Aluta and Chill | Page 16 of 28

7 Unilorin Students Talk About Their Worst Experiences With Lecturers

Students in Nigerian universities have stories to tell, but hardly anyone to tell them to. For our new weekly series, Aluta and Chill, we are putting the spotlight on these students and their various campus experiences.

With a university system that a lot of them describe as “stifling”, a lot of Unilorin students have a lot to say. In this week’s Aluta and Chill, seven of them share their worst experiences with lecturers. From late coming to tribalism, these stories are as varied as they get.

Oghosa – I SCORED 4/20 BECAUSE THE LECTURER DID NOT MARK SOME OF MY ANSWERS

It was in 100 level. We all wrote a test and when the scripts were returned, I found out that this lecturer did not mark seven of my answers. It was not that I failed them or something of that nature — she simply did not mark it. When I went to complain to her, she said I and the whole class would have failed anyway, and that was why she added ten marks for everyone. I tried to talk but she told me to keep quiet. I could either choose her own ten marks or my own “correct” score. I didn’t know what else to say, because everything she said didn’t add up. I scored 4/20 in the test. The question is: “Where are the 10 marks she claimed to add?”

Ejiro – MY COURSE ADVISOR HAS NEVER LIKED ME

I am the class representative, but my course advisor has never liked me. I am Igbo and she is Hausa. Every time she gets the opportunity, she reminds me that this is not the village I am from where there is no light or road. She says that how can I, a ‘foreigner’, lead the owners of the land? She always looks for every opportunity to insult me before the class. There was a time I appointed someone to assist me in my duties as a representative. Some students in the class believed that it was not my duty to do so and they reported me to her. The next day, she spent the entire two hours meant for her lectures to openly make a caricature of the boy I appointed and then insulted me too.

Florence – THE ISSUE OF FUCKED UP RESULTS IS A GENERAL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL UNILORIN STUDENTS

I actively avoid lecturers, so I barely have experiences with them. But the issue of fucked up results is one general experience for every Unilorin student, so I’ll share my experience. There was this course I spent a lot of time preparing for. It was a first year course, and we had heard a lot about her: her strictness, the difficulty of passing her course, the bogus materials to read. I was prepared. If there was anything, I was ready to give my all to pass that course. She didn’t make it easy for us. Every morning we had her class, she would tell us that we were all failures, a disgrace. That with us, the country has no future. If you ask a single question, she would find a way to make you the butt of everyone’s jokes. It was a traumatising experience and I didn’t want to go through it another time, so I knew carrying the course over was not an option. It was the only course I read hard for. With all I read and wrote, I was sure I would have a B. But when the results were released, I had a D. It was a staggering blow.

Nelson – I WAS HUMILIATED FOR HAVING AN ARGUMENT WITH A COURSE MATE

I had a confrontation with a coursemate. Not a fight – you can’t fight here. The penalty is expulsion after you face the Student Disciplinary Committee (SDC). We had an argument on the WhatsApp group chat and it led to a real life confrontation, because I was really angry. It turned out this individual had a shady closeness with a lecturer and he went ahead to report me to her.

The next thing I knew, the lecturer called me for a class meeting. I don’t take the course, but she requested to see me in the class. I went. Turned out that she wanted to humiliate me. In front of a class of over 200 students, she gave me a thorough dressing down. She verbally attacked me and threatened to throw me out of school. She never did though, but the reason for her actions were known to me: she was the godmother for a small circle of students led by the guy I had an argument with.

Damian – OUR LECTURER WAS THE ONE AT FAULT, BUT HE STILL MANAGED TO BLAME US

Our lecturer gave us a wrong question. When he marked our scripts, he marked based on the correct questions. We were confused and so we told him that we answered based on what he gave us and he marked us wrong. When he went through his questions correctly, he found out that he was the wrong one. We assumed that he would conduct another test or do something to augment it, since he was the one at fault, but he refused and said we had already scored what would be the final scores. So we got angry and told him that he was the wrong one and should do something about it. To be honest, we were willing to rewrite another test or anything he brought up. Instead, he became angry and said we were accusing him of being incompetent and not knowing what he was doing. In the end, we had to keep quiet and collect the marks like that, because we knew that if we carried on that way, things would be damaged beyond control.

