Zik Hall's Block B struggles with faulty taps leads to growing concerns among residence.

By: Jet-li Bololo

The Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall Block B is currently facing an unforeseen water supply challenge as five out of the eleven taps equipped with a tank have become faulty, leaving only six functional, including two with detached necks. Residents are growing increasingly concerned and calling for immediate repairs.

The heart of the matter involves five taps in block B that have become inoperable, leaving residents with limited access to running water. Additionally, two of the functioning taps have detached necks further complicating the issue.

Speaking with a ZHPO correspondence, Sam, a B blockite, expressed his frustration, stating,“It is very difficult to get water, sometimes when I get there, I’ll have to queue since it’s just one tap that’s running well and sometimes you might be pressed, you’ll now start looking for water running helter skelter. If there’s queue,I do fetch water from A block and when I get there sometimes there’s still queue.”

he added that “ it’s just one solution we need. The Hall management should please fix it, and another is find a way to create a kind of awareness to students that they should be careful in the usage of the taps to avoid mishandling it or breaking the necks in order to prevent it from getting spoilt again.”

The sudden malfunction of taps has disrupted the daily lives of Block B’s residents, making tasks like cooking, washing, and personal hygiene challenging.

The residents are looking forward to the response of the Hall management in repairing the faulty taps and addressing the detached necks on the functional ones. While anticipating the commencement of repairs, residents are encouraged to use the six functioning taps and stay informed about updates.

The issue of faulty taps in block B highlights the importance of essential amenities in student accomodations.

Are you passionate enough?

By Thunder Balogun.

The burning desires of a man rise up the hope of
fulfillment. Dexterity mould up a bit of life, obscession
becomes the core for a great destiny. Sometimes, hope
get lost in the air, no encouragement comes from heaven,
even God except you to fire on irrespective of your state of
mind.

Pain is the basic unit of fulfillment, anguish is the core to
greatness, suffering is the food for upcoming Legends,
understand this and know peace. Let men move up the
the thornful mountain of Life, bleeding is necessary as our
value comes from that constant banging of Life.

The wide crevice of hell brighten up my dream, constant
flapping of my eyelid never stop as I couldn’t sleep a bit,
my destiny keeps calling in loud voice, its voice is ultrasonic.
My dream keeps saying ” buy me a touch of fulfillment I want
to come to life”. The flesh respond in several degree of diligence
but is the diligence enough? Maybe yes, may be No, you know
deep down in yourself. The more pain you drink, the more you
become thirsty for success.

The light bulb shows a bit of glow, couldn’t wait for it’s highest intensity,
I guess my diligence is smaller than my faith. Reality keeps speaking ” work
more, work more, work more”, couldn’t get his voice out of my head, my head
is full of his choruses as I have to do it out of reflex.

Anything can be achieved if you consume the reality behind it, build up a castle
of stress watered with sweat of the craziest amount of hard work as you rise
above the stars of mockery from your fellow Sapiens.

Take control of your future, crack more nuts, break your bones but don’t be
crippled, your story will be read by your offsprings as you stood the hill of
adversity despite constant nailing of sinisters. Be your own hero, settling for
less is a super disaster. Know reality of things, seek for your freedom, don’t
be at the mercy of another man.

[EDITORIAL]ZIKISM NOT CULTISM

Tuesday 26, September 2023.

There has always been a common theme among people to term what they don’t know or understand to be evil and dangerous. They try to create a perception and come to a hasty generalization for which to back up their claims and believe. Leading to a wrong definition and understanding of the said event or action.

It does not come as a surprise when people describe what is strange to them with wrongful notions and qualifications.This is the best way to categorize the perception of Zikism and the case of Zikhall in the social enclaves of University of Ibadan. Although many Zikites understand what its stands for, there are still a few and mostly outsiders who have a different opinion on the subject matter.

The Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall is a very peculiar hall of residence in the University of Ibadan. There is a saying that goes “when Zikhall sneezes the whole of University of Ibadan catches cold”. That is not to say that the hall is a disruptive hall, but rather to show the social and political influence of the hall in the university scene which has been evident in recent times.

What makes Zikhall stand out amongst other halls is the famed and renowned “Spirit of Zikism”. The Spirit of Zikism which entails oneness, togetherness and brotherhood is the basis and foundation on which the social and political structure of the hall is rooted.

To many outsiders looking in there seems to be a sense of mystery and obscure puzzle about the term Zikism and many feel the foundation of Zikism is based on cultism or sacred society. Many students see Zikism as a backward mantra that promotes actions of miscreant and misdemeanor against other students. One of the aspect of Zikism that has come under serious scrutiny is the ARO tradition which is seen as a vulgar tradition used to attack and assault students most especially the female gender.

The ARO is a traditional act of spontaneous interactive banter between students. It is the use of playful and good-humoured words among individuals or groups in a friendly manner. But in recent times the ARO has taken a turn for the worse as it has been used as a form of attack on personalities and assault on a person both male and female alike.

There has been an age-long movement to outlaw the practice in the school environment. and there have been major moves to that effect due to reports by affected students. Although there have been little to no official report on the incidents, there was a large crackdown on the practice in the Zikhall with students warned to desist from participating in ARO or face the consequences of their actions.

There is a popular saying that says “Omo ti ko n’iya, kii d’egbo eyin” which translates to a child without a mother does not have the luxury to nurse back wounds. This just shows that students should not embark on activities that might jeopardize their future in the school and future especially without a backbone.

This is a warning for most students who come into the University system looking to join and belong to different cults and fraternities. The urge to feel among and stride along has been the bane of the Nigerian youths society as they try to measure up to their peers and this creates enormous peer pressure that leads to them making wrong decisions.

In Zikhall the mantra Zikisim is not cultism is a notion that must be taken seriously, and there is a need to sensitize this among members of the hall who might think otherwise and to other students who might feel intimidated with such mantra. The aim and objective of the Zikism mantra has never changed, it is to create a sense of belonging and togetherness among student residents of the hall and not to create a sense of fraternity or cultism which might be thoughts eliciting from people outside the hall. So it comes as a welcome development when the hall embarked on a rally last week, during the 60th anniversary celebration, to sensitize the people about the Zikism mantra and its distinction from Cultism, like the signs boldly say ZIKISM IS NOT CULTISM.

Zik@60: Zikhall holds marathon

By Sailor

The Nnamdi Azikiwe hall of residence held a marathon event on Saturday 23 September 2023 to mark the 60th anniversary celebration of the hall.

In celebration of the hall’s 60th anniversary a mini marathon was organized by the sports minister in conjunction with the executive council of the hall to mark this milestone achievement of the hall.

The race which started from the hall’s main gate saw participants run through the major roads of the University before making their way back to the Hall’s gate which also served as the end point of the event.

Observers and volunteers were placed at the side of the road to check on the athletes, with two bicycles and a motorcycle leading the way while an ambulance was placed behind the athletes to care for any of the athletes with an emergency or injuries.

The event which started in early hours of the day saw a competitive turn out of participants with over 30 students, one of which was Yusuf moshood, who came first in the race and won the cash prize of N15,000. Olarenwaju Enoch and Igbehinadun Oyinbusola took the 2nd and 3rd place, with the cash prize of N10,000 and N5,000 respectively.

The cash prizes were presented to the participants by the Hall Chairman, Uthman Adeniji and the Sports minister Adesina Daniel Ademola. In a chat with ZHPO, the hall’s sports minister, Adesina Daniel, Pka Oscar, he gave a vote of thanks to God and Zikites for participating and the ones who rendered help during the course of the event, in his words he said “we thank God that it was a success and there was no injury, we also give thanks to the Zikites who came out to render assistance in their own capacity”. He also talked about the cash prize of the event and other events planned out to mark the end of the 60th anniversary ceremony.

The event is one of many events planned by the executive council to mark the Zikhall @60 celebration that went down during the week as other events such as a health check up, novelty match and other programmes have been lined up to mark the celebration of the landmark achievement of the hall.

Zik@60: Zik Hall Holds Cultural Night

By Beautide

The Nnamdi Azikiwe hall in continuation of the grandeur celebration of Zik Hall @ 60, played host to an unforgettable cultural night on September 23, 2023.

The event was a resounding success, drawing a massive turnout from various male and female halls of residence within the university.

The evening was graced by distinguished guests, including the University of Ibadan Student Union (UI’SU) President, well known as Host and other prominent figures from the female halls of residence. The cultural extravaganza showcased an array of captivating activities that left attendees enthralled.

The night kicked off with an exhilarating Kegite performance which transported the audience to the heart of Nigerian culture. Vibrant dances, melodious music, drumming, and the presence of traditional palm wine created an atmosphere of joy and togetherness, offering a glimpse into Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. The crowd was captivated by the energy and enthusiasm displayed during this performance.

The highlight of the event was the enthrilling performances by Queen Idia Hall and Awo Hall, showcasing the rich cultural diversity and talents which left the audience in awe of the incredible talent within the University of Ibadan’s students.
Adding a dash of competition to the mix, the fast-food eating competition saw four Zikites from A-D Block representing their respective blocks. The competition was fierce, while B-block representative, Aji was busy moulding bowl of Eba, others ate at a very vast pace, but in the end, the representative from A-Block emerged as the winner. Aji, representing B-Block, and the other participants put up valiant efforts but fell short and couldn’t meet up with the winner that ate with the speed light.

In an interview with Olusegun Michael, well recognized as shegzy, the Zik Hall Social Minister, he expressed his delight at the overwhelming success of the event. He remarked on how Zikites had showered him and other stakeholders with encomiums, reflecting the success of the event. He shared that the cultural night had garnered numerous positive comments and accolades from attendees, highlighting the tremendous effort put in by the organizers and performers. He also assumed the number of attendees to be more than 300.

