Zik hall Health Committee Organizes Sanitation Exercise for the Month of May

 Kehinde Fafure

The Nnamdi Azikiwe hall health committee has organized the May edition of its monthly sanitation exercise today, Saturday, 31st May, 2025. 

The sanitation exercise started at about 8:00 am in the morning with residents of the hall totalling about 41 converging on the basement of block B.  

Focus areas of the sanitation exercise were the drainages in the front and behind C, B, and A blocks of the hall. These drainages were cleared of blockages to enable free passage of waste. The sanitation exercise also featured the picking and disposal of dirt littered across the hall. 

The sanitation exercise was scheduled to include the washing of tanks in the hall, however this was postponed until the next sanitation exercise due to the unavailability of water in the hall.

 “Though there were plans to also conduct the tank washing exercise, it has been postponed until the next sanitation exercise due to the unavailability of water in the hall.” The health minister said.

UCJ UI Organises Training Session For Campus Journalists

 By Oloyede David Oyewale

 The Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ibadan, has on Friday , 30th of May , 2025, organised a training session for campus journalists.

 The training session which was held at Indy Hall Junior Common Room focused on news, feature, and investigative writing techniques.

Faith Adediran, UCJ General Secretary, while taking the session on news writing, emphasised the importance of timeliness and objectivity.

"News writing is the bedrock of journalism," Adediran noted.

Eriomala John, the facilitator on investigative reporting, highlighted the significance of multiple sources in investigative writing, stressing that investigative reports should address public interests.

Ibrahim Fiyinfoluwa, Editor-in-Chief of Sultan Bello Press Organisation, discussed feature writing, advising journalists to capture human-interest stories and concerned voices. He emphasised that journalism is a responsibility to society and that good feature writers must first be good news writers. 

This session of the training had in attendance local press organisations in Sultan Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Queen Idia, and Great Independence Hall and is part of a series of training sessions organised by UCJ to train members of various local press organisations within the Union of Campus Journalists.

Burden of Responsibility: Zikites And The Cleanliness of Their Floors

Asefon Abdulganeey Stephen

Zik Hall has, for several sessions now, been dealing with nauseating and grimy conditions on every floor, conditions that have been earmarked as unsanitary and less than ideal for the occupants.

According to Mahatma Gandhi, "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver." While this quote underscores the significance of good health, it is ironic that the experience of Zikites is more than a million miles away from what the average person, no matter how low he sets the bar, would call a healthy environment. While the untold and nightmarish experience lingers on, the occupants of the hall keep complaining of its adverse effects on their mental health and academics. 

Victor, a Zikite who stays in Block B, during an interview, expressed his displeasure at the inconvenience of using the Hall's toilets. In his words, "Zik's sinks and toilets are just tiring; it really goes beyond what I can express because it's just too annoying and heartbreaking." Jamiu, another B blockite, was rather disappointed when speaking to Zik Press about it. According to him, "The kitchen sink is always messed up; I think it's always meant for brushing and not the other way round."

"Some Zikites are the culprits behind those irritating acts. There was a time I wanted to use the toilet, and I realised that the urine space had been clogged with eggshells. I had also encountered already-cooked, watery beans in the sinks, which stirred up unhealthy pollution whenever a breeze arrived," Timileyin, a resident of Block B, said. 

While some Zikites have postulated that co-Zikites are also part of the catalysts that keep messing up the toilet and sinks, some have opined that floor reps should also endeavour to be more effective and active in their respective constituency.

In the words of Timileyin, "Floor Reps should deem it fit to always visit their members, and they should do well to create a platform like WhatsApp, where everyone can air their concerns and also discuss issues affecting the constituency." A Zikite, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that "floor reps should try as much as possible to post bills with the tag "Anyone who messes this place up will pay a fine (of a particular amount)" on the walls of the toilet and the sinks.

It is interesting to note that the hall has rules and regulations on this matter. There are rules posted on the Hall's gate, there are those contained in the Hall's code of conduct among many others. For instance, according to the Hall's code of conduct, improper use of the hall facilities may attract any of the following measures including reprimand; publication of names; public apology; community service; prosecution before the judicial council of the hall; recommendation for payment of fines to the Hall management committee and recommendation for possible eviction by the Hall management committee. However, there has been the slight issue of proper enforcement. In the cases of toilet and kitchenette misuse, the culprits are difficult to identify. And this sometimes frustrates efforts to correct this trend.

Generally, the halls of residence at the University of Ibadan are in a terrible and substandard condition; these problems were reflected by the usual interruption of light, everyday hustling for water, among others. These problems have actually become the norm that students do not really clamour for better facilities again. It then becomes a double tragedy as these halls, which were meant to be kept clean and neat, are not properly used by the residents of these halls of residence.A healthy society contributes a long way in determining the academic and physical survival of students. Messed-up vicinity affects students' health, and this in turn throws them off course. Some floors ooz so offensively that one has to close his mouth and nose before passing through the place. This not only affects the Zikites but also does not speak well of the Hall in particular.

However, while the blame for such an exasperating act keeps dangling between the Zikites and their representatives, the cleanliness of the hostel should be seen as a collective blame, which requires a collective efforts rather than individual effort. Both Zikites and their representatives can make changes in these matters by reaching an agreement or a strategic plan with which such a thing can be avoided. 

Floor reps should be more proactive in the administrative responsibilities of their floors and should enforce sanitary rules that everyone will uphold. Adequate provision should be made to forestall such acts. They should ensure they effectively reiterate the importance of cleanliness and proper use of hall facilities while informing their constituents of the punishments for not following these rules.

Zikites themselves should take responsibility for their own environment by being clean and using the toilets, kitchenettes and bathrooms for the actual purpose they were designed for.

ZHLC approves #207,432 as Budget for The 7th assembly; #886 000, #77,000, and #88,410 for Hall Chairman, Vice Hall Chairman, and Health Minister

Emmanuel Adebiyi 

On Wednesday, 28th of May, 2025, in a meeting held at the Zik Junior Common Room, the 7th Assembly of the Zik Hall Legislative Council approved the total sum of ₦207,432.00 as its annual legislative budget, a cut down from the ₦212,592 originally presented.

The total sum of the money is said to have been the culmination of refreshments for the 14 honourables, publicity, airtime and data, and visitation to the Oyo State House of Assembly, and the cutdown was from the sum of data for the clerk, which was reduced from #10,000 to #5,000 with miscellaneous adjustments. 

The budget of some members of the executive council was also approved. The Hall Chairman, Mr Sotomi Daniel, presented a budget of #886,000, which included #800,000 for the production of 160 shirts, #5,000 for airtime, #10,000 for the council of Hall chairpersons' dues, #10,000 for transportation, #30,000 for 3 plaques, #28,000 for refreshments during the council of Hall chairpersons' meeting that would be held in Zik, and #3,000 for miscellaneous expenses. The presented budget of #886,000 was approved without changes.

 The vice hall chairman presented a budget of #79,800, including #20,000 for ropes, #40,000 for fixing drums, #10,000 for purchasing drumsticks, #3,000 for data, #3,000 for airtime, and #3,800 as miscellaneous. A budget that was cut down to #77,000.

The office of the social minister presented a budget of #115,000, a budget that includes #37,000 for DSTV subscription, #15,000 for fuel, #16,000 for 2 extension boxes, #31,500 for repair of DSTV, #5,000 for a litre of generator oil, and #7,000 for miscellaneous and transportation.

Other budgets approved were 88,410 for the health minister after an initial presentation of 92,610 and 95,000 for the defence neonates minister as presented.

Editorial: These Are Perilous Times

The events of the past week and a half have absolutely exposed, in a way that is getting all too familiar for our student union, the fickle-mindedness of our union leadership and the growing peril our student community is in. From the botched congress to the absolute joke of a release sent out by the SU excos to the impending June 6 deadline, which is breathing heat and pressure down the necks of a lot of students, the drama that has unfolded has been spectacular. The growing level of uncertainty and concerns among the students cannot be overstated. But where to begin?