Jimi – I CAME LATE TO CLASS AND GOT DRAGGED TWICE

I had a class scheduled for 10am and I was in class before that time. But as the faculty general secretary, I was to be in a 10am meeting with the faculty staff adviser and the dean of the faculty. I left for the meeting and returned to the class at about 11am. As soon as I entered, the lecturer spotted me and started saying, “You! Look at, look at. Unserious one. After everything, you’ll come begging for marks. We know your type.” This was right in front of the class. To be honest, I would not have returned to the class at all, but he was a lecturer I liked a lot and I didn’t want to miss his class.

Apparently, that was only round one. While he was dictating, he looked up to see that I was not writing. And then he started another round of drag. It was literally the worst thing I have ever experienced.

*All names have been changed to protect the identities of the subjects.

Can’t get enough Aluta and Chill? Check back every Thursday at 9 AM for a new episode. Find other stories in the series here.

Kunle Ologunro

May 28, 2020

Aluta and Chill

unilorin
19 Milestones That Turn University Roommates Into Best Friends
If you attended university in Nigeria, chances are that you can relate to one or two things on this list.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane:

1) When the whole room starts sharing one bucket, one tube of toothpaste, one iron.

2) And sharing slippers too.

3) Then, you no longer hide your nakedness after having your bath.

4) Sometimes, you all gather to watch a new series together. And you actually pause when one person goes to urinate.

5) Or, you watch football together.

6) You have cooked and eaten the blood covenant of concoction rice.

7) Or a full pot of beans.

8) The first fart is a bonding experience.

9) Especially when you are all chilling in the room after stabbing a class.

10) Nothing beats the feeling when everyone in the room fails the same course.

11) Nursing your roommate back to good health during an illness.

12) Then teasing them about being a big baby after they have recovered.

13) Missing them when you go home for the holidays.

14) Saving seat for each other in class when you eventually attend.

15) Buying hand outs and helping them photocopy lecture notes. Then also helping them sign attendance.

16) Whispering the answer to number 5 on a difficult test even though you “don’t usually do this.”

17) Not being ashamed to be seen with them in public anymore – they are kind of aii.

18) Hustling for water together. The actual ghetto.

19) Finally, saving their number on your phone. With their name instead of roommate.
Hassan Yahaya

May 27, 2020

Aluta and Chill

Nostalgia, roomamtes, University
9 Things We All Loved About Nigerian Universities

The university experience hits differently when you have spent the first years of your life being the child to Nigerian parents. You go nowhere, and you experience nothing. But gaining admission into a Nigerian university comes with a ticket to an entirely new experience. Yes, we know it’s not all fun and games and we have to list to prove it. But because we care about balancing the narrative now its time to talk about the things we actually loved about Nigerian universities.

1. The freedom.

The university is the first place young Nigerian adults truly experience freedom. Of course parents make it a point to be literally a phone call away but thankfully there is no technology to make them be physically present.

2. The parties.

The party posters roll out back to back and are sometimes dangerously placed close to the exam period but we are not complaining. This is what we actually ordered.

3. The relationships.

University relationships hit differently, especially because all you need is vibes. No one is looking for husband or wife material with the financial power to handle bills. The spec is usually very simple and straightforward; look good and dress well.

4. The culture.

Campus life is usually on a vibe. Sure there are exams, lectures to attend, and mean lecturers to use as prayer points but generally the vibe is a good one.

5. The friends.

This is actually where the network building usually starts. You meet people from different parts of the country and you get a minimum of 4 years to find the bestie you will be needing for life.

6. The fashion.

Instagram feed is great, but university campuses have been unofficial runways since ages past. Where did Fela trousers first make their debut? You guessed right, on university campuses.

7. The after exam chill.

Exam period is usually a nightmare, but “after exam” period makes up for the hell we just went through. We have no classes, no more papers to write, no assignments to submit, and literally all the time in the world to watch movies and sleep.

8. Student clubs and organisations

Shout out to Rotaract, AEISEC and Ecopress. You were the LinkedIn we didn’t know we needed.

9. The allowance.

The list wouldn’t be complete if allowance was not featured. University time is the only phase where you get to adult on another person’s tab. And it’s always a rude awakening when you are suddenly expected to start paying your own bills after school.