While interviewing random Zikites and Queenites in attendance, oodles were effusive in their praise for those who prepared the food, especially the sumptuous egusi soup that left taste buds tingling. The culinary expertise on display received widespread acclaim and left attendees satisfied.

The Zik Hall Cultural Night event on September 23, 2023, will undoubtedly be remembered as a night of unity, cultural celebration, and sheer fun. It did not only showcase the vibrant culture within the University of Ibadan but also served as a testament to the power of bringing together different halls of residence for a common purpose. Zik Hall has set a high standard, leaving attendees eagerly anticipating the next event of the Zik at 60 programmes.

Unlocking the Healing Potent of Presence: How Mindfulness Transforms Mind and Body for Optimal Health

By Beautide

In today’s fast-paced world, where stress and anxiety seem to be constant companions, the pursuit of better health often takes a back seat. Did you know that one simple practice could significantly improve both your mental and physical well-being? Let’s explore the intriguing link between mindfulness and physical health, revealing how a mindful approach to life can pave the way to a healthier you.


Mindfulness: Beyond Meditation:
At its core, mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment, without judgment or distraction. While meditation is a well-known method to cultivate mindfulness, the application of mindfulness extends far beyond just sitting in silence. It can be seamlessly integrated into your daily life, from savoring a meal to embracing the joy of a simple walk in nature.

Reducing Stress:
Stress is a silent killer, contributing to various health issues, including heart disease, obesity, and mental health disorders. Mindfulness has shown remarkable effectiveness in reducing stress. By focusing on the present moment, individuals can break free from the cycle of worrying about the past or fearing the future. This reduction in stress levels can lead to a healthier heart, improved sleep, and enhanced overall well-being.

Boosting Immunity:
Your mind and body are intimately connected, and your mental state can significantly influence your immune system. Recent research suggests that mindfulness practices can boost the immune response. By reducing chronic stress and inflammation, mindfulness may help your body better defend itself against illnesses and infections.

Weight Management:
Mindful eating is a concept gaining traction in the health and wellness community. Instead of rushing through meals or eating on autopilot, mindfulness encourages you to savor every bite, pay attention to your body’s hunger cues, and make healthier food choices. Over time, this can lead to more effective weight management and a better relationship with food.

Pain Management:
Chronic pain can be debilitating, both physically and emotionally. Mindfulness-based techniques have been shown to be effective in managing pain by changing the way the brain perceives discomfort. By shifting focus away from pain and towards the present moment, individuals can experience a significant reduction in their perception of pain.

Better Sleep:
Sleep is the body’s natural way of rejuvenating itself. Unfortunately, stress and anxiety often disrupt sleep patterns. Mindfulness practices, such as guided relaxation and deep breathing, can calm the mind and promote restful sleep. Quality sleep, in turn, enhances cognitive function and supports physical healing.
Mindfulness is not a quick fix or a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather a lifelong journey toward better health. By incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine, you can enjoy the profound benefits of reduced stress, improved immunity, weight management, pain relief, and better sleep. Embracing mindfulness isn’t just a choice; it’s an investment in your physical and mental well-being. Start today, and let mindfulness guide you toward a healthier, happier life.

The One Step Forwards And The Two-step Backward of Zik PR

By Akinjide Adebowale

As a member of the last electoral committee, one of the most common promises made by many of the candidates was to intentionally orientate the new freshmen on the tradition of Zikism. I suspect that the prejudice that outsiders thought Zikism embodies has gotten to even their own notice.

For the most parts of last session, Zik Press gathered many opinion of outsiders, mostly females, who thought that the tradition of aroism is all there is to Zikism, and that aroism is nothing more than just verbal attacks on passers-by.

For ample time last session, Zik Press churned out many pieces to prosecute the saber-toothed tales of the ugly side of aroism.
In lieu of this, the former hall secretary (although, would not have come earlier if not for our call for it) had to share pamphlets to the effects of the nitty-gritty of what aroism entails, explicating that how it was then practiced mostly does not synergy the essence of Zikism. .

Dear reader, please, hold on, I am just not done with my tales yet.
The Zik hall rally that was held last week was a grand movement aimed to dispel the erroneously preconceived notion of Zikism, as most people who harbor these bad notions see it not as the quality of greatness (as the motto states) but as cultism or whatever the case may be. The movement was not just an activity to celebrate Zik at 60, it was a premeditatedly thought-out movement to shape the public perception. What could be more intentional intentional PR than naming an office after it— the office of the ‘Information and PROPAGANDA Minister?’
On Friday, the Zik hall common pot was held, a ceremony meant to mark the popular oneness, togetherness and brotherhood Zik hall is known for.

Unfortunately, at the same time the preparation for the common pot that feeds all was put on fire, another bad PR cooked simultaneously in the background.
It is a common practice that few hours before the common pot kick-starts, volunteering Zikites would be seen at the basement picking beans. However, the last common pot did not go without a very unusual drama.

As the boys gathered to pick beans for the event, passers-by were lightly asked to join in the picking of beans to show a sign of solidarity with the tradition. This picking could be as minute as the passers-by picking just a bean kernel.
However, this correspondent firsthand witnessed a female refusing to pick the beans, the reason—unknown to this correspondent. Her refusal to pick the beans saw gathered Zikites denying her passage access to her destination, forced to take a longer route to wherever her destination was.

The image of prejudice of coarseness that quite a number of females who have been victims of bad aroism or other sorts have against Zik was being manifested in reality. What civility is there in denying a person access to her destination just because she refused to pick the beans she would not eat out of?. That was undeniably an act of bully.

All efforts by this correspondent to reach out to the said lady was shunned by her.
Efforts towards a positive image like the recent rally to prove what Zikism is not would just be a lot explanations with no evidence if our explanations do not match our actual conduct. Let me say this emphatically, this bad PR has to stop!.

Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall Organizes Anti-Drug And Cultism Rally

By Oluwagbenga Kolawole.

Nnamdi Azikiwe hall on Wednesday, 20th of September, 2023 organized a anti-drug/ anticultism rally. This is coming as part of a series of activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the hall.

The rallying Zikites converged at Zik carpark from where they moved to different halls in the school campus. They carried with them different placards bearing messages and incriptions against drug abuse and cultism.

Sequel to the drug and cultism campaign rally, ZHPO reached out to the hall executives. And in an interview with the executive Hall chair of Nnamdi Azikiwe hall, Adeniji Uthman Akanbi, he revealed that the main object of the rally was to remove the misconception in some quaters that zikism is cultism. According to him “…some people are saying zikism is cultism. So we are marking the 60th anniversary of Zik hall with this campaign to show that in the history of this hall, there has been no traces of cultism”


Furthermore, he revealed that there has been an increase in the rate of drug trafficking and use in Nigerian universities. And this has necessitated a need for adequate sensitization and enlightenment.


When asked what Zikites should expect from the hall week celebrations, Yamburger said that Zikites should look forward to a variety of activities and entertaining events in the hall week. Also there will be more activities after the hall week. A leadership and financial summit was in the works according to him.

He concluded by saying that the current activities are still small scale, and that with the involvement of alumni, the 60th anniversary of the hall could produce bigger results.

Cultism and drug abuse is one of the common vices amongst Nigerian youths. According to NDLEA , 40 percent of Nigerian youths are involved in drug abuse.

Zik hall 60th anniversary celebration continues tomorrow, Thursday, 21st of September, 2023 with a movie night.

Zikhall Legislative Council Ratifies and Inaugurate Judicial Council and New Co-opted Members

By Beautide

The Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall legislative council on Saturday 16th September 2023, conducted the ratification of new judges as members of the judicial council and the ratification of a new co-opted member of the legislative.

In the sitting which was held as the Junior Common Room, JCR, the members of the house opened proceedings with the ratification and inauguration of Mr. Adegoke damilare, as a new co-opted member of the assembly representing D block constituency.

The meeting then transitioned to the inauguration of the Judicial Council, an essential body in ensuring justice within Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall.

One of the nominees Mr. Sunmisola Olude faced a series of questions during this phase. One noteworthy query was whether Mr. Olude would uphold justice even if his best friend were involved in an unlawful act such as assault. His response, expressing his commitment to justice, was followed by a reminder from Hon. Okechukwu Victor that justice must always be served impartially.

The motion to ratify Mr. Sunmisola Olude as a member of the Judicial Council (Judge) was put forward by Hon. Odunukan Damife, seconded by Hon. Adetunji Samson, and countered by Hon. Sodiq Hassan. The counter-motion prompted Mr. Sunmisola Olude to explain the principal members of the Judicial Council and their functions.

Mr. Osuji JohnPaul, a non-law student, was then questioned about his knowledge of the Judicial Council and his contributions to it. He pledged to interpret the law in a manner accessible to the average person, explaining why a non-law student was chosen to serve. Hon. Okechukwu moved the motion to ratify Mr. Osuji JohnPaul as a Judge, which was accepted.

During the meeting, a motion was made to take a brief 5-minute recess. After the recess, Mr. Aderibigbe Simeon Light, the last judicial nominees, was ushered to the podium for ratification. He was asked about the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and he correctly identified Mr. Oluwakayode Ariwoola. The motion to ratify Mr. Simeon Light as the Chief Judge of the Judicial Council, Zik Hall, was proposed by Hon. Odunukan Damife but countered by Hon. Okechukwu Victor. A series of questions followed, with Mr. Simeon Light responding adequately. Hon. Odunukan Damife reintroduced the motion to ratify Mr. Simeon Light as the Chief Judge, seconded by Hon. Sodiq Hassan, ultimately leading to his ratification.

