Final year might be the most exciting year of university life, but the defining year (in most cases) has to be freshman year because it sets the pace for the events of the subsequent years.

The power of hindsight is an interesting thing, so we decided to ask a couple of final year students to talk about the things they would tell their 100-level selves if they could.

1. Camela, University of Abuja

“Save as much as you can. That ‘chop life before life chop you’ lifestyle isn’t sustainable.”

2. Hope, University of Calabar 

“Don’t catch feelings for anyone. They are a lot of work and they will get overwhelming. Develop a studying timetable that works early enough and stick to it. Also, there’s a lot of beautiful memories you can make by socializing more, don’t miss out on them.”

3. Success, Covenant University

“Lose your fears and try everything you want. Build a valuable network of friends. Put a lot of distance between you and negative people.”

4. Mojolaoluwa, University of Lagos 

“Trust your past questions. These lecturers are lazy.”

5. Desmond, University of Ibadan.

“Don’t be naive. Be safe. Manage your expectations or you will be setting yourself up for a series of unfortunate events”

6. Chiamaka, University of Jos

“It will be hard but don’t lose focus or give up on yourself. Keep your eyes on the prize. You can do better.”

7. Eniola, University of Ibadan 

“Don’t put yourself inside a box. There’s a lot of non-academic stuff you can do. Explore and live freely.”

8. Ifeoluwa, University of Benin

“Stay low-key. You don’t have to be nice to everyone. There’s a lot of people you have no business knowing — avoid them.”

9. Joshua, University of Nigeria

“Take your tests seriously if you want that first class. Choose your electives on the chance of getting a good grade, not because you have an interest in the course.

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.

Last weekend, I wasn’t sure what this week’s Aluta and Chill theme would be. I got my “eureka” moment during a casual conversation with one of the subjects when he complained about his school health services. This triggered a painful memory of an event that happened to someone I knew when I was at university. And I figured that I might be onto something. It looks like I was right — from the student who holds her school clinic responsible for the death of a student to the student who doesn’t understand why he was almost refused treatment because of his appearance, it appears that that two major obstacles stand in the way of students and quality healthcare at school: Poorly run facilities and unsympathetic and disrespectful medical personnel.

Seyi, Ladoke Akintola University — “A student needed an ambulance but it wasn’t available. He died.”

The clinic at my school is poorly-equipped, so it’s always a struggle every time I’ve gone there. One time, I was attacked by dogs and needed to get an anti-rabies shot — they didn’t have it. The good thing is I survived every time. A student wasn’t so lucky. 

In my second year, a guy slumped during a football match, and he was rushed to the school clinic. He had trouble breathing and needed to be on oxygen support. However, the oxygen cylinders were empty. The school clinic had a weird habit of referring cases they couldn’t handle to Bowen University Teaching Hospital, even though the school had its own teaching hospital, and it was closer to the school. That wasn’t even the problem this time — the ambulance that would have conveyed him to the hospital wasn’t available. Why? Someone at the clinic had sent the driver out to buy food. Before they could sort out the logistics and get the student the help needed, he died.

The events that led to his death riled the student population up and led to a protest. Of course, no one took responsibility for the tragedy. The school management only released a statement and expected life to continue. While this wasn’t a personal experience, it hurt deeply.

Ihenacho, Electrical Engineering, Landmark University — “They said I needed a blood transfusion, but I didn’t”

I always hated going to the hospital, but I had to go to my school clinic earlier this year. I had passed out at the school cafeteria. The nurses on duty didn’t waste time before they chalked it down to malaria. I suspected that they got the diagnosis wrong, making me uncomfortable. I demanded to see a doctor and requested a blood test. It took hours before I got both, but thank God I did. It wasn’t malaria.

My blood level was a little low. The doctor said I had to do a blood transfusion and that it had to be done immediately. I was like “what?” I didn’t know much, but I knew that a blood transfusion was usually for severe cases of blood loss. It wasn’t like I was in critical condition. Besides, they hadn’t informed my parents. I refused and notified my parents. After spending a few days at the hospital, I knew I couldn’t trust them anymore. I went home and to another hospital and did more tests. They didn’t suggest a blood transfusion and didn’t even think I needed one. Thinking about that experience still freaks me out. 

Aziz, Accounting, University of Ilorin — “The nurse wouldn’t treat me because of my… haircut.”