Two weeks ago, Zik Press released a political article on the superficial calm that has enveloped our student union. In it, we criticised the decision of the executive council members to put less emphasis on active and spontaneous handling of several unique issues, rather deciding to call a stakeholders' town hall meeting. At the time, it seemed like the scheduled congress could be the saving grace of our student union officials, but then the brazen manner in which they handled the congress has proven otherwise. But at this time, it seems like the facade is lifting, albeit slowly, from among us; the veil is being removed, and we are coming to terms with what lies before us.

As part of the SU president Covenant Odedele's campaign promises, among several other things, he promised to represent the interests of all students at all levels, to be accountable to all the students, and also to anticipate and respond to students' needs and demands to ensure continuous improvements. One would have expected him to be more open and receptive to the pleas and pains of the general student populace, because that is exactly what the president of the Student Union is meant to do. The Union is supposed to be at the forefront of the agitations of the issues affecting the students. The union leadership, in fact, is supposed to exist as the mouthpiece of the student. But since their inauguration, Team Auspicious has been failing spectacularly in this regard.

In case you missed it, part of the resolutions of the town hall meeting held by the SU executive council on May 1 is that, depending on the outcome of the consultation with the management on the issue of school fee discrepancies and deadlines, on or before May 10, a congress would be held. This was the first chance the executive council members had to put structures in place to call a congress. They didn't. It was not until the first ordinary sitting of the SRC on May 8 that the representative council invoked its constitutional powers to call a congress. In the days that followed, the silence from the executive council was deafening. And on May 15, the union executive cancelled the congress because three students allegedly attacked them over the matter, and then and there, they began to worry about the further security issues that the students would pose on the day of the congress. Consequently, SRC had an emergency sitting and insisted that the congress be held regardless.

On the day of the scheduled congress, the lack of preparedness caught up with them; mobilisation efforts failed, and the congress couldn't form a quorum. It was unnerving to see that a union that could mobilise students for a party barely hours before could not mobilise the same students to discuss issues of great importance to their welfare on campus. And this begs the question of whether the heart of our students' bodies and their leadership is in the right place, whether pomp and pageantry should take prominence over the academic future of the students. Even if the students are not concerned, are their leaders also not to be bothered? A union that could pump that much money into a fresher's welcome and one-day president shenanigans could not set aside a tiny fraction of that for student mobilisation. At this point, it was not even about making unnecessary inferences; even the blind could see that what the union leadership did was an act of sabotage. They just folded their arms, did nothing and then came out to announce that the next congress would be better planned.

And then, on Sunday, May 25, they (Team Auspicious) sent out a release encouraging students to take advantage of the NELFUND despite claiming to believe that the government "should shoulder sole responsibility for funding tertiary education and loans should not replace it." All the engagements they described in the release were about the student loans or with the NELFUND officials. It is even more interesting that they used the phrase "our resolutions" for something that was not discussed in a congress, making it obvious that they are projecting their own unilateral conclusions over the entire student populace. In their release, at no point did they mention the issue of fee disparity; their vaguely worded "resolutions" only mentioned the extension of the June 6 deadline, the reversal of the #20,000 fine and the acceleration of the NELFUND refund process for affected students. At the end of such a painfully long and uneasy wait, one would have expected their resolutions to at least be direct, but now it is rather difficult to know who is being addressed with these resolutions. The School Authority, the NELFUND officials or the students?

The SRC is once again culpable in this mess. Some of the representatives who spoke to Zik Press could not provide definitive answers on what their constituents and fellow students should expect. Right from the onset, there were honourables who opposed the call for a congress. And when it was eventually botched, there were those honourables who were rather flippant about the whole issue. In their sittings, they are vocal and eloquent about how the executive council is failing, especially when the excos suspended the congress called for by the SRC. But when it comes to making a public face, they'd rather hide meekly and let the excos take all the blame, the same way the speaker of the 12th assembly, Rt Hon. Shoge Quadri, stood behind the SU president on May 17 as the latter announced that the congress was being postponed indefinitely. In the end, it is not just Team Auspicious that is being cruel in its handling of the disparity in the fee increment and fee deadline issue; the SRC is too, by being silent.

Consequently, the student populace is left at a crossroads. If the May 25 SU release is anything to go by, they have to start figuring things out for themselves as quickly as possible. And this fact has created an atmosphere of panic among the students. If the school's memo on the fee deadline stands, students who are still struggling to pay their fee will have to pay an additional fee as a fine for not paying early, which is ironic because they will be paying more for not being able to pay on time. As the last release by the SU has been anything but reassuring, even students who applied for the loans and are yet to be given are left facing the next few days with uncertainty. But of course in the instance where the union president does not value the goodwill of the students he represents, everything begins to fall apart.

ZHLC Ratifies three of the four nominees for Judicial Council, and co-opted member into the Legislative Council

Emmanuel Adebiyi 

In the second sitting of the Zik Hall Legislative Council, which was held on Wednesday, 28th May, 2025, at Zik Hall JCR. Three out of the four nominees for the judicial council were ratified. 

The four nominees are Mr Adebisi Adewunmi (former SRC member and formal hall secretary), Mr Esosuakpo Great (two-time member of the Ethics and Litigation Committee), Mr Atanda Clinton, and Mr David.

The nominees were questioned and graded by the legislative council. With Mr Adebisi Adewunmi scoring 787 points from 7 valid sheets, Mr Great 638 points from 8 valid sheets, Mr Clinton 387 points from 7 valid sheets, and Mr David 698 points from 8 valid sheets. 

The speaker, Rt Hon Ayomide Oladoja, made it known that only the top 3 on average would get ratified, which means only Mr Adebisi, Mr Esosuakpo Great, and Mr David were ratified to be part of the judicial council. The house also demanded that Mr Adebisi Adewunmi write a letter of apology to the 7th assembly for being absent when called to the podium for ratification.

In the same sitting, the house also ratified Hon. Bamiloye Isaac as a co-opted member into the Legislative Council as nominated by the executive council. He got ratified by a single majority of the 10 present honourables with 9 yes and 1 void.

Speaking to the house, he said that although he cannot guarantee his 100% commitment, he would always strive to be available. He was questioned by the Speaker, Rt Hon Ayomide Oladoja, about how he tends to balance things since he is the speaker of his faculty legislative councils and a final-year student himself. He claimed he could balance them. He then read the oath, pledging that he will exercise his legislative power with impartiality and commit to serve the interest of the hall with sincerity.

Zik Hall Alumni Block Gets New Toilet Facilities

The Muffin Man 

Renovation and repair works have begun in the Alumni Block as well as parts of C Block.

Zik Press can confirm that plumbers have been spotted at C Block since at least last week, when the hall chairman, Sotomi Daniel, confirmed that they came to check the extent of repair the place needs.

Eyewitnesses confirm seeing the plumbers working to unclog and drain some of the pipes in C block earlier this week.

Today, Wednesday, 28th of May, 2025, new toilet facilities were spotted being installed for occupants of the alumni block. Zik Press correspondent confirmed that pipes had been laid outside the block to link the newly installed toilet facilities to the sewage system outside.

In an interview with Zik Press, Sotomi Daniel confirmed that work is scheduled to commence on other parts of the hall. In his words, "They started with C block because that's where the most work is. Very soon they will move to B block and then A block."

Sigma Club, NIMELSSA Organise Project Pad A Girl

Sigma Club, University of Ibadan and the Nigerian Medical Laboratory Science Students' Association, University of Ibadan have in commemoration of the World Menstrual Hygiene Day partnered together to embark on a "Pad a Girl" project.

Under this initiative, the associations reached out to secondary schools in an  outreach dedicated to promoting menstrual hygiene awareness and supporting the well-being of young girls.

The schools covered according to a flier made available to the press are Oba Akinbiyi Model School, Mokola and Methodist Grammar School, Bodija.