Before adjournment, members raised concerns about plumbing and lighting issues in the hall. Hon. Hassan and Hon. Sotomi Daniel highlighted plumbing problems, while Hon. Abdulsamad addressed lighting issues on his floor.

ZikHall To Hold Marathon To Celebrate Zik @60

By Thunder Balogun

The Baluba Kingdom will be celebrating 60 years of existence starting from 18th to 30th of September, 2023. This will be a 7 day celebration as some events will take place in order to make the celebration more colorful. One of these events is a marathon race that will takes place on the 20th of September, 2023.

The sports minister, Daniel was questioned as he gave more insights on the event and how prepared they are. Below are the whole nine yard of his replies;
He said” the event will takes place on the sport day by 8:00am and the events is only meant for Zikites as there will be a registration fee of 500 naira”.

He stressed out the fact there is no limit to the number of marathoners that can participate as there would be refreshments for all runners alongside with involvement of the health committee who will provide effective first aid treatment in case of any injury along the way. The first aid personnels will be in the car that will follow the runners.

When he was asked if there would be kits for the marathoners, he answered by saying ” there will be tags for each participants for easy identification. There will also be a medical test for every participants on that day before they are allowed to participate in the event.

Daniel made known that the sport committee is still deliberating on the cash prizes to be given to the first, second and third. He said” the first will get a cash prize of 30k, second will get 20k while the third we’ll get 15k but it is yet to be finalized.

He confirmed that there will be announcement for people who have health issues so as to prevent any form of further health complications.
When questioned about the presence of the Defense team to coordinate the runners, He said “Yes, their attention will be required and regarding the distance to be covered, we still deliberating on it and I will give you update later”.

The above are the replies of the sport minister regarding the upcoming Marathon event but there are some nuts they are still yet to crack. An event like this require a very good anti doping test in order to ensure that every man is using his own natural ability so that no man will feel cheated.

This is essential as it will show seriousness towards the Drug abuse campaign that will hold on the first day of the celebration, 18th of September, 2023. Campaign against drug abuse shouldn’t be by mere awareness of the dangers alone, actions must be taken so as to fish out those engaging in the act and recommend them for proper counselling. The UI management board should set up an anti doping lab in order to ensure no one is using illegal, helath threatening substance for physical task.

Also, the number of kilometers to be covered ought to have been finalized by now. How will you organize a race event and yet we don’t know where we are running to and the race is few days away. This shows how well prepared the Sport committee is for this event.
I hope the sport committee work on other areas so as to have a more standard event.

Did You Know?

Lev Yashin also known as the “black spider” is the first and only goal keeper to ever win a Balon d’Or. According to FIFA, he saved over 150 penalties during his career.

Adewale emerges Chairman, as Zikhall Elders Council elects new executives.

By Adegbite Adewale

The Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall finalist on Sunday 17th of September 2023 elects a new executive council for its elder forum, with Honourable Adewale Alabi emerging as the chairman of the council.

In the election which took place at the Zikhall JCR, Hon. Dewale as he is fondly called went unopposed, and he polled 15 votes out of an available 20 with 5 void votes.

In the same election, erstwhile Assistant general secretary of the student union, Arinola David Addo emerged as the Vice Chairman of the council as he also went unopposed and polled the total available votes of 20.

In thesame vein, Adeoye Joseph, emerged as the General secretary while Ayomide Hassan, Capacity, was voted as the PRO of the council.

The meeting also saw other agendas discussed with the celebration of Zikhall at 60, which is fast approaching, being a major talking point and also the repairs and maintenance of the dilapidated facilities of D block, with suggested ways to improve and maintain the affected areas.

ZikHall Suffer Narrow Loss to Tedder in Freshers' Cup Final

By Adeyemi Jerry.

In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the highly anticipated football interhall final between two powerhouses, The fresh Baluba lions and fresh Tedderites, ended in a captivating 1-1 draw. However, it was the heart-stopping penalty shootout that ultimately determined the winner.

The kickoff match started around 4:22 p.m at Sub pitch. There was also the presence of guest at the final, The student union president along with the Vice was also present. The both team adopted the same formation which was 4-3-3 and they had the same pattern of play.

From the very first whistle, both teams showcased their prowess on the field, leaving no doubt that this final would be a battle for the ages. The players exhibited exceptional technique, strategic plays, and unwavering determination, making it difficult to predict the outcome.

The first half saw both teams fiercely competing for dominance, with neither side managing to break the deadlock. The defenses were resolute, denying any clear-cut chances, and the midfielders tirelessly fought for control of the game.
The tension in the stadium was palpable as the clock ticked away. There was an uproar between both teams that lasted for about 5 minutes and almost caused a lot of distraction. Towards the end of the first half, The Tedderite outplayed the Baluba Lions with a goal from the striker due to a sloppy tackle from the central defender, After the goal the Zik players were unmotivated and could not perform till the end of the first half, which 1-0 in favour of the tedderite.

As the second half commenced, the intensity only grew.The tedderite was playing more of a defensive game and the zikite by all means were trying to penetrate the defence but the tedderite were resisting there pressure which lasted through out the match. There was a screamer shot from a tedderite player that landed on the top most bar, that made the zik keeper to be dumbfounded.
Towards the last seconds of the match, There was a corner kick against the tedderite which led to a goal From a Zik player who finally managed to find the back of the net, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

With the scoreline locked at 1-1, The supporters of the tedderite violently went to meet the referee but he was bailout by the school team coach (Coach Allen). As a result of this, there was no extra time, setting the stage for a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. The fate of the championship rested on the shoulders of the players as they prepared to take their spot-kicks.

The penalty shootout was a true test of nerves and composure. Each team’s designated penalty takers stepped up to the mark, knowing that a single miss could cost their team the title. The tension was palpable as the crowd held their breath, witnessing the high-stakes drama unfold.
The Baluba lions and Tedderite displayed remarkable accuracy and precision, converting their penalties with confidence, But a player from the Baluba Lions missed a penalty kick that was of greater advantage for the Tedderite, which was capitalized upon.

However, it was a player from Tedder Hall with Jersey number ten, who emerged as the hero of the night. With nerves of steel, he calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net, securing the victory for his team. The fresh tedderite were crowned the champions of the Interhall finals along with the Queens Elizabeth. Both teams were the winners of the competition.

Diligence

By Beautide

In the realm of dreams and aspirations high,
Where the stars above kiss the boundless sky,
There’s a force that sets the spirit aglow,
It’s called diligence, where dreams often grow.

With unwavering purpose, it stands so tall,
A beacon of hope, for one and for all,
In the face of challenges, it holds the key,
To unlock the door to what could be.

Through sweat and toil, it paves the way,
To brighter dawns and a brand-new day,
It’s the flame that burns, it’s the guiding light,
In the darkest hours, it shines so bright.

In fields of labor, where seeds are sown,
Diligence reaps what’s fully grown,
It’s the silent force that never wanes,
In pursuit of goals, it breaks the chains.

It’s the artist’s brush, the writer’s pen,
The strength to rise, to try again,
In every venture, in every quest,
Diligence always proves its best.

With patience as its faithful friend,
It conquers mountains, it’ll not bend,
So let us learn, in life’s grand dance,
The beauty found in diligent chance.

Day in and day out, the work never stops
The pursuit of excellence, that never drops
Through thick and thin, through storm and strife
Diligence, the foundation of a successful life

Rebirth

Korede Teriba

The creature, worn out by its five hundred years of existence, gathers branches and twigs for its nest – a funeral pyre and nest of rebirth. Though worn out, this creature looks magnificent with its beautiful feathers of gold and red.

As the sun rises, it stretches and begins singing, perhaps its funeral song, and bursts into flames as the sky’s lamp lifts, dispelling night. But it rises again – reborn. In Greco – Egyptian and other mythologies, few creatures, dazzle men, like the Phoenix. It rises from it’s ashes rebirthed, signalling rebirth and reinvention, starting another life cycle. Beyond mythology, the Phoenix’s rebirth tale has eternal lessons for humans as it’s significant and relevant. This article explores that significance and relevance.

The Phoenix is a metaphor for rebirth and renewal. It emerged across world cultures and civilizations, symbolizing immortality. It transcends death into eternity, beginning life anew. Its rebirth is a glowing torch of hope reminding us of dawn’s arrival after the darkest hour. We’ve reached a point in our lives when things are bleak and there’s no end to “eternal” trek in the dark tunnel – not even a ray of light. The Phoenix’s story reminds us that with resilience and iron – desire for victory, we can emerge victors. Viktor Frankl, Austrian Psychiatrist and holocaust survivor, through resilience, survived the Nazi holocaust, becoming a prominent Psychiatrist and authoring a seminal book, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” on his experiences in the German gulag.

The Phoenix’s story reflects human experiences. It’s exemplified in stories of people who, through rebirth and reinvention, conquered. History is replete with individuals who rebirthed and reinvented themselves to dominate. Born into a poor family, suffered debilitating depression, failed at politics, Abraham Lincoln rose from ashes to become America’s sixteenth President. Other figures including; Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou, Steve Jobs, Buchi Emecheta, etc. exemplify the Phoenix spirit. Their rebirth and reinvention shows the Phoenix’s odyssey from ashes to heights. Their stories teach us never to allow backgrounds back us down.

Lessons from the Phoenix’s story isn’t limited to the individuals. Societies have confronted challenges, requiring transformation . Through transformation, challenged societies have created cultural, technological, and economic shifts. Israel became an independent nation in 1948. Under the David Ben Gurion’s pioneering leadership, Israel became powerful. The Phoenix’s spirit reminds us of collective work as panacea to societal cum national challenges.

However, rebirth isn’t without pains and obstacles which can hamper our growth, denying us of pivotal transformation. We must, as individuals and societies, confront these obstacles, attacking them with bull strength, embracing the pains and discomfort to transform us.