Blessing Onyelobi

May 25, 2020

Aluta and Chill
We Asked 5 Students About How Much They Look Forward To Returning To School

It’s been two months and chances of Nigerian schools reopening are still pretty slim. Schools across the country were closed to control the spread of the coronavirus in Nigeria. Anyway, we reached out to some Nigerian students and they talked about how much they look forward to going back to school.

Oiza – Ahmadu Bello University

I understand why schools had to be closed, but I’d rather be anywhere but this house. It’s hard enough to study in school, but it’s almost impossible to do that at home. My friends and I even had a study arrangement that lasted for a week. Maybe online learning facilities would have made the difference if they were available, I guess we will never know.

I’m tired of this house. Stress. No power. No privacy. Every single move I make is judged with one impossible standard. I’m cut off from people who understand. It’s very messed up and I’m tired. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve cried. I’m prepared for the Fs I’ll have after this extended break. It’s like ASUU strike, except you can’t blame the FG this time. I’m really looking forward to returning to school and getting my freedom back. Go on late night walks with friends. And oh, did I mention the school Wi-fi?

Gamaliel – University of Lagos

News of the closure was a punch to the gut. I knew I would be cut off from my allowance and that didn’t sound like it would be fun for me. Besides, home is somewhat far, so getting myself here was a chore. At the moment, I’m running on pure vibes. Do I want schools to reopen? Absolutely! That would make my life easier. I would get my allowance back, to start with. Then my freedom. And I would be reunited with my girl. Strangely enough, I miss everything about school — the lectures, the tests and exams. I’ve now realised that I love education so much.

Eseosa – University of Port Harcourt

You should have seen how eager I was to go home when this entire thing started. To me, home meant one important thing — food. Everything was great for a while, but now I know the novelty has worn off and it’s beginning to look like a punishment. I’m not going to lie, my school work has suffered. I’ve spent close to two months at home and I only started studying this week. So yes, the only place I want to be right now is my school. The best thing that could possibly happen to me right now is Nigerian schools reopening. For starters, I miss my friends, ugh! I miss living alone, I can’t take the see-finish in this house anymore.

Rebecca – Kwara State University

I was livid when the school got closed. I mean, corona is not yet to play, but I was supposed to begin exams in a week, and everything got cancelled. That was really painful. I’m too comfortable at home, and it’s affecting how I study. And I don’t think virtual learning would have helped because physical classes are not 100 per cent effective at all times, now what are the chances that virtual learning would do better? Anyway, I have only one wish at the moment — and it is for schools to reopen, so I can write my exams and get it over it.

Rajunor – University of Calabar

For some reason, I didn’t think this situation was going to last this long. I wasn’t even going to come home as I didn’t see the point. But here we are. I’m doing a lot of things at home, but studying is not one of them. There’s always one thing to do or the other. I won’t say I’m excited about returning to school right now though. I’m really indifferent about it. But if it happens, I excited about attending lectures. We’ve lost a lot of time already, so I know there’s going to be quite a rush when the school gates are finally open. It’s somewhat scary, but I think I’m prepared for that.

While we wait for Nigerian schools reopening, you can catch up on some Aluta and Chill stories in the box below

Find more Aluta and Chill Stories by clicking this box.

Toheeb Lanlehin

May 22, 2020

Aluta and Chill

coronavirus, Nigerian Universities, students
8 Things Every Nigerian Student Who Stabs Classes Will Understand

The university is divided into two groups — students who wouldn’t miss a class unless they absolutely can’t help it and students who could care less about attending lectures. If you belong to the second group, this post is for you.

1. You, when it’s time for course registration

Y’all should look at me very well now oh. You won’t see me again

2. When your roommates are preparing to go for class, but you’ve just gotten to the sweetest part your sleep

Sleep is for the living.

3. How you sit through the few classes you attend

I’m in the ghetto.

4. You, when a friend hits you up to notify you of an impromptu test

My guyyyyyyy.

5. What your phone looks like when it’s time for exams

Thank God for technology.

6. When a lecturer chases you out of the exam hall because they’ve never seen your face

Excuse me, sir. You’ve made a mistake.

7. How you look at everyone who expects you to flunk your exams

But what’s you people’s own?