In a statement made available to Zik press, the Sigma chief, Toyinbo Ayodeji, stated that while the club is a male only society, its values are not gender bound.

"While Sigma Club remains a male-only organization by structure, our values are never gender-bound. We believe that service, empathy, and impact are shared responsibilities, and caring for women and girls is not just an act of kindness, but a moral duty. This echoes the Club’s guiding motto: “For all that is Pure.” "

"Project Pad A Girl is more than a one-day event, it is a loud and clear statement that Sigma Club recognizes the often-overlooked realities many girls face. Through this outreach, we refuse to stay silent where there is a call for dignity, education, and support," the statement continued.

"As we walk into these schools today, we are not just delivering sanitary pads, we are affirming dreams, restoring confidence, and upholding the principle that no one should be left behind in the pursuit of a more equitable and compassionate society."

PROSTATE CANCER: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Emmanuel Adebiyi 

June 11th is the day set aside to celebrate World Prostate Cancer Day in order to create awareness of the most common type of cancer in men. Prostate cancer is often called a “silent threat” due to its subtle early symptoms. Follow me as we shed more light on the silent killer.

WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?

Prostate cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the prostate gland, a walnut-sized organ in men that produces seminal fluid. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is the 4th most common cancer in the world, just behind. In Nigeria, the National Institute of Health (NIH) notes it as the most common cancer among men, with rising incidence due to limited screening. In 2022, the WCRF reported approximately 1.4 million new cases of prostate cancer worldwide.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PROSTATE CANCER

Prostate cancer’s early symptoms are vague and can easily be dismissed by the affected; that is why calling it a silent killer isn't far-fetched. Many men who dismiss the signs delay diagnosis, and a cancer's lethality increases with delayed diagnosis. Common symptoms include difficulty starting or stopping urination, weak urine flow, or frequent urination (especially at night). Blood in urine or semen, pelvic discomfort or pain, erectile dysfunction, bone pain (in advanced stages, if cancer spreads to bones), and fatigue or unexplained weight loss. For early detection, it is important to recognise persistent symptoms. When any of these symptoms last more than 2–3 weeks, it may be a pointer.

TYPES OF PROSTATE CANCER

Prostate cancer primarily arises from specific cell types in the prostate:

ADENOCARCINOMA: The most common type, originating in gland cells that produce prostate fluid. Subtypes include acinar and ductal adenocarcinoma, with acinar being the most prevalent.

SMALL CELL CARCINOMA: A rare, aggressive form that grows quickly and is harder to treat.

TRANSITIONAL CELL CARCINOMA: Arises from the urethra’s lining and is less common.

NEUROENDOCRINE TUMOURS: Rare tumours from hormone-producing cells, often aggressive. Most prostate cancers grow slowly, but aggressive forms require urgent intervention. Early detection through PSA testing often catches adenocarcinomas before they spread.

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS

While the exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown, several risk factors increase a man’s likelihood of developing it.

AGE: Age is one risk factor that rises significantly after age 50, with most cases diagnosed in men over 65.

FAMILY HISTORY: Like many other diseases, family history and genetics are also risk factors. About 5–10% of cases are hereditary. Men with a family history of prostate, breast, or ovarian cancer face higher risks.

RACE/ETHNICITY: African and African-American men have a 60% higher risk than Caucasian men and worse outcomes, partly due to socioeconomic factors.

DIET/HORMONES: Diets high in red meat or dairy and low in vegetables may increase risk. Obesity and smoking are also linked. High levels of testosterone or other androgens may fuel cancer growth.

STAGES OF PROSTATE CANCER 

Staging helps determine the cancer’s spread and guides treatment:

Localised: Cancer is confined to the prostate (Stage I–II). Most treatable, with excellent outcomes.

Regional: Cancer spreads to nearby tissues, like seminal vesicles (Stage III).

Distant: Cancer reaches distant organs, such as bones, lungs, or liver (Stage IV), requiring aggressive treatment.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Treatment depends on the cancer’s stage, grade, and patient health. Options include

ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE: Monitoring slow-growing cancers with regular PSA tests and biopsies, suitable for low-risk cases.

SURGERY: Radical prostatectomy removes the prostate and surrounding tissues, often for localised cancer.

RADIATION THERAPY: External beam or brachytherapy targets cancer cells and is used for localised or regional stages.

HORMONE THERAPY: Reduces testosterone levels to slow cancer growth, common in advanced cases.

CHEMOTHERAPY: Used for metastatic cancer, often combined with hormone therapy.

IMMUNOTHERAPY AND TARGETED THERAPY: Emerging treatments, like sipuleucel-T, boost the immune system or target specific cancer cells.

BIOTHERAPY: Drugs like checkpoint inhibitors enhance immune response, showing promise in clinical trials. According to the National Cancer Institute, the 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer is 97.5% overall but drops to 32% for metastatic cases, underscoring the need for early detection.

Prevention: No guaranteed way exists to prevent prostate cancer, but risk can be reduced through a healthy diet (emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while limiting red meat and processed foods), regular exercise, and quitting smoking. Prostate cancer may be a “silent threat”, but its impact on men’s lives is very loud. The vague symptoms demand vigilance, and men must know their bodies and seek screenings at the slightest change.

UI'SU Releases Updates On Student Loans And June 6 Deadline

Oloyede David Oyewale 

The University of Ibadan Students’ Union, under the leadership of President Covenant Odedele, has sent out an update concerning the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the upcoming June 6 school fees deadline.

While maintaining that the government should ideally fund tertiary education without loans, the Union stated that the reality is that thousands of students have already engaged with the NELFUND scheme.

The statement reiterated the union’s promise to defend student welfare regardless of ideological differences.

The Students’ Union then encouraged all indigent and interested students to take advantage of the scheme.

In an official statement dated May 25, 2025, the Union confirmed that over 4,800 students have successfully applied for NELFUND loans through the school portal. Interested students were also urged to complete their applications by May 31 to ensure timely disbursement.

The Union further revealed the establishment of a NELFUND Support Office at the ITEMS Office, NCC Digital Park, where students can lodge complaints and receive support during school hours.

The key resolutions included in the statement are the extension of the June 6 deadline for students awaiting loan disbursement or facing financial difficulties, the reversal of the ₦20,000 late fee previously imposed on defaulters, and the acceleration of the NELFUND refund process for affected students.

The Student Union executives while reiterating their commitment, advised the general student populace to be calm while these issues are being addressed.

"The Union remains committed to effective communication while steadfastly addressing these issues pertaining to student welfare," the statement concluded.

Zik Hall League: Everything You Need To Know

Oluwagbenga Kolawole 

The Zik Hall League is underway, and to this end, it is important to inform you of some necessary details about the competition.

The Zik Hall league started as an initiative of the erstwhile sports minister, Ayobami Ojeniyi. However, it is not entirely new. It was promised during Jay Kareem's tenure as Zik Sport minister, but it was not quite successfully executed.

Ayobami Ojeniyi's Zik Hall League execution had a lot more planning and structuring. To effectively handle the operation of the league as well as other footballing activities in the hall, the Zik Football Association (FA) was created. It automatically became a subcommittee of the sport committee of the hall. 

The tournament is a five-a-side football competition held at the Zik Hall Maracana. Each half lasts 15 minutes with a five-minute interval. The team with the most goals in a match gets the three points; the losing team gets none. In the case of a draw, both teams get one point each.

The competition is in a league format with ten teams playing each other twice. And a total of 90 matches will be played throughout the competition. A team must have a team owner, a manager and twelve players, a minimum of whom must be six Zikites.

This session's edition has some new clubs and new faces.

First is the Da-ebs football team owned by Umar Adegoke; then there is The Incredibles FC, a team consisting primarily of 200-level students which is owned by Oke Idunnuoluwanimi. Others are the Oyebanji Gideon-owned Alma Guerrero FC, the Otunla Samuel-owned Masterclass FC, the Kolawole Ayooluwa-owned Vanguard FC, and the Oyewumi Temiloluwa-owned Indispensables FC.