The Phoenix as eternal symbolism, teaches eternal truths about human spirit. It teaches and reminds that in raging storms of adversity and chaos, we can emerge victorious. Additionally, the Phoenix’s flight from ashes speaks to us in our struggles and navigating societal chaos. Through resilience, accepting challenges, failures, we can, like the Phoenix, rise from our ashes to heights at dawn.

Zikhall Swears in New Attorney General and Ethics and Litigation Committee.

By Sailor

Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall swears in the new Attorney General, Bamidele Taiwo Paul alongside his new Ethics and Litigation committee at its official handover ceremony on Sunday 17th of September 2023.

The ceremony which was held on a short notice started off at 8pm at Zikhall’s Junior Common Room, JCR. The occasion had in attendance notable hall personalities such as Hall Chairman, Adeniji Uthman; Hons. Fabiyi Caleb, former General secretary and present hall majority leader at the SRC; and erstwhile Attorney General of the hall, Emmanuel Otumala, who also served as the Compere of the occasion.

The event also saw the new Attorney General and his litigation committee charged with agendas for the new session. The agendas include; Enforcement of the rules, Try to familiarize Zikites with code of conduct, To have members on each floor, Try to improve the code of conduct if possible, Create awareness to all Zikites,Perform their duties according to the constitution, The law should be above “Brotherhood”.

The members themselves need to respect the constitution, We should try to report to the Hall Warden, Try to differentiate “Ethics” from “Ethnicity”, As the Attorney General, you need to be the head of the prosecuting officer, To create Webinar or seminar for judicial literacy, Functionality in the committee is crucial, Looking beyond oneness, togetherness and brotherhood, Proper scrutiny of the existing code of conduct, Look into omissions, Do not necessarily need to wait for evidences, can get witnesses and other ways of reasonably establishing an act of offense.

The event also featured awards for the preceding Attorney General and members of the Ethics and litigation committee for the last session.

In a brief chat with ZHPO, Mr. Bamidele had this to say “Sincerely I appreciate the hall for the privilege and I promise to Put in all my effort to make sure that rules and regulations are abided by, and to make sure that this particular organ of the hall is more active in terms of maintaining law and order in the hall”.

The Attorney General and the Ethics and Litigation committee are saddled with keeping and upholding law and order in the hall of residence, with the license to prosecute any student that is found wanting of going against the rules of the hall.

Here is a list of the new members of Ethics and Litigation committee for the new session;

OluwasegunPhilipson Sulaimon
Adeboye Temidayo
Esosuakpo Avwerosuo
Olorode folafunmi
Olakojo samuel
Olayinka Daniel
Olowu segun
Abulude Damilare
Onadele Joshua
Godwin Efe
Owoeye Mosope Clinton : Solicitor General
Bamidele Taiwo Paul : Attorney General

ENSURING BATHROOM SAFETY: THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF SLIPPERS

Abah (Martial pen)
武术笔
(wǔshù bǐ)

While washing on Sunday, September 17, 2023. I witnessed precisely four “almost fall”(tripping) scenes and one fall scene at the B block tank ground. I myself recently slipped and fell at block D bathroom, the result was not funny as I had pains for three consecutive weeks, and I have witnessed several of such incidents. When the victims survive the fall from slipping, we may laugh it off, unfortunately the aftermath of eventually slipping and falling can be very fatal and may result in an undesired outcome.

The bathroom, while often overlooked, is a space that demands our attention when it comes to safety. It’s a place where accidents can happen, especially when we overlook seemingly harmless details. One such detail that might be contributing to avoidable accidents is the choice of footwear. This article aims to shed light on the risks associated with wearing slippery slippers in the bathroom and provide practical tips on how to prevent unfortunate accidents.

Comfort slippers

We often don slippers for comfort and convenience, but in the bathroom, this choice can become a potential hazard. Slippers, particularly those with smooth soles, have a propensity to lose traction on wet surfaces. This makes them a precarious choice for a space that is frequently exposed to water.

In zik hall, some of the locations associated with risk of slipping other than the bathrooms are B block tank ground(behind A block), D block tank ground and JCR tank ground(the tiled one).

The consequences of wearing slippery slippers in the bathroom can range from minor slips and falls to more serious injuries. These accidents can lead to bruises, sprains, fractures, and in severe cases, even head injuries. Moreover, the aftermath of such incidents may require medical attention, leading to both physical and financial burdens.

I implore us all to be very careful when around these places in order to avoid unfortunate accidents. This can be accomplished by:
Opt(ing) for non-slip footwear when going to the bathroom or while washing.
Keep the floor dry as much as possible while taking your bath by going into the bathroom completely, avoid standing at the entrance to bath.

Regular maintenance of bathroom fixtures: Floor representatives should make sure their bathrooms’ drainage are functional and also brooms should be provided in each floor’s bathroom. Anyone could volunteer to sweep off the excess water, who knows, you might be saving yourself from slipping.

Being mindful of soapy residue: Soap and shampoo residue can create a slippery surface. Rinse the floor thoroughly after each use to remove any lingering soap.
Proper lighting: Ensure that the bathroom is well-lit, adequate lighting can help identify wet spots and potential hazards.
Disposing of banana peels properly (into the bin).

In the pursuit of an accident free environment, it is very essential not to overlook safety, especially in spaces like the bathroom. Choosing the right footwear can go a long way in preventing unnecessary accidents. By opting for non-slip slippers or sandals and implementing simple safety measures, we can transform our bathrooms into havens of security and comfort. Remember, a little precaution today can prevent a lot of pain tomorrow.

Make Hay While There Is Still Time

September 19,2023

The fourth week of the academic session is already upon us and activities – Academic and extracurricular activities – are coming in thick and fast. It is imperative for the new students to start getting their priorities right and making the necessary adjustments that will benefit them both academically and mentally.

With the matriculation ceremony out of the way, the honeymoon period is forspent and it’s time for the real business of the day. Students that want to make the best use of their opportunity to start early, and there will be no better time than now.

Here are a few tips students can pick up in their journey through the rigours of academic activities in University of Ibadan.

Academics

As a student your first goal and priority is your academics. Many have come in and have been led astray by the razzmatazz of University life. The freedom and opportunity to engage in numerous activities can be tempting, but one must not forget the main goal of being in this environment which is ‘Education’.

As a freshman you must choose your activities carefully and try as much as possible to get a great start and platform in your academic field. It is important to note that the 100 level is the best opportunity for you to set yourself up and build a good foundation for your academic journey. It is imperative to note that a good start sets you up for a great finish, so to end well, you must start well too.

To start with, have a plan for your studies, set realistic goals for this and each semester and develop a strategy for achieving them. It is advisable that you meet senior colleagues in your department or hall who will put you through on the steps needed to achieve your goal. Try as much as possible not to waver from plans and set goals, as it will not be an easy task.


Extracurricular activities

As a student we can tend to immerse ourselves in our academic activities, so it is advisable to take a little time off and relax. Try to go out more often like attending events, meeting new people and sharing opinions and thoughts.

As it is said “all work and no play make jack a dull boy” it is imperative and advisable for new students to partake in extracurricular activities such as sports, gaming, attending events, making friends and relationships along the way.

The school environment is a very intriguing world on its own, as it gives students liberty to express themselves without the watchful eyes of their Parents or Guardians. And this has seen many follow the path that does not necessarily help their growth.

As a student, you should be mindful of who you walk with and the friends you keep that might influence your decisions and choices you make in the future. There is no crime in trying to make friends and having company, but it is also important to keep good company and connect with people that will leave a positive influence in your life.

Join Organization

As a new student you will want to make good and judicious use of your time. It is advisable that you join existing organisations in the hall and partake in the activities of the hall.

There are numerous organisations and committees that will require members and it will be of great value if you can join one or two of such organisations. The Press Club, the Literary and Debating club, the supporters club, the defense team just to name a few, are recognized clubs, you can join the hall.

Outside the hall there are also numerous organisations like the JCI, Sigma, Kegite club and so on, who will be seeking members every session. In joining this group try as much as possible to seek and understand what you’re getting into in order not to be led astray and pushed away from your set goals.

Visit places

In the University of Ibadan there are many monumental places you can visit that will have a lasting experience on your life. Visiting places such as the zoo, Awba dam, Archives just to name a few will leave a lasting memory on individuals and it helps to make your stay in the institution a lasting experience.

I hope these few tips and messages of mine will be of great help to the new students as they walk through the walls of this great hall and the institution as a whole.

Once again, I welcome you to the world of Zikhall and the University of Ibadan in general. Here is to wishing you a great and eventful experience. Remember a stitch in time saves nine, so make hay while the sun shines- make hay while there is still time.

Asido Oratory contest: Bello LnD Eclipse Zik By Two-points Margin To Qualify For The Final Round.

By Oluwagbenga Kolawole

At the first round of the Asido Campus Network oratory contest that took place this past Saturday at the social sciences large lecture theatre (LLT), the Nnamdi Azikwe Hall Literary and Debating Society fell to Bello L and D with a two point margin.

This annual event chose to feature an oratory contest among the university’s halls of residence for this year’s edition, with a particular focus on mental health-related issues. The topic of the contest between Zik and Bello was “Mental Health Literacy: The Past, The Present, and The Future.” Oyedijo Olanrewaju, the speaker representing Zik Hall, emphasized the importance of incorporating mental health literacy to enhance the well-being of both current and potential victims of mental health disorders.

The Bello hall speaker edged Zik by two points, by a scoreline of 73% to 71%.

Other contesting hall results are as follows: ABH, 83.67% vs 81.67% Mellanby, Kuti 61.17% vs 87% Awo, amidst others, with Adewunmi Obisesan of Awo Hall walking away with the day’s best speaker award.

