now will become history tomorrow. Whatever decisions we make will state how we are treated by our own. If truly our fathers are underrating our abilities in the mainstream political realm, we don’t fight to show them; we rule the best way to prove that we worth a lot.

Several things to share but I’m sure we will do more as we get along.

Please enjoy your stay in Unibadan.

Off-course

I use this medium to congratulate the president-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) on his success in the just concluded election. I pray he surprises Nigerians in good ways. I also appreciate the effort of the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega for the display of fairness and intelligence. Without doubt, his tenure has brought us to the light of reality; we only need to advance on this right path he has shown us.

SECRET PEN

Read more

DEJA VU

DÉJÀ VU

Standing across a stretch of granite road, looking at the suburb where I grew up, from the area I’m dwelling in. I get a feeling of déjà vu. I’ve been here before, same time, same place. But right now, it all looks different. I can’t really figure out what’s different about it all. Six years gone and nothing seems to have changed.

The houses are still the same, no addition, and no subtraction. Not even a new touch of paint on anyone of them. The double stretch of trunk-A road that opened up the region to the world many years ago is still there, not even a single noticeable repair work. So, what changed? Why does everything look different? Mom still spends the same length of time cooking. Yet, she now seems too slow for my liking. Even the river that epitomized all of my dreams then, looks like a trickle to me now. Yet, nothing has changed about it. It still overflows its bank during the rains.

For years, this was my world, my territory, my empire. I took great pain and derived great joy in exploring every of its nook and cranny. All the in-roads, inlets and out roads are still entrenched in my memory. So, why déjà vu?

What changed?

Hmmm, now that I think about it, maybe it’s me. Maybe I’ve changed too much or too fast. I grew up, moved about, and widened my horizon. Now I’m back, and I just can’t adapt. Yet, nothing really changed.

That sort of makes me remember the words of the one who said. “When I was a kid, I thought like a kid……………………………” If you think about this, then you could probably accept my postulation?

Maybe circumstance don’t really change, maybe situations don’t really differ. Maybe the parameters that run our world never change. It’s just the way we handle them at different times that gives them different meanings. Really, the important things never really change. We just do all the changing.

Déjà vu, all the scenery was good enough for me as a kid. Now, I can’t wait to spread my wings and fly away.

Okemakinde Samson

Read more

EDITORIAL

HERE WE GO : Again

The sunrise of a session with the promising glory and good tidings it brings. Beautiful and fresh faces streaming over the land, refreshed minds and rejuvenated souls basking in the new academic session. Hopes raised, shoulders high, mind set to bring down any obstacle. Yes! A great energy to hit the goal and break new frontiers. Now is the best time for a feeling like this. Though it can’t be the same to everyone as the sky never has the same shade of colour all through. Whatever the case may be, being optimistic is the best way to start.

The Faculty of Science Press Organization welcomes both new and returning student into the new session. Wishing you all the best in your studies. With great joy and energy the freshers have been going through there registration and classes I believe, though there might be some challenges, it’s all for good. It’s part of the building up process. As we know, we don’t just learn about science alone, we learn about life as we pass through school.

I wonder what school would have looked like without the concept of breaks. Hope the break was refreshing for the returning students and for those who didn’t have one, maybe due to  Industrial Training or any other project, I believe it was maximized to the optimum. If not, this is time to make it up. The zeal to study is low at this time of the  semester but according to individual ability, it is necessary one applies wisdom. There is a time and season for everything, the resting time is rolling over and the time to start studying is coming up, its best we start preparing our minds and begin to calibrate our bodies in order to receive this new session of work.

This beginning might not be really funny for the stalite because of accommodation instability, hmmm…, yes, it’s a norm. That is the way it has been and we hope for a better plan in years to come. But for now, would want you to prepare your mind and try to adjust to it. It may be strange to some (200l especially), while others may be used to it. In either way, let’s try to maximize the use of time so that it won’t have an adverse effect on result. The finalist on the other hand would find it’s quite easy, but we all need to be smart anyways, I know you understand that.

To the freshers, this is another stage of life, you might have been to another school before or have undergone series of experience, this might be a bit different. Don’t apply blindly what you did previously, but rather seek for advice and merge with your wealth of experience and knowledge acquired in class using wisdom. Don’t be in a rush to do things as this might lead to mistake, rather be prudent and don’t procrastinate in the long run. Making friends is good and adventurous but do not forget yourself by trying to be like someone. Understand yourself and your reading pattern, trying something new is not harmful but know when to draw the line. Striking a balance between social and academics can also be of concern but to keep it simple, do the right thing at the right time. Do not be carried away or trapped in naivety. Ask questions from those who have gone through the path, wishing you a great stay in the land of UI.

The Faculty of Science Press Organization also uses this medium to inform anyone interested in joining the press to be on the lookout as the recruitment process would began soon. This will help build your writing and leadership skills. Wishing everyone a happy stay this session. Welcome Back!

Read more