Bluelock FC, which participated in the last edition, was acquired in the middle of the season last session by Ifeoluwa Farayola, a graduate of OAU who bought it for forty thousand naira.

Clubs that participated in the last edition of the Zik Hall league, Bluelock, Blaze, and Vanguard, as well as Youngboys, are returning for this session's edition.

If a player gets a red card, he is sent off for five minutes and is then replaced by another player when that five minutes ends.

As the competition is a winner-takes-all, the winning team goes home with one hundred thousand naira in cash.

According to the rule book, once a player gets four yellow cards, that player misses the next match. And on the occasion where a player or manager gets two consecutive reds, such player or manager misses the next match.

According to the FA chairman, Benjamin Obasola, the league is scheduled to run for 28 weeks till around October 2025.

He further revealed that the first half of the season will end a week before GST exams to allow players enough time to catch up on academic work.

You can read more in our interview with the FA chairman here.

Zik Hall League: 1561 FC Thrashes Bluelock 6-Nil As League Kicks Off

The Muffin Man 

Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall's Zik Hall League has kicked off to a sensational start as the Oluwole Ayomide-owned 1561 FC have, on the opening weekend, thrashed Bluelock FC six goals to nil to open their campaign.

Matchday one, which began with a commemorative match between the members of the hall executive council and the elders council, saw members of the executive council thrash the elders council players one goal to nil thanks to a goal from Bayo, the vice hall chair.

The league began officially with a match between Alma Guerrero and Vanguard FC, a match which Vanguard won thanks to a goal by Frank.

This match was followed by the match between Blaze FC and The Incredibles. The tightly fought match was narrowly won by The Incredibles. Despite goals by Shally, Tayo and Richard, The Incredibles took all three points thanks to goals by Emmanuel, Ayanfe and a Barnabas brace.

In the match between Indispensables FC and Da-ebs, Shayo's brace was not enough to guarantee a win, as goals from Toheeb and Lekan ensured that the points were shared. The freshmen team, Young Boys, also managed to share points with Masterclass FC.

Bluelock FC suffered a total demolition when 1561 FC managed to put six unanswered goals past them. Pade scored a hat trick, Agbowo had a brace, while Neymar contributed his own to compound the Bluelock team's woes.

The competition is scheduled to continue next weekend with Vanguard FC facing Da-ebs FC and 1561 FC clashing with Masterclass FC. Other matchups in the match day two include:  The Indispensables FC vs Blaze FC; Bluelock FC vs Alma Guerrero and FCYoung Boys vs The Incredibles.

Seals Cup 2025: IPE Held To A Draw By MBBS As Competition Begins

By Oloyede David Oyewale 

IPE male football team drew with the MBBS team while KHE female team were also held to a draw by the ASSE female team in the opening match of the 2025 Seals Cup.

The matches which opened the seventh edition of the Seals Cup came with various side attractions. First was the opening ceremony, which began around 4pm, during which the trophy was paraded. 

Then there was the first match of the female category between KHE and ASSE female teams, a match which ended in a 2-2 draw with goals from Lolade and Esther for ASSE, while Favour from KHE bagged a brace.

In the male category , IPE showed that they meant business early in the match when a corner was headed in by their skipper, Victor Kolawole, popularly known as VK, who also happens to be the current sport secretary of the UI SU.

The first half ended in favour of the IPE as they made sure all attempts by the MBBS were kept at bay. But the IPE dominance spell was broken in the second half when a free kick was converted to a goal by Sir Dave from the MBBS team; it didn't take long for the IPE to answer with another goal from Abraham. 

As the match drew close to its end and it seemed IPE would win the game, a last-minute goal came in from Ola (Hollandia), for the MBBS team, making the match a draw between both IPE and MBBS

Village Beauty: "Women should be given the chance to push the limit" Interview With Miss NUESA, Olukotun Goodness

In this week's village beauty segment, Zik Press reached out to the Assistant General Secretary of the department of Special Education who also happens to be the current Miss NUESA, Miss Olukotun Goodness. In an exclusive chat with Zik Press correspondent Oloyede David Oyewale, she talks about herself , her academics as well as her perception of Zik hall.

Zik Press : Good afternoon. Please, can we meet you?

Miss Olukotun: My name is Olukotun Goodness. I'm the current Miss NUESA for the faculty of education and the AGS for the department of special education.

Zik Press: So, Miss Olukotun, what are your hobbies? 

Miss Olukotun: I'm a singer. I sing. I love to read novels. And I love watching movies.

Zik Press: So you said you're a singer, you watch movies, and things like that. So how have you been able to balance those hobbies with your academics?

Miss Olukotun: Well, basically, my hobbies are not the type that will actually disturb me from balancing my academics. I'm a singer. I can sing whenever I want to; I read novels during my free time. And when I know that I'm not doing anything, I also watch movies during my free time. When I know that I need to relax my brain and stuff like that, especially from school stress and everything.

Zik Press: Alright. Thank you very much. So how was your journey towards being Miss NUESA? How were you able to go about it?

Miss Olukotun: It was hectic. It was different. I faced a lot of challenges. Number one problem was in terms of academics. I had to make a lot of sacrifices because I had to go for rehearsal, and sometimes my rehearsals would clash with my classes. And I had to go because my mark was there. 

And not only that, there was also the stress in trying to get costumes. It was also so emotionally stressful because I was writing my exam at that time. So balancing everything was really not easy at all. There are times that I will sit down and be thinking that, okay, where can I go from here to there? It was really very stressful, but I'm just happy that the efforts paid off later.

Zik Press : Alright. So my next question is, what is that thing that inspired you to contest for Miss NUESA? And apart from that, you faced a lot of challenges. What was that thing that kept you going?

Miss Olukotun: I didn't want to go for Miss NUESA, but you know, there's this kind of thing whereby people will tell you that you have the charisma for something and you're just inspired. In fact, it was the former Miss NUESA who came to me and was like, You have a charisma for it, so why don't you go for it? And I was like, I'm not so sure. In fact, I was telling everybody that told me to do it that I did not want to participate. I was the kind of person who didn't like pageantry at all. I just didn't want to participate in anything like pageantry or so.

 But later, I was invited to the pageant's first rehearsals. I didn't even take anything with me at all. I just went like that, so the committee head then, who just graduated recently, also encouraged me. He said that if it had been someone else who didn't have interest in the pageant, he would have agreed, but because I am the one and because he believes that I can do it, he wants me to join the contest. I also got inspiration from people who kept on telling me that they believe in me and that they believe that I could do it. 

Beside these, I have some people who told me not to do it because they believed I wouldn't be able to do it with my academics; besides, they believed since I am the AGS of my department, how will I be able to do both jobs of Miss NUESA and departmental AGS together? But throughout all these, I myself was having second thoughts on if I should contest or not. But later, I just decided that, you know what, let me just give it a try. I also have friends that were ready to support me in terms of borrowing their stuff because I didn't have most of the stuff that I needed. They were also there to support me with kind words; I can remember one of them jokingly telling me that “ if you like, don't win.”

I am also grateful to my manager. Her name is Eriife, and I would surely recommend her to anybody who needs someone for a management job. She is a manager both in terms of helping you to manage your money wisely. She was also there to calm me down when I was tense and anxious. It even got to a stage that I said I am not doing it again, but she kept encouraging me to keep going on and not give up, and that really kept me going.

Zik Press: Alright. Thank you very much. So away from that, what is your opinion about Zik Hall and Zikites generally? 

Miss Olukotun: (Laughs) Okay. So when I first came to UI, the first place I entered was Zik; in fact, that day was the funniest of my life because they did it all. When they were doing this thing they call ARO, it was actually scary at first because, you know, we were just freshers, and I was with girls again, not with guys. It was actually so scary, and I made up my mind that day that that will be the last time I will enter Zik, but there's just this thing about Zíkites that even when you say you don't want to have anything to do with Zikites, you still get to find yourself among them. Zíkites are happy people. That's what I can say. They enjoy having fun.