The final rounds is set to hold on the 30th of September, 2023 at Trenchard Hall, UI.

Pick-a-thon: Recycledge, JCIN UI, Others Organize World Clean-Up Day.

By Oluwagbenga Kolawole

To commemorate the yearly world cleanup day, Recycledge, the Junior Chamber International UI Chapter, the University of Ibadan Students Union, Cardify, in conjunction with other organizations, have organized the world cleanup day in the university of Ibadan on the 16th of September, 2023.

The exercise which is annually marked by a cleaning exercise, saw the above listed organizations combine to clean up the U.I environment, starting from the University main gate.

Turning up for the exercise, over one hundred volunteers, who were provided with masks and gloves gathered to clear dirts in different parts of the university of Ibadan environment.

The World Clean up day is an annual event organized to improve the sensitization of the general public on environmental cleanliness and combat the improper management of solid wastes. The aim of the UI Mega clean up, in particular, was to gather 2000kg of recyclable wastes in the University of Ibadan as part of the plans to ensuring a sustainable environment.

In addition to the cleaning exercise, volunteers were orientated on recycling and waste management. Apart from Nigeria, the event holds in at least 160 other countries since its inception in 2018.

The event, which had some side attractions like fitness and games was sponsored by Plogging,YALI Nigeria and Recycling Alliance.

Tips To Prepare Your Soup As A Student While Saving Time

By Abah (Martial pen)
武术笔
(wǔshù bǐ)

It is quite understandable that many students find it hard to prepare good, delicious and nutritious dish. I conducted a mini survey among Zikites and discovered some of the reasons students don’t cook themselves. Some of which are; lack of time, inability to cook, unworthiness. However, after careful considerations, some of the reasons( lack of time, inability 11 11 cook) had a probable solution. Therefore I have taken it upon myself to share tips on how to prepare two kinds of nutritious soup, also to address the reason(lack of time), I ensured the method of preparation is as swift as possible, taking not more than 45 minutes.

Recipe for Vegetable Soup (ọbẹ̀ ẹ̀fọ́)
Vegetable Soup is a nutritious and delicious Nigerian dish commonly made with green leafy vegetables like spinach, ugu (pumpkin leaves), or other leafy greens. It’s often cooked with a variety of protein sources like meat, fish, or seafood.


Ingredients:
500g assorted meats (beef, goat meat, tripe, etc.) (at individual’s discretion)
2 bundle chopped spinach or ugu leaves -#200
1 sachet or 2 full cooking spoons of palm oil -#200
2 medium tomatoes, blended -#100
2 bell peppers (tatashe), blended -#100
1 medium onion, finely chopped -#100
1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, minced
2-3 scotch bonnet peppers (rodo), blended (adjust to taste) -#50
2 stock cubes (seasoning cubes) -#50
Salt to taste
Water
Optional: crayfish, smoked fish, periwinkle, or other seafood
INSTRUCTIONS
Preparation of Meats: (at individual’s discretion)
Wash and cut the assorted meats into bite-sized pieces.
Place them in a pot, add water, season with one stock cube and salt, and boil until tender.
Blending:
Blend the tomatoes, bell peppers, scotch bonnet peppers, and half of the chopped onions into a smooth paste.
Cooking:
In a separate pot, heat the palm oil over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic, ginger, and remaining chopped onions. Sauté until fragrant.
Add the Blended Mix:
Pour in the blended tomato and pepper mixture. Cook for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the oil starts to separate from the mix.
Meat and Seasoning:
Add the cooked meats and any optional seafood or fish. Allow to simmer for another 10-15 minutes.
Vegetables:
Add the chopped spinach or ugu leaves. Stir well and let it cook for about 5 more minutes. Make sure the veggies are properly washed before cooking.
Seasoning and Taste Test:
Add the remaining stock cube and salt if needed. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.

Serve your Efo Soup hot with a side of semovita, eba, amala or rice and enjoy.

Recipe for Egusi Soup
Egusi soup is a hearty Nigerian soup made from melon seeds. It’s rich, flavorful, and often includes an assortment of meats and vegetables.

Ingredients:
1 cup melon seeds (egusi) -#300
500g assorted meats (beef, goat meat, tripe, etc.) (at individual’s discretion) of
1sachet or 2 full cooking spoon of palm oil -#100
1 bundle of chopped vegetables (e.g., pumpkin leaves, spinach) -#100
2 medium tomatoes, blended -#100
2 bell peppers (tatashe), blended -#100
1 medium onion, finely chopped -#100
1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, minced
2-3 scotch bonnet peppers, blended (adjust to taste) -#50
2 stock cubes (seasoning cubes) -#50
Salt to taste
Water
Optional: crayfish, smoked fish, periwinkle, or other seafood

INSTRUCTIONS
Preparation of Meats:
Wash and cut the assorted meats into bite-sized pieces.
Place them in a pot, add water, season with one stock cube and salt, and boil until tender.
Blending and Egusi Paste:
Blend the melon seeds into a smooth paste. Add a little water if necessary to help with blending.
Blending Tomatoes and Peppers:
Blend the tomatoes, bell peppers, scotch bonnet peppers, and half of the chopped onions into a smooth paste.
Cooking:
In a separate pot, heat the palm oil over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic, ginger, and remaining chopped onions. Sauté until fragrant.
Add Blended Mix:
Pour in the blended tomato and pepper mixture. Cook for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the oil starts to separate from the mix.
Egusi Paste:
Add the egusi paste to the pot. Stir well to combine with the tomato and pepper mixture.
Meat and Seasoning:
Add the cooked meats and any optional seafood or fish. Allow to simmer for another 10-15 minutes.
Vegetables:
Add the chopped vegetables. Stir well and let it cook for about 5 more minutes.
Seasoning and Taste Test:
Add the remaining stock cube and salt if needed. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.

Serve your Egusi Soup hot with a side of amala, eba, fufu, or rice and enjoy.

P.S: The estimated price for the vegetable soup and egusi soup is #1000, and the estimated time to prepare the dish is 45minutes. It’s worth trying.

GOOD FOOD, GOOD HEALTH, GOOD LIFE.

Dem No Dey Tell Person

By KG

“Wow, so you have gained admission?”
“Which school?”
“UI?”
“Wonderful! What course?…”
You probably enjoyed similar expressions of elation and surprise from your folks on your admission into the prestigious Fess and Bess. You have savoured the extra attention, respect and double checks you’ve been getting from people in your area. I mean who wouldn’t. But now that they’ve heard, they’re probably irritating you with their constant sermons and counseling on how to and how not to behave on campus. I assure you, I’m on your side. They suppose dey worship you ni, na god you be, afterall you went through, you shouldn’t be treated like a child. But stick with me till the end, after all is said and done there are some things they no dey tell person.

So in your first fews days on campus, you have boarded Keke from your hall to everywhere you want to go on campus, telling each Keke man to keep the change. Not that I blame you, I mean, in this harsh economy who keeps change on them. Or maybe you have started donating your foodstuff to charitable causes, wasting food, and all. Don’t you worry, a crash course in Sapa 101 and the Basics of Garri soaking will clear that up.

In terms of fellowship and religious worship, you’re probably one of the devout brothers and sisters on campus. You don’t miss any service, not even if there’s class. Ordinary people would not understand. Within a few weeks of resumption, Brother Job, you’re already assistant Bible study leader; sister patience, you’re already assistant head usher. Again, I’m not being critical, afterall, you’re doing the works of him who sent you.

Also, you have probably been missing classes. For the one millionth time, I don’t blame you. In this place, it’s honestly quite difficult to keep up with registration and classes. Most times, you even Don’t even know which courses to borrow. It’s understandable. It’s just that you shouldn’t be surprised when results start coming out and your name is nowhere to be found. Then, you will have to explain how you gained admission and how your name is not on the list. And I assure you, you go explain tire.

You can even choose to demonstrate your academic prowess, afterall you were the best in your school. You even won that Chocolate Choco contest and for all it’s worth, you want to demonstrate your full capacity. So when ataylites are advising you against borrowing a course you go for it; na the staylite no Sabi book. Or when lecturers are dictating, you don’t jot things down. And when given an assignment, you don’t do it because exams are there (A is 70) exam will cover you. My dear brother, dem no dey tell person.
Finally, maybe you’re King Solomon’s protege, a thousand ladies by your side, ten thousand by your right hand. Even before resumption, you have scoped like five fine babes in each of the female hostels. Even before admission, you’re already Emeritus Professor in Awo studies and Idialogy ( Awo 101 and Idia 101 is for young boys). Nice job, champ.

In this UI weather and in the fever pitch rush where everyone is running helterskelter, you are asking a girl if she has eaten. Again, not that I blame you, you probably can’t help it. So in this UI you’re working on your drip and not on GP. Pray you won’t be placed on actual drip when GP comes out. Do well to note that advise to withdraw is not technically an advise. It is, as Comedian and Social satirist Layi Wasabi once said, a call to “wrap it up nigga.”
Once again, ladies and gentlemen, they no dey tell person.
Have a blissful resumption.

Yamburger Declares Water Tank Active after Two Years of Being Out of Service

By sailor

On Saturday 9th September 2023, the Nnamdi Azikiwe hall Chairman Uthman Adeniji, Yamburger, on the Issues Affecting Zik platform, announced the return to service of the water tank adjacent of B block after almost two years of inactivity.

In a post announcing the milestone, the hall Chairman gave a vote of thanks to the Hall Warden and the Hall Management for making the repairs possible.

