…A UNN Lioness perspective. By JULIANA ANI.
Life in the university of Nigeria Nsukka is a whole different world entirely, imagine trying to fit into the society, being in like 2 or 3 places at the same time, let me remind you that this is a jungle and so you have to find a way to survive.
It all began on July 25th, 2023, I had thrown up when I entered the hostel room allocated to me, it was an eyesore I must say (befitting only to destitutes if I must say). The rooms were so tight that air barely entered the room, the windows in my room was not even opening, my sister left me after she had finished helping me to arrange my room and she chuckled in vernacular “Toor shebi nah you wan come UNN, oya nah, I don dey go shaa, take care of yourself and make sure you survive this den.” Soon some of my Roomies came back too, and I inquired if the hostel had water.
They laughed at me, and asked me to accompany Them to go and “steal” water at the tanker or staff quarters area. I followed them and we fetched water with some other people, I carried a 25 litres gallon on my head, something I had never done in my entire life. It brought me to tears. That night I prayed and called my mum and I told her my whole experience and she laughed and said, you are Ani, you must survive.
Soon lectures resumed, I was having a hard time trying to locate my class and so I inquired from somebody to direct me to GS. The person told me no problem and gave me directions I was feeling very excited without knowing that I was only headed to engineering, it was when I saw the signboard I asked a boy again and the boy told me the person misdirected me and then he took me on bike to the place. That was when I realised I was standing at GS when I asked the other guy for direction. (It was a JJc welcome) If you know you know.
I got acquainted with my savior of the day and begged that he showed me around later in the evening for me to get familiar (I even promised to pay for the service) but he refused and said in a very polite way “I won’t collect money from you because you are a fresher, I would come and show you around, just make yourself available by 4.” He continued “what’s the name of your hostel? I said Balewa and then he took my number and promised to come which he did.
He showed me to Okpara hostel, to Akpabio, Akintola, Mary slessor, Eyoita, Bello hostel which was for pharmacy students and many other places. He also took me to gymbazz, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Social science and many other places, and that was how I survived that period.
My water search experience was also fun as we would go early in the morning to “kidnap” water and if you are lucky to come back with some, then it’s your lucky day. The experience was fun because I made a lot of friends, and they were helpful.
The current state of the University
It is 3 years down the line and The Current state of the university I must say has remained the same, just a few changes and few alumni buildings erected in some departments and faculty. (Sadly, none of these developments featured in my department, although I look forward to it).
Aside from the new buildings around like social science buildings and the two new expensive girls hostel that goes for 100 thousand naira and another one for 50k, there’s nothing new again, but for Isi-akita hostel that renovated the room doors and toilets then increased their fees from 25k to 35k.
Now , I’m very conversant with the school environment as there is no where around the school I’m oblivious of (wink)., even the new department allocated to archeology students. I almost forgot, GS now has a handbook that is made compulsory for everybody wey writing GS. It goes for 7500 naira and must be paid before registering for the course. (Everybody is complaining but there is little or nothing we can do).
Survival of the fittest
I have survived and grown to now stay at Okpara hostel, the neatest and one of the best hostel but still the water challenge persist. (If water no dey the hostel and water no dey tank too nah to run go education climb the tank and fetch or we go dey go other hostel go look for water and we have become used to the system).
Classes And lectures must be attended with appropriate outfits. (if you wear nonsense come class, lecturer go disgrace you and if you come 15 minutes late, shame go wear you Real Madrid jersey (pun intended) so eh better make you just stay for your house instead of going late to class).
As “neat” as the hostel is, we must spray insecticide in our rooms regularly because of bedbugs and snakes and all.
All in all, it has been an exciting experience, every other thing has been going well and will continue to go well, but My advice for intending Lions or Lionesses is to shine your eyes well well ooo, open your eyes well well and make sure say no dulling because yes you have to survive the den because you are lions and lionesses.
Ani Juliana, is A 300l student at the University of Nigeria Nsukka,
With the passion for content writing and Copywriting.