They believe in this brotherhood that yes, we are from the Baluba Kingdom. So that's one thing I've noticed about them. I've noticed that you guys have this brotherhood spirit; if one person is going for a political post or something, you guys go all out to help that person achieve his aspiration, which is actually very nice.

I remember when they were doing their hall week last session; the way they all dressed during the rally was really nice. I am a queenite. So I saw them when they came to Queens Hall. All of them, they wore different things, brought horses and everything. I just loved it. I just loved the Zikism thing.

So basically that is all I can say about Zikites. 

Zik Press: So what advice do you have for Zíkites? 

Miss Olukotun: Well, my advice will be that they should please help reduce their Aro. Apart from that, my advice is that as a Zíkite that you claim to be, know where you are from and know who you really are; continue to maintain that brotherhood and unity among yourselves.

 Zik Press: Thank you very much. What is your take on feminism and gender equality? 

Miss Olukotun: hmmm Feminism and gender equality. To be honest, I'm not a feminist. I just don't believe in the feminist thing. 

And in terms of gender equality, I believe that there are some things that a man has access to that a woman should also have access to. I've heard that a woman cannot hold a particular post, especially in UI, for example. They always say, It's always a guy that holds the post, so there's a guy that holds the post. I think it should not be like that; I believe women too should be given the chance to go for those posts, and I believe it will work out if that is done. 

Women should be given the chance to push the limit. If we notice some African countries, we will notice that we are already having female leaders in them. I also believe that time has changed, and so should how we view things, especially in the area of feminism and gender equality.

Zik Press: What advice do you have for the person aspiring to be the next Miss Nuesa?

 

Miss Olukotun: For whoever wants to go for Miss Nuesa, I will just advise you should know that you can do it. And also, this is a platform for you to be able to express yourself . There are those that I know while contesting, were not outspoken, but at the end of it, they were able to speak out for themselves. Going for Miss NUESA will also help you build connections with people, so it is not about the pageant alone. It is also an avenue to be an inspiration to others.

So if you are out there and you intend to be the next Miss NUESA, know that it is the best opportunity you can get to show the world who you are.

 Zik Press: Okay, Miss Olukotun, thank you for having us.

Miss Olukotun: You're welcome.

Rivalries Renewed as Seals Cup Draws Are Announced

By David Osunwa

The 2025 edition of the SEALS Cup is set to begin in dramatic fashion, with the opening fixture serving up a replay of last year’s unforgettable final between MBBS and IPE. The highly anticipated curtain-raiser promises to reignite the fierce rivalry between both sides and set the tone for what looks to be a thrilling tournament.

The group stage draw, released earlier this month, has already sparked excitement and speculation among fans and players alike. In Group B, Pharmacy, led by the familiar duo of Afeez and Musty, will lock horns once again with Chemistry and Statistics in what appears to be a tactical battleground of minds and muscles.

Meanwhile, the Economics team will be breathing a sigh of relief after what many see as a favourable draw. Having suffered repeated exits at the group stage in previous editions, they’ll be hoping this year finally breaks the curse.

The female category is no less exciting. In a rare twist of fate, all Faculty of Education teams have been drawn into Group A, setting up intense intra-faculty showdowns that are sure to test both familiarity and rivalry.

Elsewhere, MBBS finds itself in another tricky group alongside neighbours Physiotherapy and the side from the Faculty of Law. In Group C, AFAS giants, Philosophy, will be looking to assert their dominance against younger Pharmacy and Computer Science sides eager to cause an upset.

With rivalries renewed and fresh narratives unfolding, the stage is set for another thrilling chapter in the Seals Cup legacy.

The opening ceremony of the competition is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 21st of May, 2025.

To Whom It Will Concern: Underlining The Critical Issues Affecting Zik Hall

One thing about the human society is that there will always be issues. In fact, it seems as if life is like a never ending cycle of sorting out one problem after the order, almost as if having issues is the basis of our existence. But then, it is the problems and challenges that we face that give us the opportunity to look inside and figure out novel ways to survive. Just like Austrian–British philosopher, academic and social commentator, Karl Popper named his book, all life is problem solving.

 In these parts of the world, however, we tend to ignore our issues and try to see how much we can adapt to them. We try to fall in love with our issues to see if they go away. This is why we take one thousand steps and remain in the same spot. When we leave our issues unaddressed for too long, it becomes even more complicated to solve. Practical instances of this can be seen in our nation, in our school, in our dear student union, and in our beloved Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall. But for now, emphasis will remain on the Baluba Kingdom. The Fabiyi Damilare-led administration introduced the NEEDS assessment document to track the development of the hall. This way, successive administrations will know what to focus on and what to move on from. Sadly, this well-laid plan has not guaranteed its own successful execution. 

The government's abysmal handling of the subject of quality education has resulted in the weakening of our federal and state institutions' ability to effectively provide the needed quality to the students. Authorities, bodies and institutions that could be contributing more to the hall are further incapacitated by economic and financial handicaps. Meanwhile, students are left to chase the sophistication of the 21st century with resources from the dark ages. In Zik Hall, the issues are constant. Not much heed is paid to them anymore; it just seems like everyone has accepted it as their reality.

First and foremost is probably the issue of water supply. A random count of the number of water tanks in Zik Hall shows that Zik has nothing less than 30 tanks, but unfortunately only about 10 of those constantly supply water. The word "constantly" used in this case is a farce given the fact that the water in these tanks finish within three hours of light being taken. Many a Zikite has turned his own skin into secondhand or rubber footwear—rub and shine. With the number of tanks in the hall, water supply obviously shouldn't be a problem, but the population has overpowered the facilities. On days where there is no light or when there are pumping issues, Zikites have to go as far as Jaja clinic to get water.

There is also the problem of poor facilities. At this point, it would appear that the only thing holding Zik Hall facilities together is the spirit of oneness, togetherness and brotherhood. In the past two sessions, Zik Hall has seen several renovation efforts. The porters' lodge was rebuilt, toilet doors were replaced, window nets were repaired, and the JCR was refurbished. However, there still lie other issues because no matter how fast Zik Hall chases, the conditions are always comparably better in other halls of residence. We have clogged toilet drains, clogged gutters, and plumbing problems on some floors. As stated earlier, issues that could have resolved long ago have endured and become more complicated.

Another issue we are dealing with is the issue of poor waste disposal. Aside from the fact that Zik hall cleaners are overworked, constantly sweeping, scrubbing, washing and scrubbing more than their numbers can efficiently handle, there is also the issue of the waste being properly disposed of. Ordinarily, the waste collection site is the one in front of C block, a location that poses great health risks to the residents. Here the waste accumulates until it starts smelling. It is only then that the school waste management team comes to pack it. In spite of this, the cleaners sometimes take the liberty of emptying their refuse close to Zik Bridge; other vendors choose to burn it, consequently polluting the surroundings of the hall.

Similarly, Zik Hall suffers from a problem of overgrown weeds. Of all halls of residence in UI, Zik Hall is the only one that seems to be dealing with this issue. Granted that the other halls of residence don't even have this amount of space, it is still rather sad for weeds to have to grow to knee length before they are cut off. This problem raises concerns about snakes and other venomous animals thriving within the surroundings of the hall, potentially endangering the lives of the occupants of the hall. There is also the issue of security. It would sound atrocious to say Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall is not safe. But recent events have testified to this fact. The risk of having one's stuff stolen is something that Zikites have embraced, a situation that should not be so. It is sad to note that how helpless students are in this situation.

At the crux of all our issues in Zik Hall lies the apathetic nature of the hall's residents. Ordinarily, apathy indicates an unwillingness to participate in political activities, but in Zik Hall, our own undoing is our unwillingness to adequately understand the political activities we are involved in and to demand things to improve from our executives and from the school. No matter how dire the situation seems, part of the responsibility for improving it also falls on us. But then, on average, we spend most of our time trying to provide justification for our brothers even when their actions are obviously not moving us forward. We tolerate nonsense in the name of promoting Zikism and protecting the hall's image when the actual reality is that we are suffering and everyone knows it.