The water tank which has been inactive for over two years was a major source of water for both occupants of B block and C block. And it’s inactivity has caused a lot of discomfort for the students, as they have to move to D block before they can get water and in some cases many have to move to A block before they can get access to water.

It must be said that the repair of this particular tank is a welcome development has it helps to reduce the burden of students from moving to other blocks that are far away from their own blocks. It is believed that return to service will serve relieve the burden of even the cafeterias who also need good and clean water in the process of running their business.

One would hope that the new state of the tank will be maintained and there will be no need for students to move to other blocks for water.

Zikhall Baptism Celebration: Fetish or Aesthetics

There is a saying that “if a river should forget its source, it will run dry”. For it not to run dry, there are measures that must be taken to protect this river from departing from its source. In recent weeks there have been little murmurs about the important nature of the Zikhall baptism event,with many alluding to it being fetish and promoting cultism and occult initiation, while others see it as just school aesthetics.

In Christianity, where it is believed that baptism originated from, it is the sacrament of admission to the church, symbolized by the pouring or sprinkling of water on the head or by immersion in water. In Zikhall, it is no different. It is the admission of student into hall with camaraderie of brotherhood and oneness that comes with being a member of the hall.

Many organizations and groups in the hall have been preaching and persuading their members to avoid partaking in the baptism exercise due to their belief that it is against their faith and the premonition that the event is an avenue to lead many of the new freshmen astray. But one wonders if that is truly the case?

The Zikhall baptism exercise has been one of the oldest traditions of Zikism in the whole University of Ibadan. It is an event that seeks to officially welcome the freshmen into the hall and officially induct them as members of the Nnamdi Azikiwe hall, promoting the spirit of Zikism as it is popularly known. The idea of Zikism as it is well known is to promote a sense of brotherhood and strong affiliation among members of the hall and not to promote cultism and fetish practice as has been insinuated by outsiders. So it is quite baffling when you see people who are supposed to be privy about the practice try to portray it as what it is not.

It has now become a common practice for Africans to berate their tradition in the support of their new faith or religion, but it is time to set aside what is wrong and what is right. The common belief that anything traditional is occultic and dark has led many people to depart from their origin and lay claims to the practice of strangelands.

The sole belief that nothing good can be ascribed to the tradition of Africa seems to play into the eurocentric point of view that Africa being a dark side that needed the intervention of the Europeans to see the light. This erroneous point of view has been propagated by Eurocentric scholars such as Hugh Trevor-Roper and the activities of African converts to the new religion seems to accent to this belief, as they belittle every thing termed to be traditional in favour of their newly adopted ways.

This is not to say that all traditional activities are appropriate or harmless, but one must learn to sieve the good from the bad and not try to dump every activity associated with tradition as being occultic and fetish. One could remember just last month traditionalists in the kwara states were hindered from performing their annual traditional rights due to interference from other religions who believed that they have the right to dictate what is acceptable and what is not in a state that has no religious boundaries.

Although, this is not to say one can’t have their reservation about a practice or belief, but one must not try to create a sense of antagonism that might give rise to tension and misunderstanding among the members of the hall. It must be reiterated that the belief that the Zik hall baptism exercise is a form of occultic initiation that will introduce freshmen into occultic fraternity cannot be more farther from the truth. Although the practice might seem odd to some due to the activities involved, the event is just a way of introduction and induction into the hall with the main aim of promoting oneness and brotherhood among members of the hall. But it must be noted that students who are not inclined to participate in the event are at liberty to withdraw and should not be forced to participate in the event.

To the new freshmen that will be participating in the baptism event, we will like to welcome them into the community and remind you that true Zikism does not entail cultism or fraternity of any kind but the real sense of brotherhood and oneness that keeps the hall strong as a community.

Zik Hall Legislative Ratifies Attorney General and New Co-opted Members

By Sailor

The Nnamdi Azikiwe hall legislative council on Saturday 9th September 2023, ractified and inaugurated Mr. Bamidele Taiwo Paul, Bam T, as the new Attorney General of the hall, at its second plenary for the session.

Mr. Bamidele Taiwo Paul, a 400 level student of the faculty of law, has been regular feature in the political activities within and outside the hall, his faculty and the school at large. As the erstwhile General Secretary of Student Union, and a former Member of the law student representative council, Bam T, as he is popularly known as, has a wealth of experience in relation to student politics and it is believed that this was one of the reasons he was nominated by the Zik hall Chairman.

The past few sessions has seen the position of the Attorney General been redundant due in little part to the past administrators, who have been left stranded with no judicial council; as it was the case last session. But also there have been little or no activity coming from this office in the past administrations. If we can recall a piece was written about the general lack of activity of the office of the Attorney General which led to an uproar on major group platforms in the hall.

It remains to be seen if that will be the case for the new session, as all eyes are on the office of the attorney general and the ratification of a judicial council that will help in the smooth running of the judicial process in the hall.

In other matters arising at the sitting, the House also ractified the inclusion of a new co-opted member of the house in the person of Hon. Akpan Joshua, who will be representing the D block constituency. Hon. Akpan in his screening, detailed how he has contributed to Nnamdi Azikiwe since his 100 level days, by been an active Zikite at events, Tank Washing Exercises, Zik Hall supporters club, and many more.

The sitting which took place at the Junior Common Room, JCR, was the second plenary of the semester and many more is expected to happen during the course of the session.

Zik Hall Thumps Indy Hall, Advance To Cup Final

By Adeyemi Jerry.

In the most hyped game in the freshers inter hall competition, Zik hall defeated her “noisy neighbors” Indy hall in a hard-fought 1-0 win at the SUB pitch, on Friday September 8, 2023, to qualify for the final round of the competition.

The match kick-off started at exactly 3:43 p.m, instead of 3pm as stipulated. The pitch was encircled by a red ribbon in order to keep the fans from entering the field.The two teams use the same formation which was 4-3-3.

The atmosphere at the Sub was incredible before the match even begun between these two giants, as both sides were looking to win, but only one side would come out of the sub pitch victorious.
Early in the first half, the katangite dominated the game but the Baluba lions were able to absorb the threat posed by the katangite.

Throughout the rest of the first half, both sides had their chances, but neither side was able to get past the opposing keeper and at the half, the game was scoreless, which was surprising due to the offensive qualities of both sides.
Early on in the second half, The central defender for Zik hall made a horrific pass to the katangite striker that led to a one on one with the keeper, but he was not able to score.

Tobi was able to capitalize on a pass from his teammate by volleying it to the far post past indy keeper giving Zikhall a 1-0 lead.
However, shortly after the goal, The atmosphere became intense as the Zik hall supporters were chanting bantering songs towards the katangite.

A player from the katangite was given a straight red card for trying to slap the lines man and also a violent kantangite fan was furious at the lines man. The katangite coach substituted two players and brought in fresh leg into the pitch but to no avail there could not make any impact.
And even after the addition of the players, indy were still unable to get anything done against the Zik’s defense, which was rock solid all day long.

In a short interview carried out with Tobi, the goal scorer, He started that “You know that is how football is, we play to win, we came with a positive mindset to win we were not ready to joke, but give our best, we did it and God helped us”. He further said that “we really struggle against Tedder hall and it always happen in football. You lose to learn but you don’t allow it to happen again”.

With this win, Zik hall will take on the winners of the second semifinals tie Tedder who defeated Kuti 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw in regulation time.

It must be noted that Zikhall qualified as best losers from the previous round of the competition, losing 5-4 on penalties after a one all draw in a controversial encounter against Tedder hall that spanned over two days. with Tedder win over Kuti hall setting up a nice rematch between the two, with a chance for Zikhall to exact revenge for their defeat in the previous round.

Welcome back to school

It’s been two weeks since the official resumption of the University of Ibadan on August 21st 2023. Many freshmen can be seen roaming around sightseeing as they acclimate themselves with the school environment and its surroundings.

The new academic session has started on a somewhat lukewarm note as there has been uncertainty about the state of things most especially the price of the school fees which seems to be flauntuating depending on the sources of your information. The latest increment in the accommodation fee as left a sour taste in the mouth with the freshmen paying #60,000 while the returning students pay the sum of #45000.

The difference in the amount of money paid by the freshmen and the returning students have raised a lot of eyebrows, with some even making moves to put out a petition to call for a congress on the issue of the increment of fees without improvement of facilities. It remains to be seen if this will eventually become a reality, as we all know the Nigerian way of always adapting to every situation even though it is detrimental to our well being.

The effect of the increment in fees can be felt in every area of the school, most especially in the Nnamdi Azikiwe hall, Zikhall, where the number of freshmen willing to join the hall is lower than usual, with just over 200 new students admitted into the hall.

It is a common knowledge that accomodation in university of Ibadan mostly caters to the freshmen and the finalist, as they are seen as the priority for accomodation, while the returning students or staylites as they are called make up a minor part of the accommodation process. But recent events and development have thrown up a different scenario in the accommodation process. As many of the staylites are expected to get accommodation in the present session, with an overwhelming ratio of two staylites to one freshman.

This is setting up for an interesting situation, considering the fact that the staylites will outnumber the freshmen, there will be a mixture of both staylites and freshmen in the allocation of rooms in the hall (something that has being a regular occurrence in the hall in the past). This will make for an interesting situation considering the high rate of bullying and intimidation that was reported in the hall last session.

The topic of bullying and intimidation took a center stage in the affairs of Zikhall last session and was a major topic on the manifesto night leading up to the last hall elections, which led to a lot of tempers flaring and a lot of bad blood among opposing parties.

Although the hall was able to overcome the obstacle of the differences that arose during the period and rallied together to get a resounding victory in the subsequent student union elections, one would hope that such situations will not rear its ugly head again in the affairs of Zikhall. It is pertinent to note that there needs to be a sense of oneness and accountability among Zikites. Be it finalists, staylites or Freshman, there needs to be a sense of equality and sense of belonging that will foster the brotherhood that Zikhall has always been known for.