My friend and I had a bike accident on our way to buy food. We sustained multiple injuries, and we knew we had to play it safe and go to the clinic. But it was very late in the night, and they’d locked the school gate. Luckily, we managed to stop the bleeding that night. 

We went to the school clinic very early the following morning. It took hours before we saw a doctor. After taking a look at our wounds, he wrote us a prescription and directed us to the nurses. This was where it got real — the nurses said they wouldn’t treat us. They claimed that my hair was too full, and my friend’s nails were too long. After a series of back and forth, they agreed to tend to my wounds only because a barbershop wasn’t in the area. But my friend had to chew his nails right there before they treated him. It was so wild!

Zainab, Computer Science, University of Lagos — “The nurses went off on me because of a card.”

I went to the clinic once, and I almost wished that I hadn’t. It was during my first year at school. One minute, I was fine, but I developed a fever in the next. I wanted to go home, but my roommate suggested the clinic. Besides, it was already late. The struggle started from the second I stepped foot at the clinic. First, they wanted to send me back because I didn’t come during their “working hours.” They relaxed their stance when they realised how high my body temperature was.

After that, they asked to see my clinic card, which I didn’t have. I was confused momentarily, and that was all they needed to go off on me. They didn’t hold back their words, and this went on for about 15 minutes. I was dying, but these people thought it was fun to be vicious and mean. Anyway, they opened a temporary file for me and sent me to the doctor. The doctor wasn’t warm either — she was in quite a mood. 

My fever got worse during the night. My roommates rushed me back the next morning. The card thing came up again, which was weird because I was just there the previous night, and they opened a file for me. Obviously, it didn’t go into their records. And from where they were standing, that was my fault. I was in bad shape, but that didn’t stop them from going off on me again. I didn’t understand how they found it so easy to be mean. When they eventually got over themselves and attended to me, it turned out there were no vacant beds. I had to stay at the nurses’ station until my sister arrived later that day and took me home. I’m never going back there. 

Mobola, University of Ilorin — “I needed a tetanus shot, and I almost missed an assignment deadline because of it.”

I was working on a school project — a one-bedroom apartment model — when I cut myself. I didn’t even think it was a big deal and continued with my life. When I was making a last-minute adjustment to my design, I decided to be cute. I took a picture of the wound and sent it to my mum, hoping she would just say sorry and probably send me money. Nope! She freaked out and demanded that I go to the school clinic for a tetanus shot. She didn’t relent when I told her that I had an assignment to submit in a few hours.

I got to the clinic, and the line was freakishly long. I would have left, but my mum was calling me every second to make sure I was there. When it got to my turn, I realised that I needed a clinic card. They refused to attend to me without one, even when I explained my deadline situation. 

I needed a passport photograph to get a card, and I thought I was lucky because I had one with me. However, they rejected it because it had a white background and the acceptable background was red. I mentioned my assignment again, but it didn’t inspire sympathy. Now, I was frustrated and close to tears. I dashed out to get a new passport and rushed back. The entire process was so stressful that I wondered why I even went there at all.

Finally, I got what I needed. Now, it was me against time. I raced down to my hostel to get my design and ran the rest of the way to class. I got there just seconds before the deadline. Everyone had even submitted their assignment, but I knew the class rep, and that worked in my favour. I learned my lesson though — the clinic is not the best place to go in dire situations. 

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.

Things will not always go your way — no one knows this better than a Nigerian student navigating the occasionally murky waters of uni life. We’ve all been there, so why not be a little nostalgic about it?

Here we go:

 1. When your laptop has no backup power and NEPA takes light in the middle of an assignment

If you’re not one to hit ‘Control S’ very 5 seconds, you might be in trouble.

2. When you need to use the toilet and all the toilet seat covers  in your  hostel are down

It’s an unspoken rule: if the toilet seat is down, just respect yourself and leave.

3. When you’re dashing off to an early money lecture and you remember that you forgot your money at home

Slaps harder when you’re already in a cab

4. When a lecturer asks a question in class and no one answers

A test nobody asked for is about to happen

5. When the invigilator you thought was distracted asks you to submit your exam sheet and leave the hall

Game over! Get your begging face on.