These issues have the potential of decaying even further; timely intervention must be made to prevent that from happening.

The Lost Spirit of Aluta: Student Unions Are Losing The Fight for Free Education

Image Credit: Shutterstock 

By Àkànní Olúwaségún Michael

In every democratic society, education is not merely a social service, it is a fundamental political right. The Nigerian Constitution, under Section 18, mandates that the government should strive to eradicate illiteracy and provide free, compulsory, and universal primary education, as well as free university education as and when practicable. But, the phrase "as and when practicable" has been used so often as an escape route for successive administrations to abdicate responsibility.

The commodification of education in Nigeria depsist a political ideology, which is a system intended to marginalise the poor and deepen inequality. Public tertiary institutions, originally envisioned as equalizers of opportunity, are now battlegrounds where policies of commercialization threaten to price out the very citizens they were meant to uplift. The conversation about education is no longer about access or quality but about affordability for the privileged few.

The rising cost of tuition fees, introduction of arbitrary service charges, and the withdrawal of subsidies under the guise of “cost-sharing models” expose the political decision to prioritize neoliberal economic policies over citizens’ welfare. These are not accidental occurrences; they are calculated political choices made by an elite class that benefits from the under-education of the masses. An uneducated populace is easier to manipulate, disenfranchise, and control.

In this light, the struggle for free and accessible education transcends mere activism, it becomes a political fight against systemic oppression. It challenges the very foundation of an elitist political order that sustains itself by limiting opportunities for upward mobility. Hence, the demand for education is intrinsically linked to the broader struggle for social justice, democratic participation, and national development.

Students, therefore, are not just stakeholders in this fight; they are frontline actors. Their demand for free education is a demand for a restructured political system that prioritizes human capital development over the pursuit of profit and the entrenchment of privilege.

The Vanguard of Educational Liberation

Historically, student unionism in Nigeria has been a critical force in resisting anti-poor policies and championing the cause of free education. From the iconic 1978 “Ali Must Go” protests against fee hikes to numerous demonstrations across campuses in recent decades, students’ unions have consistently positioned themselves as the conscience of the nation’s educational sector.

However, the current reality reveals a troubling decline in the radicalism and vibrancy levels of student unions. Co-optation by university management, internal factionalism, and an overemphasis on cosmetic initiatives have diluted their once-powerful voice. Instead of being platforms for mobilization and resistance, many unions have become appendages of university authorities, complicit in the commercialization agenda.

The struggle for free and accessible education is fundamentally a political struggle, and students’ unions must reclaim their rightful role as the political opposition to anti-people educational policies. This requires a shift from tokenistic engagements such as beauty pageants, awards, and ceremonial “One Day President” gimmicks towards organized, issue-based activism.

To be effective, students’ unions must embrace ideological clarity. They must educate their members on the political economy of education, fostering critical consciousness about how neoliberal policies impact access to education. Union leaders should see themselves not as mere administrators of campus events but as political mobilizers tasked with challenging structural inequalities.

Reclaiming this political identity is not just a romantic return to the past, it is a strategic necessity. Without a radical, organized, and politically conscious students’ union movement, the struggle for free and accessible education will remain fragmented, reactive, and ultimately ineffective.

The dynamics at play within the Nigerian political landscape are eerily mirrored in the governance structures of tertiary institutions. Just as the national elite prioritize policies that deepen inequality, university administrations adopt commercialization strategies that alienate economically disadvantaged students. In both cases, governance is reduced to managing the optics of progress while sidestepping the real issues.

University authorities, much like the national political class, often justify fee increments and cost-sharing models with narratives of financial sustainability. However, these justifications rarely address questions of accountability, transparency, or alternative funding models. This mirrors how national governments justify subsidy removals without tackling endemic corruption or fiscal mismanagement.

Similarly, students’ union executives, particularly at the leadership level, often mirror the complacency and opportunism of mainstream politicians. Rather than challenge unjust policies, they become entangled in patronage networks, prioritizing personal ambitions over collective welfare. This explains why many students’ unions today are silent on critical issues such as fee hikes, hostel shortages, and poor academic facilities.

The silence of Students’ Representative Councils (SRCs) is particularly telling. As supposed legislative bodies, their failure to interrogate university policies reflects the broader failure of Nigeria’s National Assembly to provide effective oversight of the executive. This political apathy within student governance structures undermines the very purpose of unionism and emboldens authorities to continue with exploitative practices unchecked.

Therefore, the struggle for free education on campus is inseparable from the national struggle for accountable governance. Students’ unions must recognize that their fight is part of a larger political movement aimed at dismantling systemic structures of inequality and oppression.

The Political Economy of Free Education

Nigeria’s problem is not a lack of resources but a mismanagement of existing ones. The annual budgets reveal a disturbing pattern of disproportionate spending on non-productive sectors, inflated overheads, and entrenched corruption. The political will to invest in education is lacking, not because it is financially unfeasible, but because it does not serve the immediate interests of the ruling elite.

For instance, the cost of legislative allowances, frivolous security votes, and executive luxuries far outweigh the budgetary allocations for education. The political decision to prioritize elitist comforts over public education exposes the systemic choices that perpetuate inequality. Free and accessible education is, therefore, not an economic impossibility but a political choice.

Furthermore, countries with similar economic challenges have implemented free or highly subsidized tertiary education through strategic prioritization and anti-corruption measures. Nigeria’s failure in this regard is a reflection of a political elite that benefits from an uneducated, disempowered populace.

Students’ unions must articulate this argument clearly and consistently. They must frame the demand for free education not as an unrealistic wish-list but as a legitimate political demand grounded in principles of social justice, equitable resource distribution, and national development priorities.

While protests and demonstrations have historically been effective tools, the struggle for free and accessible education requires a multi-pronged strategy in the contemporary context. Students’ unions must evolve from reactive agitation to proactive policy engagement.

However, strategic mobilization also involves internal restructuring. Students’ unions must invest in capacity building, leadership training, and ideological orientation of their members. They must create platforms for political education, fostering a new generation of student leaders who are not only vocal but also visionary.

Importantly, unions must leverage digital media strategically. Social media should be used not just for publicity stunts but as a tool for advocacy, mobilization, and public accountability. By shaping public discourse, students can influence policy narratives and challenge the dominant ideologies that justify educational commercialization.

Ultimately, the fight for free and accessible education is a long-term political struggle that demands resilience, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment. It is a fight not just for the present generation but for the future of Nigeria’s democracy and development.

The Healing Power of Tea

Image Credit:  Zadorozhnyi Viktor/Shutterstock

Emmanuel Adebiyi 

Tea has stood the test of time, from 2737 BC in China till now; it is the second most consumed beverage globally, only after water...Not many substances have the ability to warm cups and hearts like tea has done for centuries. The story of tea is believed to begin in China. 

According to legend, in 2737 BC, a Chinese emperor, Shen Nung, was sitting under the tree when his servant boiled drinking water and some leaves. The leaves blew into the water band. Since then, tea has been a part of our lives. Tea is revered in traditional medicine as it contains active ingredients made from various plants to address a range of ailments.

 Chamomile tea is known to aid sleep and support immunity, peppermint tea is associated with promoting healthy digestion, and green tea with managing diabetes, to mention but a few. For modern medicine, research is very important, and a lot of research has been on how tea actually benefits the body in recent times.

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH: A 2020 study published in the National Library of Science found that for every cup of tea a person consumed daily, there was a 4% lower risk of death from heart disease, a 2% lower risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular events, a 4% lower risk of stroke and a 1.5% lower risk of death from all causes. So while you may want to exercise and take other steps to improve your cardiovascular health, you might want to look into incorporating black or green tea into your diet.