There needs to be a form of orientation among the new and old Zikites that preaches the gospel of equality, respectability and oneness that will negate the rise of bullying and intimidation amongst us. As it is known, the spirit of Zikism entails oneness, togetherness and brotherhood, which equates to the motto of the hall which is “the quality of greatness”.

Once again we welcome us all back to school, as we resume our various academic activities and wish each and everyone of us all the best in our various disciplines. And to the freshmen welcome on board, as your life is about to take a major turn; whichever way it goes depends on you. We besiege you to remember the child of whom you are. With that we say bienvenido.

ASUU Joins Two Days Strike

By Sailor.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced its intention to participate in the impending nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The strike action which is scheduled to commence on September 6, 2023, is geared towards addressing critical problems that have surfaced in the country in recent times.

The NLC’s planned two-day warning strike action is centered upon several pressing issues, including the removal of fuel subsidies, the devaluation of the Nigerian Naira, and allegations of threats made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, concerning the demolition of properties of federal workers in the country’s capital.

President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osedeke, spoke of the union’s unwavering support for the NLC’s directive regarding the impending strike action.

“We are members of NLC affiliates, therefore if they declare a strike, our members will be part of it,” Osedeke told the press.

It is worthy of note that ASUU comprises a significant number of universities across Nigeria, totaling over 81 institutions, one of which includes the University of Ibadan. It remains to be seen if the school officials will adhere to this new directive and join in the solidarity strike, seeing that the school just resumed her new session in less than two weeks.

GOOD AND BALANCED DIET ONE OF THE KEY SECRETS TO HAVING A GREAT AND ACCOMPLISHED SEMESTER

By Abah (Martial pen)
武术笔
(wǔshù bǐ)

Lack of balanced diet among University students has existed as a health problem for many years, which poses a threat to their well-being and in extreme cases, threat to life. Hence the need to address the issue of imbalanced diet among students and improper feeding tradition.

This article explores various ways in which we can ensure proper dieting and also the importance and consequences of imbalanced diet.
It is important to understand what balanced diet is, therefore before delving into the main topic of discourse, I will defined what a balanced diet is.
A balanced diet is a nutritionally sound eating plan that provides the body with the right combination of nutrients it needs for optimal health and well-being. A balanced diet typically includes a variety of foods from different food classes in appropriate proportions. The key components of a balanced diet cuts across these food classes: carbohydrate, proteins, vegetables, water, minerals, and vitamins. However it is worthy of note that, individual nutritional needs may vary based on factors such as age, gender, health conditions, and type of daily activities.

The topic of balanced diet may seem trivial however I assure you it is not, a student outside the constraint of their parents or home while living in the hostels eat randomly without minding the consequences, many a times, the random eating is due to the fact that students find it a waste of time to prepare food (being lazy) and also while trying to purchase food from the canteen they are presented with no choice than to purchase what is available, of course since the canteen do not prepare food based on their request. I am sure you may be in a haste to skip this article, but I promise you, if you gave a little bit of time, say 5minutes to read through this article, your eating habits will change, because you would have gotten value learnt from this piece. Thank you as I proceed.

An imbalanced diet, which lacks essential nutrients and includes an excess of certain unhealthy components, can have significant health implications. Here are some of the potential health consequences of an imbalanced diet:

Nutritional Deficiencies: An imbalanced diet may not provide the body with the necessary vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) in adequate amounts. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin deficiencies (e.g., vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron) or mineral deficiencies (e.g., calcium, magnesium), causing a range of health issues like weak bones, memory problems, mood disturbances and iron deficiency anaemia.

Weight Gain or Obesity: Diets high in calories, saturated fats, refined sugars, and low in fiber can contribute to weight gain and obesity. Obesity is a risk factor for various chronic conditions, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

Type 2 Diabetes: A diet high in sugary beverages, refined carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats can contribute to insulin resistance and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Heart Disease: Diets high in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium can raise the risk of heart disease. These foods can lead to elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and the formation of arterial plaques.

Gastrointestinal Issues: Poor dietary choices, such as excessive consumption of processed foods, sugary snacks and low-fiber diets, can lead to digestive problems like constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and acid reflux.

Weakened Immune System: Inadequate intake of essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections.

Mental Health: Emerging research suggests that diet may have an impact on mental health. An imbalanced diet, particularly one high in processed foods and sugar, may contribute to mood swings, depression, and anxiety.

Hormonal Imbalances: Poor diet choices can disrupt hormonal balance in the body, potentially leading to issues like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women. For the ladies reading this, you should take note.

Increased Cancer Risk: Some dietary patterns may increase the risk of certain cancers. For example, diets high in red and processed meats are associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer.

Anyone could imagine the effect of adopting an imbalanced diet routine would have on one’s academic goals with the implications stated above. Frequent absence from class due to illnesses, thereby missing lectures, will inadvertently lead to academic inadequacies. I would also like to give accolades to the efforts of the university in ensuring we understand and exhibit proper dieting through the compulsory studies of GES 107, a required course for all freshmen student admitted into the university. Every freshman admitted into the university offers this course irrespective of their course of studies, and the sentence rings around like a ringing tone, “EAT WELL, REST WELL, EXERCISE WELL”.

In consideration of those who may be at a dead end or having difficulty in choosing what to eat to maintain a balance diet, a table of locally recommended choice of food has been put together for use at your discretion. No worries, these dishes are ones we can come by easily as student. In the next article to be released, hacks and easy methods of preparing these dishes will be published.
My hope is that this little piece has its positive impact in the choice of diets of students and largely their health.

EXTRAS

Day 1 (Monday)
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with Peanut Butter
Lunch
Rice and Beans with Vegetable Soup
Snack
Cassava Flake (Garri) with Groundnuts / Cereals
Dinner
Yam Flour (Amala) with Egusi Soup
Evening Snack (Optional)
Fresh Fruit or Nuts


Day 2 (Tuesday)
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with spread
Lunch
Jollof Rice with animal protein
Snack
Fresh Fruit
Dinner
Yam Flour (Amala) with Okro Soup
Evening Snack (Optional)
Nuts


Day 3 (Wednesday)
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with Scrambled Eggs
Lunch
Beans and Plantain with Vegetable Sauce
Snack
Cassava Flake (Garri) with Milk / Cereals
Dinner
Rice with Vegetable Stir-Fry
Evening Snack (Optional)
Fresh Fruit or Nuts


Day 4 (Thursday):
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with Sardines
Lunch
Yam Flour (Amala) with Egusi Soup
Snack
Fresh Fruit
Dinner
Rice and Beans Porridge
Evening Snack (Optional)
Yogurt or Nuts



Day 5 (Friday)
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with Avocado
Lunch
Fried Rice with Fried Fish
Snack
Cassava Flake (Garri) with Groundnuts / Cereals/ Custards
Dinner
Yam Flour (Amala) with Vegetable Soup
Evening Snack (Optional)
Fresh Fruit or Nuts


Day 6 (Saturday)
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with Cheese
Lunch
Jollof Rice with animal protein
Snack
Fresh Fruit
Dinner
Beans and Plantain Porridge
Evening Snack (Optional)
Yogurt or Nuts


Day 7 (Sunday)
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with Butter
Lunch
Rice and Beans with Vegetable Soup
Snack
Cassava Flake (Garri) with Milk / Cereals / Custard
Dinner
Yam Flour (Amala) with Okro Soup
Evening Snack (Optional)
Fresh Fruit or Nuts



Note: Cereals include corn flake, oat meal and golden morn.

This diet plan includes a variety of food items and provides a balance of carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. It also includes optional snacks for added flexibility. You can adjust portion sizes according to individual preferences and dietary needs also, this diet can be alternated every week at one’s discretion. Staying hydrated with water throughout the day is also important for overall well-being.

Day 1 (Monday)
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with Peanut Butter
Lunch
Rice and Beans with Vegetable Soup
Snack
Cassava Flake (Garri) with Groundnuts / Cereals
Dinner
Yam Flour (Amala) with Egusi Soup
Evening Snack (Optional)
Fresh Fruit or Nuts


Day 2 (Tuesday)
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with spread
Lunch
Jollof Rice with animal protein
Snack
Fresh Fruit
Dinner
Yam Flour (Amala) with Okro Soup
Evening Snack (Optional)
Nuts


Day 3 (Wednesday)
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with Scrambled Eggs
Lunch
Beans and Plantain with Vegetable Sauce
Snack
Cassava Flake (Garri) with Milk / Cereals
Dinner
Rice with Vegetable Stir-Fry
Evening Snack (Optional)
Fresh Fruit or Nuts


Day 4 (Thursday):
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with Sardines
Lunch
Yam Flour (Amala) with Egusi Soup
Snack
Fresh Fruit
Dinner
Rice and Beans Porridge
Evening Snack (Optional)
Yogurt or Nuts



Day 5 (Friday)
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with Avocado
Lunch
Fried Rice with Fried Fish
Snack
Cassava Flake (Garri) with Groundnuts / Cereals/ Custards
Dinner
Yam Flour (Amala) with Vegetable Soup
Evening Snack (Optional)
Fresh Fruit or Nuts


Day 6 (Saturday)
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with Cheese
Lunch
Jollof Rice with animal protein
Snack
Fresh Fruit
Dinner
Beans and Plantain Porridge
Evening Snack (Optional)
Yogurt or Nuts


Day 7 (Sunday)
Meal
Food Items
Breakfast
Tea, Bread with Butter
Lunch
Rice and Beans with Vegetable Soup
Snack
Cassava Flake (Garri) with Milk / Cereals / Custard
Dinner
Yam Flour (Amala) with Okro Soup
Evening Snack (Optional)
Fresh Fruit or Nuts



Note: Cereals include corn flake, oat meal and golden morn.