8. How you look at them when the results come out and you passed all your courses

Hahaha. The jokes have always been on you.

Toheeb Lanlehin

May 22, 2020

Aluta and Chill
5 UNN Students Talk About Their Experience With Stressful Situations In School

Students in Nigerian universities have stories to tell, but hardly anyone to tell them to. For our new weekly series, Aluta and Chill, we are putting the spotlight on these students and their various campus experiences.

As someone who spent about four years on a Nigerian campus, I know that it’s almost impossible to avoid stressful situations in a university. It’s almost like the institutions are set up to frustrate you over the bare minimum. For Aluta and Chill this week, I spoke to a couple of University of Nigeria students and got them to talk about a stressful experience they’ve had to deal with at the university.

Emmanuel — Being the class rep almost cost him a year

I had just gotten into the university and was so hyped about everything I was about to experience. When classes started, we held elections for the post of the class representative and I joined the race. I won, but it felt good only for a short time. The thing about being the class rep is that you become so busy helping others out that you forget that you have your problems too. I was caught up with helping other students out with lecturers, class schedules and those sorts of things that I didn’t put much thought into the fact that I hadn’t completed my first-year registration process. And if you miss the registration for the year, the chances that you will be kicked out of the school is pretty high.

When I eventually got started on it, it was almost too late. The funny thing about the whole thing was that only a few people were willing to help me out. I expected more from people because I was the rep, but sadly it didn’t work like that. By the time everything was ready, it was the last day of registration and the queues were so long. I had to beg the official in charge of registering students in my department to ensure that I got it done. It’s not an experience I like to remember. I got a lesson out of the whole mess though — I realised that I couldn’t kill myself. The first thing I did was leave my role as the class rep and I haven’t looked back since.

Zorle — Made a series of trips between two towns to get a list

I switched from the Department of Combined Arts to Law in my second year. I needed to transfer my school files from the campus in Nsukka to Enugu, where the law faculty is. The faculty officer was supposed to get a list of the transfer students, but for some reason, nobody sent it. And I didn’t know about this until I moved to Enugu. She wasn’t helpful and literally chased me out of her office. This kicked off back and forth trips between Nsukka and Enugu.

It was only a list and you would think that it shouldn’t be hard to get, but no, these people had other plans for me. At the Nsukka campus, the woman in charge kept me in her office for over 3 hours. When she finally remembered that I was there to get something, she told me that she had closed for the day. I had no choice but to travel back to Enugu.

For the next three days, I travelled between Enugu and Nsukka to make sure that I got this list. On the third day, I had grown so weary of the whole thing, and when it looked like she was going to leave me unattended to again, I braced myself, approached her and told her that I couldn’t go another day without getting what I needed. My little outburst worked, but it was late evening before I was done for that day.

I had nowhere to stay in Nsukka, so it was important to return to Enugu that night. I was stranded for hours before I got a vehicle to Enugu and I had to fight tooth and nail before I got myself a seat. I realised how broke the trips had made me. And how exhausted I was. By the way, I didn’t get the list on that day too — she asked me to come back. I broke down inside the bus and cried. That period was a really dark time for me. It wasn’t fun at all.

Jubilee — An exam held hours later than originally planned

I was in my third year and it was time for exams. So, this exam was supposed to be held in the school library. But as it turned out, some students were using the library for their examination already. We were moved to another venue, and that was supposed to be all. The exam was scheduled for 8 am, but with the whole venue problem, we didn’t settle in until 12 noon. One hour passed and we hadn’t started the exam and nobody told us what was happening. Word started to fly around that there were issues with the server. Another hour passed and nothing happened.

Around 6 pm, they asked us to go back to the library where the exam was originally scheduled to hold. It was raining but we had no choice but to defy the rain and make it to the venue. Everyone was tired and hungry. Anyone who left would probably have to sit for the exam the following year. Anyway, we were finally done around 8 pm. However, the day wasn’t over for me. I was living outside the campus, so I needed a school shuttle to get me home. Unfortunately, it had rained earlier and these vehicles tended to disappear whenever it rained. It was a big struggle to get myself home. It was just a really stressful day and everything happened because the system wanted to mess with us.