MENTAL HEALTH: Tea has a lot to offer, and helping your mental health isn’t out of it. Tea’s blend of L-theanine and caffeine creates a unique mental boost. L-theanine is known for its potential to promote relaxation and cognitive enhancement, and caffeine in the right amount can improve alertness. Research also shows that green tea is linked with a 64% lower chance of cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults. Even without its content, the act of making and drinking tea can help calm you down—mind and body. So when you’re tackling a busy day after classes, a cup of tea would be a mindful addition.

IMMUNE SYSTEM SUPPORT: Tea usually contains antiviral and antibacterial constituents, which may strengthen immunity by reducing infection risk. Studies indicate that EGCG, a compound found in green tea, impacts the function of T cells significantly. It also has anti-inflammatory effects and prevents autoimmune diseases by modulating immune cells. Black teas are also not left out, as their theaflavins also support immune responses.

 Drinking tea regularly definitely complements a healthy lifestyle.Tea has stood the test of time, from 2737 BC in China till now; it is the second most consumed beverage globally, only after water.

 Grab a cup of tea today.

"Player encouragement is the major thing we actually want to work on this session" — Zik FA Chairman, Benjamin Obashola

The Chairman of the Zik Hall Football Association, Benjamin Obashola, has revealed that more awards will be provided to participating players in this year's Zik Hall League. He stated this during an interview with Zik Press on Sunday, 18th of May, 2025.

When asked what new innovations the FA is bringing into this year's football league, Benjamin stated that this year's edition of the Zik Hall League will not be testing a lot of new innovations.

 “It [the league] is meant to give us that solid ground, as the second year will actually determine whether the league will stay or not. The inaugural season was very fantastic, as you all can see. But then, we are more about sustaining [the momentum] this session than bringing the things on board. So, as you can see, we are trying a lot of new things,” he said.

He also mentioned that the transfer news that have been going on is one of the initiatives the committee members decided to bring this year. 

"Also, hopefully, we will work more on players' encouragement if we are able to get the desired sponsorship. Players' encouragement is the major thing we actually want to work on this session.”

When asked what kind of player encouragement the players should look forward to, Benjamin said, "We do not want to wait for the end-of-the-season awards only. If possible, if you go to our Instagram and Twitter pages last session, you will see that we do release the Team of the Week graphics. This time around, we want to go as far as having the Player of the Week nomination. We choose the Player of the Week, and then there will be a gift for that individual.”

Speaking on prizes, Benjamin revealed the competition is a winner-takes-all tournament.

 "The winner goes home with a sum of one hundred thousand naira and gold medals. Then there's an opportunity for other players to contest for the individual awards. There's Player of the Season, Playmaker of the Season, Young Player of the Season, Goalkeeper of the Season, and Highest Goalscorer. But there is no monetary prize attached to them. The Young Player of the Season award is open only to freshmen,” he revealed.

According to him, the modalities of the team remain the same as last session, aside from the fact that there will be no graduates this year. Last session, two graduates were allowed to come on board per team. For this session, that rule has been scrapped. 

“We can only have graduates as either a team owner or the coach. The team definitely must have a well-defined team structure. From the team owner to the manager to the captain and other players,” he stated.

“And while the team owner definitely cannot be a player, we allow teams to have player-coaches. There is no equal player-coach in football. If someone knows that he want to be a player and he is the one that has the financial capability for the team, he definitely has to bring in someone called trust. A board of trustee is just like the way it is in football. When you talk about multi-club ownership, you definitely must not be the one to manage everything when you have to play in the same competition.

“So we apply such a rule here also. The owner, the financially capable person, must get someone to step in for him. The person will be the one we recognise as the owner. Then the individual, the financially capable person, can be registered as the player. So from the team owner to the manager to the players, 12 players per team, minimum of 6 Zikites.

He further stated that Young Boys FC is the only exempted from these rules.

 "The Young Boys FC, for as long as the Zik hall league will be holding, will always be a 12-man team comprising 100-level Zikites. Majority of them are actually the players that played in the Inter-Hall Freshers Cup. And if the Hall Chairman wishes, he can add more, because the Young Boys will be owned by the office of the old Chairman. Whoever gets elected as the old chairman will be the one to be recognised as the owner of the team.”

When asked about sponsorship, he said, “We depend solely on external sponsorship. And the little we received from team registration. Team registration this season has increased from #10,000 last season to #15,000 this year because there are a lot of things to cover. As you can see, the FA actually bought the net that was used last session for the league. It has actually been tattered. Very, very tattered so we have a lot of things to buy.

“Our budget is over 400,000 Naira. And we hope and pray we can get enough sponsorship. So there's nothing coming from the hall management. There's nothing coming from the school, definitely. So it is personal contributions and the little we can get from anonymous and private parties [that we will be using].”

Zik Press also inquired about the issue of rain and the consequent flooding that happens on the Maracana pitch, a situation that affected the scheduled preseason matches on Saturday. In his words, the long lasting solution the FA could find was to construct an underground drainage. But given how expensive the project is (estimated figure of one million naira), Benjamin stated that the FA has resorted to creating a makeshift pathway for the water to flow through to the drainage outside the Maracana. With this, matches will be able to continue within five hours after a rainfall.

Speaking on refereeing, Benjamin stated that, They will be sticking with Coach Ike as referee for this year's edition. As a parting shot, Benjamin invited all undergraduates to come and be involved in activities of the league. 

He said, “To those looking to participate in this competition, participation goes beyond being on the field. Participation goes beyond being the manager. Participation goes beyond being the team owner.I actively participate in the Zik Hall League, not in any of these three positions. I do these things: the sport administration part of it and the ball business part of it. It is actually the main thing behind the scene. 

"So I would encourage anyone who is interested in participating and has actually not gotten the opportunity to participate in those three years; the FA is still open for them to join. They can join the FA, and they can also be our partners. We are open to the ball business, advertisement and all.Our Twitter page and Instagram page are very active. We have almost 200 followers on each. So, we have enough room. And trust me, I can say it categorically that we are building a legacy. This season, we two of our teams already have a Twitter account. So you can see that what is going on. I would encourage everyone to come and participate. Be part of a story yet untold.”

The Zik Hall League is scheduled to begin on Sunday, 25th of May, 2025. In the meantime, the participating clubs have been confirmed and transfer is ongoing.

“Everyday For The Thief”: Unpacking The Issue of Theft In Zik Hall And Its Resultant Effects On Residents

Oluwagbenga Kolawole

Stealing is not exactly a new issue in Zik Hall. It is rather sad to say that most Zikites are used to it. It is almost like a rite of passage. They go through life in the hall, braving the risks of having their valuables stolen from them. A day where nothing is taken as a huge win. This, in ordinary contexts, should be a source of great concern for safety and security, but then, there is nothing ordinary about the way theft occurs in Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall.

Bola*, a 400-level student of the Faculty of Agriculture, was in his room when his friend came to charge using his power bank. He decided to step out briefly to the cafeteria to get something to eat. According to him, he and his friend stepped out together, so he locked the door and took the key with him. By the time he came back (roughly 15 minutes later, according to his estimations), his corner had been practically emptied. His power bank, his friend's phone and his own phone had been stolen.

“The door has been broken by, like, the catcher; they broke the catcher in. So, at that moment, it was just the power bank and the phone that were in my head that, okay, they took the phone and the power bank. So, I was just not knowing other stuff well,” he said.

Over the course of the next several days, Bola would go on to find several of his other belongings had been taken. A lot of personal things, like his cream, his earbud, his wristwatch and even his clipper.

I was #50,000 in debt — Zikite

Bola's roommate, Dare*, was also robbed. In his own case, he didn't notice he had been robbed until his customers started asking for their properties. It was then that he finally realised that the electronics he was told to repair had been stolen.

In the days that followed, Dare* described with bitterness the kind of issues he had to deal with, from clients who lost faith in him to clients who understood and let it go to the ones who demanded that he pay them back. He found himself absolutely gutted by the incident. This is the same with every other individual whose stuff was stolen. Most of them find themselves having to scramble funds together to replace their stolen properties in the era of inflated costs.