This diet plan includes a variety of food items and provides a balance of carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. It also includes optional snacks for added flexibility. You can adjust portion sizes according to individual preferences and dietary needs also, this diet can be alternated every week at one’s discretion. Staying hydrated with water throughout the day is also important for overall well-being.

Increment in Accomodation fee is not to improve the facilities, rather it is to maintain status quo – Yamburger

By Sailor

Adeniji Akanbi Uthman, Yamburger, The Nnamdi Azikiwe hall Chairman in this interview with the Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall Press Organization (ZHPO), discussed the hall executive’s plans regarding the the hall facilities, Zik at 60, and other issues as it concerns the hall.

Good afternoon, can you please introduce yourself?

Good Afternoon, My name is Adeniji Uthman, the executive hall chairman of Nnamdi Azikiwe hall.

The New session is about to start, what are the plans set in place to welcome and accommodate the New students?

Actually we have a lot of plans. I believe we need to do things with priority and we need to do things according to plan. At the moment, the plan is the fresher’s orientation. We need to orient the freshers. And also, Zik hall 60th anniversary is coming which is September, and we are planning to make the anniversary and the freshers welcome together with the freshers orientation. 

Celebration will start on September 18, that’s like three weeks. And that’s where we will do the freshers orientation. Also the baptism will take place on the day of the matriculation, that is September 12.

Aside from the Zikhall anniversary, we have a lot of plans for Zikites, one of which is Zikhall Bursary. We have plans to help indigent students. At the moment we have been able to raise three hundred thousand naira, for the Bursary. We have a Bursary committee and the plan is to help at least twenty students with 20,000 naira each. When the proposal for school fees was released we changed the plan to 40,000 naira for ten students, but now that the basic fee is not increasing, It is going at the normal price. We have returned back to our initial plan of 20,000 for 20 students.

You said the basic fee has not been increased, are you saying there will not be an increase in the school fees?

The proposal has not been approved by the federal government. There will not be an increase in school fees, but there will be bills that will not be reduced. According the report we got from the meeting we had with the student union, is that the utility bill will still stand, that’s #20,000 for everybody.  And I think some faculty are paying some fees, like faculty of law they asked them to pay #10000, while my department we are asked to pay #50000 for Field work, but the basic fee is still standing, that was the report we got from the student union executive. 

Aside from the Zikhall Bursary, we are also working on setting up a committee, zikism orientation committee, the committee will include Zikhall stakeholders that are well, that understand and practice the tradition. So those people will be in charge of orienting Zikites and will do regular check ups on the freshmen to ask for what they need, and what are the challenges they are facing. So that will be a form of feedback. So that we can know what we need to do about it.

Aside that, we also have plans because we don’t want everything to come at thesame time. So we have the time tables for activities and also renovation of facilities within in the hall like the gate. If you have payed tour dues you will notice that we are collecting #1000 as additional fee from returning students. The reason behind this fee is that we observes that some facilities in the hall are not in good condition and if we keep waiting for the management to do something… The previous administration waited, and I don’t also want us to wait. A good example is the Zikhall gate; the brick that is holding the gate is supported by an iron and if anything happens to the iron the gate will fall and also the security lights for the quandrangle is bad. When I reached out to people and did the quotation, the amount I got from, It was like #570,000 to fix the gate renovate it, paint it and also do an arc inscription of Nnamdi Azikiwe hall and also getting the security lights in the quandrangle. So when we did the calculation over 229 freshmen have paid their dues, which means that 229 freshmen have shown interest in staying in the hall at the moment. And we have a room capacity of 900 students excluding D block. So that will be like 600 students returning to the hall, and if we get #1,000 each from each returning students, we should be able to repair the gates and fixed the security lights for the strategic places in the hall. That was the idea behind the #1,000 additional fees for returning students.

With what happened last session and the expected number of staylites and freshmen, how do you intend to curb the situation of bullying among freshmen and staylites?

Personally I believe that a society without law will not be ok, it will not stand, because I understand that even within freshmen, there will be situations where there is disagreement within themselves, but the fact that we have code of conduct in the hall and rules and regulations which should guide the freshmen and even the finalist. An example was last week when a parent requested for the inbuilt wardrobe for her son, I had to explain to her that the wardrobe is particularly meant for staylites and finalists. And on Friday in a meeting with the hall warden I explained to him to avoid disagreement between the finalists, that the porters should be telling them at the point of registration that the inbuilt wardrobe is for the staylites and finalists. I also explained to the floor reps in the case of disagreement between a freshman and staylite, there shall be no room for favouritism. I believe there is a code of conduct, anybody that goes against it will be reported to the management, and whatever happens to him, I will not be there.

We noticed that the numbers of freshmen coming into the hall this session is quite low compared to previous years, what do you think is the problem?

I think the problem is the proposed school fees and the increment in the accomodation fees. I believe many were scared due to the increment in this fees. The economy is not that okay, and some are not financially bouyant.

Will this not lead to an anomaly situation were the staylites outnumber the freshmen, since in most cases the freshmen normally outnumber the staylites?

In the situation were the staylites in the hall are more than the freshmen, I believe it is a win-win situation, because I believe the staylites are more than familiar with the tradition of the hall and they know how the hall is, so we shouldn’t have trouble orienting them. This staylites will help us to orientate the freshmen and the hall will still be lively.

Talking about facilities, since there is an increase in the accomodation fee, is there plans to improve the facilities?

The increment in fee is not to improve the facilities, rather it is to maintain the status quo. That was the response we got from the management. It is not that they increased the fee to make service or things better, but we also have plans because it is part of our proposal to our alumni during our pitch. Part of the facilities we are planning to renovate in our proposal are the JCR, the reading rooms, the windows in the rooms. I have had discussion with the dean of students, who is a former Zikites, and he gave me advice to set up a committee and if we can engage with the hall alumnis, we can get the windows and the net done for the 225 rooms. And also the central address system and toilets can be fixed.

When it comes to Zikhall, we noticed that social activities are easily sponsored while the basic amenities are not, what do you think is the problem?

What I believe is that if you want something, it depends on the way you present it, to the people that wants to help you. Even last session the alumni that fixed the reading room wanted to fix the security lights, but when he got the quotation, he decided he could not afford it, and decided to sponsor the reading room solar. So it depends on the way we present it to them and also our priority. I don’t know of other people, but for myself, I have my priorities and it is what I want to do first that I will table when we have a meeting with the people. So for other excos or administration, may be it is the way they present it.

Some are of the opinion that there is a different approach when soliciting funds for social activities, why don’t the excos channel thesame energy for social activities towards renovation of hall facilities?

Like I said earlier, this is my first time of being the head of the executive. Last session I was the IPM, I was not really involved in the process.

But you work with the Hall Chairman, you should know what is going on?

What I believe is that, it also falls back to the way we present it to them. If not for Zikhall 60th anniversary, I will actually look for ways to gather alumnis together because I have the network of different alumnis, but the fact that this is Zikhall 60th anniversary, it will be easy to sell them on the idea of doing something, than to just come on a regular day and time and tell them that we have problems. Another problem is the reach, the network of the alumni. Like the Zikhall Bursary, the person that contributed the highest qouta, I got his contact from the Hall Chairman of 2017/2018 set. Got some contacts from past excos like Otueke, Sebastian, Flames, Teslim and others. So networking of the alumni helps, I appreciate social networking to capital networking. And thank God that I have been getting favourable responses. So it depends on the reach of the people you have, you cannot be reaching out to unestablished alumnis, we need established alumnis.

Another problem is the issue of Zikhall Topography as it affects the pumping of water into the hall water tanks, what are the plans to tackle this problem?

Actually, I observed that also, but I believe something can be done. There are two solutions from my own end, one is to get more pumping machines and tanks, because if we have more tanks there will be more water. Another solution is drilling the borehole from the Zik river. If we can drill a borehole and run the pipe to Zikhall, that will give us a lasting reliable source of water, and I put it in my proposal to the alumnis for the Zik at 60 anniversary.

Have you gotten any response in relation to this?

I have not gotten any response yet, I believe passionately that we should be able to achieve this with the help of the alumnis. We plan on inviting the Obi of Onitsha, through the contact of an alumni, for the Zikhall at 60 anniversary which will be geared toward fundraising for the hall facilities at the event. We hope to get like 25 million naira through fundraising and donations from Alumnis. It will be like a great opportunity to cry out for help and resources and I believe that God will help us.

Still on the water issue, there are two tanks that are not working at the moment, the one Infront of C block and the one at the back of A block. Are there plans to get them back working?

Yes, when the students affairs called a meeting with the Hall Chairpersons, I tables it to the deputy dean of students, that we need three more pumping machines, because of emergency reasons. If you notice all the tanks that are pumping water to the bathrooms and blocks, their pumping machines have been removed to have them fixed. An engineer is working on it and it should be fixed before the end of this month. The tanks behind A block should be fixed before the end of this week.

Finally, your welcome address to new students coming into the hall?

I have actually done a lot of welcome address for Zikites and freshmen. I also want to welcome them all to Zikhall. I will like them to know that the Nnamdi Azikiwe hall is the best environment they can be in, in the University of Ibadan. I believe that the environment will one way or the other shape their life’s, not even in UI but even when they leave UI, so they should make good use of the resources around them, they should make good use of it. ZIKHALL is an environment that helps a lot of people, and if they efficiently use the resources they have around them, they should be ready for not only challenges within UI but outside school. I wish them good luck in everything they do, and I believe before the end of this session they will be a better person.