6. When the lecturer asks everyone to come to check their test results in the office

Even though it usually means nothing in the end, your initial thought

7. When you stay out a little late and your hostel gate has been locked before you return 

If you live off-campus, this is a nightmare.

8. You, every time you’re out of garri, rice, noodles, or spaghetti  

You’re dead, literally!

One of the things students enjoy about university is the noticeable absence of parents. Hm, freedom. But the thing is lecturers are kinda like parents, only that they use different titles. 

I had a lot of “E b things” moments when I was in university. The vice-chancellor of my uni liked to throw in the ‘in-loco parentis’ line at every chance he got. I was in my second or third year when he made his ultimate Nigerian parent move — we were protesting something (I don’t even remember what it was). He didn’t have time for nonsense, so he went to the school radio station to announce that he’d suspended academic activities and shut the school down for two weeks. The man basically told us to get the hell out of his school. That was the uni equivalent of your parents sending you to your room to think about your many sins. 

Anyway, if you don’t see the similarities between the two sets of people yet, the rest of this post should open your eyes. 

1. They are both hung up on respect

A Nigerian parent will question your home training if you don’t call them mummy/daddy, even if they’re not your actual parents. A Nigerian professor will act out when you don’t address them by their proper title. We know you put in the work to get that title but be calming down sometimes.

2. They try to be sarcastic and do a poor job of it

“Put it on my head” is an expression every Nigerian has heard from their parents. While a Nigerian lecturer won’t exactly tell you this, they have loads of other things they say to achieve the same effect. 

3. They both have their favourites

Nigerian parents will never admit that they like one of their children more than the other, but the signs are always there. Nigerian lecturers are slightly less subtle in this area — you will know the student they genuinely have a soft spot for. 

4. Gadgets and phones make them feel some kind of way

Both Nigerian parents and lecturers genuinely believe that your phone is ruining your life. Your parents will blame your phone for your headaches, the lecturers will blame it for your grades or something else that suits their agenda. 

5. They love to tell hilarious stories about their past

Nigerian parents love to tell stories about their glory days of coming out the top of their class. Nigerian lecturers will tell you stories about how things were more ‘difficult’ during their time at the university. They do it for the same reason — they hope these stories will inspire you to do better. Uhm, if only most of them are true. 

Well, I guess the average lecturer is someone’s parent too. That should explain it. 

If you think we missed anything, let us know in the comments.

One thing every student will tell you is this: The library is one of the most important places to visit as a student. It does not matter if you lied to your parents that you were in the library when really, you just needed time alone with your school partner. Truth is, when the exam was close, we all ran to the library for some help.

Now it’s 2020 and nobody expected COVID-19 to take over our lives, especially for students who have had to put their academic journey on hold so they could stay safe. Despite these, libraries play an important role in the life of students and they cannot get over it. Here are three valid reasons why:

1) Boredom: Hahahahaha! We know you did not see this one coming but we will be honest. You are home, stuck with the family, and it’s not like it’s a bad thing but when on campus, you can be seen walking around at 12 midnight. At home, you know you can’t even try that so what do you do when you are tired of Twitter, you search for libraries, as an excuse to hide from mama’s call, to catch up on your syllabus, to brush up on general knowledge. Whatever it is, you know you definitely visited a library. Don’t worry, we will keep your secret.

2) University eLibrary: This is our favorite, federal universities are fast getting digital libraries. Maybe they were inspired by COVID-19 or maybe because the MTN Foundation is really investing in youth empowerment and education. For instance, the MTN Foundation officially handed over a digital library to the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University with over50 desktops to enhance students’ access to learning.

This was done in commemoration of the Foundation’s Chairman, Prince Adelusi’s birthday, who commissioned it during a virtual event on Thursday, July 30, 2020. Judging from the appreciation videos we have been seeing on Twitter, we guess the OAU students cannot wait to get back to school.

3) Access to the world: With the growing technological advancement, one can have access to just about anything. Infact, libraries have transcended from the conventional hardbacks to e-books, video resource materials, online courses, animations and so many other materials. It’s like learning just got interesting. Everyday, new discoveries are made, new editions are published. We now have different ways to comprehend knowledge and understanding. Somehow, it feels like we were blind to this and isolation opened our eyes.If you think about it, there are many reasons to be obsessed with libraries this year. We took the first step and offered three reasons.

What’s yours?