FATSSSA PRESS -- University of Ibadan, Nigeria

By Osarennoma Ogbeide Second semester began like a gentle wind. Many are used to the trend. The semester is known to bring a wave of activities; hall week, faculty week, department week, excursions, seminars, master class trainings, fellowship programs, football games, dinners, even jaw war; the list is endless, not forgetting classes, tests, group projects and the like. All these are the expected, thus we adequately prepare to manage our time such that our interests and priorities are encapsulated and our academics are not deficient. Little did we know that we should have prepared for a shift, the unexpected. It started with complains from Awo, CMF and AOO girls (our people in the outskirts) about keke and cab drivers refusing to go towards their hostels because of the distance, creating much inconvenience and increasing rate of insecurity when they eventually have to walk the long distance in the silence of the night. The issue was properly tabled and addressed to the right ...

By Osarennoma Ogbeide “It is a one week warning strike we heard! It will be over before you know it!”, this is something I told myself. It began with locked offices, and then advanced to little or no vehicular movement, fewer classes than usual, cancellation of tests (hearts lifted by this news). Power supply became a rationed commodity; we had to observe well enough to understand their system, Water became a prized possession, no one was sharing their charger anymore. It was every man for himself. It is unfortunate how we have to suffer for the shortcomings of the government. This one week warning strike by NASU should have served its purpose, although many think one week is not enough for them to “loud” it enough to compel the government to meet their demands. I happened to go outside school during the week. The main gates were locked, the streets were flooded with people, cars littered the road and NASU officials pumped and ready to deal with any erring staff that violated ...

By Osarennoma Ogbeide Seven weeks down, five weeks to go. It seems like just yesterday that we started this session. Now, I already smell exams. Perhaps it is the activities saddled with the semester that aided the flight of time. The freshers now know road, stallites are getting used to the stress and finalists have become familiar with the routes to their supervisors office. We are now habituated to the absence of bikes except for the occasional outbursts due to the scarcity of kekes. The doors of course registration are gradually closing and handing the reigns of authority over to tests and exams. I smell exams; yes that is what is cooking. We are being bombarded with assignments, group projects and tests. Students are now beckoning on one of our associations to do what they do best. Little wonder why hearts were deeply broken when ASUU decided to strike on the 30th of July, only for the the VC to announce that it had been resolved barely 24 hours later. Many were unable to...

My ink fades in despair and my mind swims in deep thought. Now, I think security in our society has been underrated for too long. It is until a grave situation slaps us to reality that we begin to take the necessary steps. 1 week, 4 crimes, same university. It is no news that this prestigious university has become the seat of crime these past days. People run from staying off-campus because of the insecurity only to run into campus, right to the arms of danger. It will be hurtful to run through all the incidents again, as it will only stir up concealed feelings. What is inevitable therefore, is the taunting and traumatic effect it has on the students. Early morning, afternoon, evening and night; you’re not even safe. Transportation is as scarce as the efficiency of Abefele. And to think that few car owners would solicit to help us ‘Legedez Benz’ people, they suddenly become blind when we are sighted. Nobody is even toasting us with their cars anymore. We are left to tread the ...

Attention freshers! Waiting in the lecture hall an hour before the class starts, taking note of every breath and/or cough of the lecturer and going the extra mile to please them will only last a while. This particular manifestation of ignorance I can forgive as it is your first year here. However, you shall not persist in it any longer. I understand your enthusiasm and eagerness to begin this new journey, but don’t let that steer you in the wrong paths and displace your focus. The most important thing is settling in well and acclimatizing with the new environment, standing strong at the end of it all. So don’t get it twisted; get to your classes on time, take attendance seriously and make necessary preparations for tests and exams but don’t kill yourself in the process. The journey is just beginning, so save your energy for when you’ll need it most. Attention stallites’! This is not new to you but perhaps you need some reminder; it is not easy sha. Meeting up to deadlines, group...

By Osarennoma Ogbeide There are two sides of a coin. Peer pressure is the direct influence on people by peers, or the effect on an individual who gets encouraged to follow their peers by changing their attitudes, values or behaviours to conform to those of the influencing group or individual. The effect could either be positive or negative and it is left to the custodian of the coin to pick which side he so desires. Before I dive into the sea of examples, it is important to note that peer pressure could be direct- where someone is literally telling you what to do; indirect- where your group of friends do things you ordinarily would not do outside of that circle and self-motivated- this is like self-pressure (putting pressure on yourself) to fit with others because of what they say or standards you want to keep up with; how unhealthy! Tomi is a  300 level computer science student. She is known to be rather quiet but friendly. Two of her friends asked her why she never goes ...