Melissa — Fell ill during exams

This happened in my fourth year. There was an ASUU strike earlier in the year and when it was finally called off, the school ran on an accelerated calendar. We had to learn the same volume of work but in a shorter period of time. On the day exams started, I fell super ill. I was put on drugs and injections for a couple of days. But the thing is that I needed to get a lot of sleep to give the medication a chance to work, but it was exam season and I couldn’t afford to do that. I had to push the pain to the background and study for my exams. I was pulling all-nighters and studying most of the day.

I actually thought that I was going to die. The trickiest part was making sure I didn’t blank out inside the exam hall. The fatigue had caught up with me and I was always racing against time to make sure I wouldn’t have to write any of the exams the following year. It would have been easier if I was closer to home. My friends in school couldn’t help because they were studying for their exams too. I was alone, sick, and in pain.

Victor — The aftermath of a protest made his life hell

I was in my first year and the second-semester exams were approaching. I don’t know what happened there but the power company stopped supplying the school. The school’s back-up generator was also faulty, so we had power for only 3 hours every day. This went for three weeks and it didn’t look like there was an end in sight. The Student Union decided to protest, but things got out of hand. The protest escalated into a full-blown riot. The school management shut down the school for a month. When they called us back, they insisted that we had to pay a reparation fee to the bank.

This was where it started to become unbearable for me. I made trips to the bank for an entire week, but I couldn’t pay this fee because the portal was too congested. That was only the beginning. The struggle to get a court affidavit, confirming that I wasn’t a cultist was the next thing I had to deal with. Then, clearance from the school security department. Finally, I had everything I needed to submit to the student affairs department, but the problem was that there were thousands of students there, fighting to submit their documents to. It was quite ‘the violent taketh it by force’ situation. And here is the thing — I wasn’t even in school when the protests broke out, I was in Ebonyi State.

Are you currently studying in Nigeria or elsewhere and have a story to share about your life in school? Please take a minute to fill this form and we will reach out to you ASAP.

Can’t get enough Aluta and Chill? Check back every Thursday at 9 AM for a new episode. Find other stories in the series here.

Toheeb Lanlehin

May 21, 2020

Aluta and Chill

Enugu\, Nsukka, UNN
6 Times Nigerian Students Find Exam Very Stressful

The examination is a concept every student struggles with. Also, there are a lot of stressful things that could happen inside the examination hall that make a lot of students go “This is the ghetto.” Here are some of them:

1. When you can’t find any question from the “Area of Concentration” your lecturer gave you

Lecturers are scum!

2. When the topic you were so sure wouldn’t come out turns out to be a compulsory question

Do I even need to bother writing this exam?

3. When you’ve planned a perfect sitting formation with your friends and the invigilator separate the gang

You’re evil and you should know it.

4. When the invigilator stands by your table and wouldn’t leave

Let me breathe na

5. When the caffeine you’ve been running on gets out of your system and you just want to put your head on your table and sleep

Is this how these village people want to get me

6. When the exam is over and you find out that you may have interpreted a question wrongly

Oh God, why have you forsaken me?

Toheeb Lanlehin

May 20, 2020

Aluta and Chill
8 Things Only Nigerian Social Science Students Will Relate To

Social science faculty is usually the most diverse and fun cocktail in Nigerian universities. It’s even more ironic because people hardly write JAMB with plans to study a social science course, but alas the system does what it does best and 4 years later it makes a political scientist out of a 16-year-old who wanted to be the youngest SAN in Nigeria. Here are some of the things Nigerian social science students can definitely relate to.

1. People wondering where you would work after school.

Talmabout so will you be a politician? Or you will work as a secretary? Stay there and be asking, you will still pay money to attend my career masterclass soon.

2. Exam questions that always start with “Explain”, “Describe”, “Enunciate”, “Outline”, “argue for the case of” and other orishirishi that basically means you are expected to spend no less than one page for each answer.

Social science exams are never a “straight to the point matter”, you are expected to take the longest route with enough English and important keywords.

3. Too much talk in lectures.

Which is probably why they expect you to talk just as much during exams. There’s always a lot to say and the lecturers spend ample time saying it.

4. Jam-packed classes.

Social science departments are always overcrowded, and schools make no effort to creating larger classrooms or providing more seats. Once you have your reg number you are on your own.