As stated earlier, this is not a new emerging issue. It is just one that takes a new dimension every year, and over the past fifteen months, Zik Press was able to note some interesting twists in this trend.

Over the course of fifteen months…

Unlike some halls of residence, Zik Hall has four entrances, but the one that gets a lot of monitoring is the main gate; the others do not. Coupled with the fact that Zik Hall is like a junction for people going to other halls, this is probably why the hall is especially targeted because the unscrupulous individuals can easily come in at any time and blend in among other unsuspecting residents.

Over the course of the past months, there have been several cases of thieves being caught and suspicious individuals being apprehended. For instance, on Friday, 19th of July, 2024, a thief was apprehended and was severely beaten before the security unit of the school intervened. Two sessions ago, on two separate occasions, two individuals were caught vandalising the hall property; one even succeeded in cutting some electrical wires, an incident that made some parts of A block go for days without light. That same session, another individual was caught, this time around Zik Hall gym. Witnesses say he was caught stealing some of the gym equipment.

Regular gym goers in Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall are the only ones who can effectively narrate the story of how the state of equipment in the gym went downhill, as the gym was attacked not once, not twice, but several times in the last fifteen months. Zik Press gathered that on occasion, the doors of the gym were broken and some gym plates were carted away by the thieves. While some of these thieves were apprehended, the state of the gym is not the same again.

All this is due to the fact that in a hall of residence that is as dynamic and buzzing as Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, clandestine movements rarely get noticed.

Psychology of a thief

On an individual level, the reasons for stealing are not always very clear. Some quarters have attributed it to a deep-rooted psychological issue (kleptomania); this could drive them to steal and steal again due to a kind of kick they get from it. On the flip side, the country is in dire straits. The radical economic policies of the current Bola Tinubu administration have pushed many citizens into desperate times. With an inflation rate of approximately 33.69% (as of April 2025) and being largely unable to feed themselves, some people have resorted to acts like stealing. As a result, they target individuals who can satisfy their needs, in this case, Zikites.

They come to the hall and then blend in among unsuspecting residents, and then they move what they want to move. Most times they enter the rooms of individuals who fail to lock their doors, and they “raid”. The ones who don't know Ibadan are shown the rough side of Layipo. There have been cases in which people lost their phones and other valuables. In one case, an individual in the hall lost his laptop.

The most common items stolen are clothes. However, on occasion, the thieves also pack any other thing that might have any value: buckets, stoves, pots and pans. So when these items are stolen, it doesn't seem like they are being selected; it seems like they are being packed in bulk.

Nobody is spared

On Wednesday, 30th of October, 2024, the hall warden of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, Dr Okunlade Adelekan, posted a message on the Zik Hall Official WhatsApp platform. In the message, he revealed that a washing hand basin in A block had been stolen while reiterating that Zikites should be vigilant in their activities. A few weeks before that, one of the Zik Hall retailers, a vendor known as Lagbaja, was also robbed. According to him, some packs of soft drinks he keeps outside his shop were stolen overnight.

 

In an interesting turn of events, some days later, various Zikites came out to report the thefts of their things. According to information gathered by Zikpress at the time, pots and stoves constituted the bulk of what was stolen. The victims, after cooking their meals, left their pots to soak outside their room. They also left their stoves outside after cooking due to the smoke. But as fate would have it, by leaving their pots and stoves outside that fateful night, these individuals kissed them goodbye, as they would not see them again.

 

One of the victims, while speaking to a Zik Press correspondent, revealed, “I figured out my pot was stolen after I heard that a few of my floormates' stoves were missing. I quickly went to check where I dropped it; it wasn't there. And mind you, the boys whose stoves went missing and my floor rep had gone to meet the defence minister like minutes ago. When they came back, the only thing I could pick as the summary of their journey was that the defence minister’s stove was also stolen.”

 

Now, this is where the issue becomes even more interesting; the time period between Lagbaja’s goods being stolen and the washing hand basins being stolen is about a month. Also, the time period between the washing hand basins being stolen and the pots and stoves being stolen was a matter of days. The timing of these events suggested a growing intensity, like an intense multiplication of audacity and growth in the number of individuals with nefarious purposes in the hall.

 

At the time, authorities like the Hall warden and the Hall's defence minister put out various messages to acknowledge this issue and encourage Zikites to be vigilant. In the hall warden's message, he ascribed the cause of the situation to the NASU strike, which began on Monday, 28th of October, 2024. For one thing, the NASU strike had the porters vacate their posts. This virtually threw open the hall's gates to these individuals. The absence of porters probably contributed to emboldening these individuals to carry out their nefarious purposes because stealing pots, stoves, and a whole washing hand basin requires a lot of nerve and some team effort.

 

The nerve of the perpetrators is definitely pronounced because even in the times before and after the NASU strike, some hall properties were vandalised. Some of the incidents mentioned earlier happened before that time.

As a concerned Zikite said on the Zik Hall Official Group, Until they steal person?

The defence team

 

Unfortunately, this recurrent issue has almost completely transformed the arm of Zik Hall responsible for providing security, the defence team, into a PR group of sorts. In a recent survey sent out by Zik Press on the matter, one of the respondents did not hold back with his reply. In his words, “The defence boys are not defending shit.”

While it is easy to point fingers at authorities responsible for certain duties when things don't work out, the issue of constant theft in Zik Hall is one that really asks the question of whether the defence team members can really handle this issue. Some of the Zikites that Zik Press reached out to for comments were rather undecided about the level of blame that should be apportioned to the defence team on this matter. One of them commented that the things that have been happening have been very unexpected. "No one else could see it coming, so why should ordinary students be expected to take on the whole responsibility?" he said.

In an interview with the defence minister, Emiola Waliu, he admitted that the issue of theft in Zik Hall is not one that the defence team can handle on its own. He stated that this is why his team has always been sending out broadcast messages and pasting banners and stickers on each floor, to get Zikites to take responsibility for their own security.

“If people are not taking responsibility, there is nothing we can do. I don't even think the defence team is up to 1% of the entire team or population in Zik Hall. And it is also to curb this same issue that we brought in the campus security service representative during the special orientation to sensitise them on this. And then it is not being reciprocated by the proper actions. That means the security responsibility is not being balanced. I won't say we are doing our maximum. We can still do more. But if we can still do the little we are doing, there should be a commensurate effort from the occupants of the hall,” he said.

To their credit, the defence team has taken the matter of sensitisation quite seriously. As the defence minister further revealed, they even carried out a raid in which about 15 gadgets were taken from rooms where the occupants failed to properly lock their doors. But then, even he admitted they could do better. For instance, some Zikites who spoke to Zik Press commented that the defence team could definitely increase the number of times they go on patrols.

The day of the owner

The saying Everyday for the thief, and one day for the owner, is actually a Yoruba saying. 

“Ojo gbogbo nitole, ojo kan nitoniun.”

In the context of the Baluba Kingdom, the day of the owner almost always does not come. It is not like there is a specific day when their properties will be unstolen and magically returned. So most people move on with resignation that they won't find those properties, but on the whole, most have come to terms with it. They try to learn from what they did wrong and try to be more vigilant. And this is where it becomes more concerning.

From January 2024 to April 2025, the total number of suspected thieves and suspicious-looking individuals that have been apprehended in Zik Hall is more than five. In each instance, the swiftness of the university security unit in intercepting and taking the suspect away before real damage is done is super commendable. However, there have been occasions in which some of these suspects were "touched" before the security team showed up. Even when the security team showed up on time, there are times when some Zikites have clamoured for the suspect to be given "a little beating" before being taken away.

For the most part, Zikites have remained civil. But if this situation persists, their response could worsen. The session is still quite young, so not much has happened yet, but the school authority must try as much as possible to beef up the security in the school, especially in Zik Hall. Security education alone can no longer solve this issue. More concrete measures need to be put in place for the safety of the residents of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall.

*Editor's Note: Some names have been changed to protect the identities of the respondents.