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