5. Standing at the back of the class or by the window of the class for lectures.

Because the class is already full as usual.

6. Coursemates with dreams/plans of switching over to professional courses.

When you ask them they say “It’s what the university gave them”. Everybody wants to port to a professional course so they can make their Nigerian parents proud.

7. Too many candidates during SUG elections.

Somehow social science faculty always turns out to be a congregation of the most politically ambitious students in the university as regards the SUG. During SUG elections there are always at least 4 candidates from social science contesting for the SUG president position when other faculties only have one candidate each.

8. Back to back parties.

Because we obviously put the social in science after all.

That’s 8 things Nigerian Social Science Students can definitely relate to. We also made a list for Engineering students and it’s another fun read.

.

Blessing Onyelobi

May 18, 2020

Aluta and Chill

Nigerian Universities, social science faculty
11 Sentences That Will Trigger You If You Attended Secondary School In Nigeria

A good part of the 6 years the average Nigerian spent in secondary school was the ghetto, thanks to all the rules and whatnot. The staff had all the power, and they weren’t shy about using them. Chances are that you heard the following during your time in secondary school, in different variations, and hated them.

1. See me

Nothing good hardly comes out of going to see a teacher in the staff room

2. Everybody, stand up, raise up your hands and close your eyes

The teachers’ favourite hack to controlling noise-making

3. What subject do you have after this period?

Math teachers are in this group. If it’s a free period, forget about it for that day.

4. Come out and solve this problem

Again, maths teachers. The walk from your seat to the board was usually a long one.

5. Call your parents

When your principal decides to be petty and involve your parents in something they didn’t need to know about.

6. The last person to get here is in trouble

Party scatter!

7. Submit your notes to the class captain

This last person you wanted this command from was your Biology teacher

8. Tear a sheet of paper

Apparently, they were preparing us for tertiary education

9. 5 minutes more

What everyone needed to hear to start scribbling furiously

10. Pens up

Didn’t this exam start like 30 minutes ago?

11. Come out if you scored less than 5

Never ends well. Never!

Toheeb Lanlehin

May 18, 2020

Aluta and Chill
8 Things Only Nigerian Psychology Students Will Relate To

If Nigerian psychology students wrote a book about their experience studying psychology in Nigerian universities, best believe it would be a hit. That book will be packed with hilarious situations involving lecturers and other students that will make you go “Say what now”? Now that I’m thinking of it may be the book should be written.

For now, read this list and get a glimpse into some of the most ghetto things Nigerian psychology students have to deal with;

1. People asking if you can read minds.

Psychology students legit get asked the dumbest questions. How will anyone expect someone else to read minds when jazz or the power of the Holy Ghost is not involved?

2. People shitting on the course because it’s not real science.

The discrimination is real my people. It’s the real ghetto and Ms. Biological Science wastes no time in reminding psychology that she is nothing but fancy and deep conjecture. *wipes tears*

3. People asking dumb questions like “Can you tell what I am thinking?”

No, but I can tell that you haven’t used your brain in a while that’s why you are asking questions in the nonsense like this.

4. People asking dumb questions like so can you hypnotize me?

If I had hypnosis powers you think I would not have hypnotized by way out of Nigeria?

5. People saying “so you’ll work in a psychiatric hospital?”

Yes, and you will obviously have to be my first client.

6. Hatred for SPSS.

Oh that software that suddenly made psychology look a lot like Maths. People study courses like psychology so that the only time they have to deal with numbers is when counting money. But no, SPSS brings all the maths back in. Talmabout regression analysis and whatnot.

7. All the questionnaires we have to print for final year project.

And after spending all your money doing 400 copies for the first stage, you’ll now carry them like Jehovah witness going door to door begging people to have mercy on you and full the questionnaires.

8. The constant reference to Sigmond Freud.

You hear him in the first year, they bring him into more conversations in the second year, you continue referencing him in the third year and by final year you draft a project topic with his name in it.

While you are here, we have another list of 7 Things Only Nigerian Engineering Students Will Relate To you’ll love.

Blessing Onyelobi

May 15, 2020

Aluta and Chill

Nigerian students, Nigerian universi, Nigerian university students, Psychology department