Two Students Invited To Appear Before SDC

Two UI students, Ayodele Aduwo and Mide Gbadegeshin have once again been invited to appear before the student disciplinary committee of the school for alleged jointly committed offences during the inauguration ceremony for the 2023/2024 Student Union executives.

The trio of Aduwo Ayodele, Mide Gbadegeshin and Linus Nice were escorted out of Trenchard hall and handed over to security operatives for protesting during the inauguration of Bolaji Aweda-led Team Amelioration executives. Since then, all three of them have appeared before the SDC. However, as of press time, only the duo of Aduwo and Gbadegeshin have been invited to appear once more before the committee.

The invite signed by Deputy Registrar, S.O. Oyewunmi and received by both Aduwo and Gbadegeshin stated that both are to appear before the committee on Monday, 30th June, 2025 at the Conference Room, Student Affairs Division.

"This meeting is a continuation of the investigations on the allegation of misconduct bothering on insubordination/unruly behaviour, to witt obstruction of the swearing-in ceremony for the 2023/2024 Newly Elected Executives of The Students Union, by you and two other students," read the invite.

"Please note that you must be properly dressed when you appear before Student Disciplinary Committee. Failure to honour this invitation may earn you disciplinary action."

UI'SRC RELEASES NOTICE OF SECOND ORDINARY SITTING

The Muffin Man 

The University of Ibadan Students Representative Council has released the notification of its second ordinary sitting.

According to the letter dated 28th June, 2025 and signed by the Speaker of the house, Rt Hon Shoge Quadri as well as the Clerk, Hon. Adedeji Praise, the sitting is scheduled to hold by 10am on Saturday, 5th of July, 2025 at the SRC chamber.

Agenda of the sitting include the reading and adoption of the minutes of the last sitting, state of the union, co-option of honourable members, address by Green Club, UI, committee reports and any other business.

ZIK LND INDUCTS NEW MEMBERS; HOLDS INTERFACTION DEBATE

Emmanuel Adebiyi 

The Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall Literary and Debating Society held her induction and interfaction debate competition on Saturday, 28th June 2025, at the Zik Hall Junior Common Room.

The program started at about 7:23pm with an oratory contest between the new inductees titled 'Whose turn is it?' with three participating members who were inducted into the Literary and Debating Society. 

The 2nd runner-up for the rookie oratory was Akolade Enoch Ayomikun, the first runner-up was Ajibade Muiz Olalekan, and the winner of the oratory contest, who is also the Zik LnD Rookie of the Year, 2025, is Adebukola Israel.

 The in-house debate was on the title "Should Religious Organizations Be Taxed?" between the House Caesar and House Cicero.

 The best speaker for the interfaction debate is Oladejo Segun, the first speaker from House Caesar, with 80.5%. House Cisero, however, won the debate with a total of 73.6% compared to 69.2% by House Caesar, as announced by the President, Oyedijo Olanrewaju.

The Hall Chairman, Sotomi Daniel, and Hall Secretary, Olayika Daniel, also attended the program, and it ended with a vote of thanks at 9:07pm by the Zik Hall Literary and Debating Society President, Oladijo Olanrewaju.

Sigma Club Holds 4th Edition of Health Outreach

Sigma Club, University of Ibadan has on Saturday, 28th of June, 2025 held its fourth health outreach. The outreach featured heath talks, check-ups, medical tests and giveaways.

Speaking with the chairman of the organizing committee for the health outreach, Daniel Bright Oghenetega, he stated that the main objective of the health outreach is to provide medical check-ups for university students who otherwise may not go for check-ups regularly.

"So we plan to give major tests such as

blood pressure and we're also checking the otoscopy because not at least most people have not done an otoscopy in their life. Most people have not done the otoscopy test before. So there's also the HIV and syphilis test and we also have the hepatitis B test which is also essential. So this test we believe is the normal thing that we can do and we should always be checking up on ourselves from time to time to ensure our body is in a very good condition," he said.

"This year we partnered with organizations such as the Medical Women Association of Nigeria. We also partnered with Asido Campus Network for the mental health aspect. We also partnered with the personnel from IK Nigeria for the HIV and syphilis test and we also partnered with medical laboratory scientists for the blood pressure and the blood sugar as well

as the hepatitis B test. For the otoscopy test, we reached out to a specialist, that's PU, that's an offer auditory service. We reached out to them and they are the ones that are going to perform the otoscopy," he further revealed.

When asked what other stuff should students be expecting from the outreach in the future, Mr Oghenetega said "as regards the outreach in the future, of course we always try to improve because the last edition didn't have otoscopy. The last edition didn't have hepatitis B test so eventually in the coming edition, we'll definitely look for more innovations with things that are student-friendly and also pertain to student life and that will be very essential."

Sigma Club Holds Press Conference Ahead of Its 11th Public Lecture

The Muffin Man 

The Sigma Club, University of Ibadan has on Saturday, 28th of June, 2025 held a press conference in anticipation of the 11th edition of its public lecture.

Present at the conference were the Sigma chief, Toyinbo Ayodeji, Chief scribe, Loyalist Olaniyan Mohammed, Publicity Committee Chairman, Loyalist Sulaiman Philipson as well as members of the press. 

The lecture which is being held in honour of Old chief Dr. Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan, former CEO of First Bank and Pro Chancellor of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University is scheduled to hold by 10am on Thursday, July 3rd, 2025 at the Alumni Hall of the University of Ibadan. The guest speaker is Dr Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN. 

The theme of the event is "Leveraging Technology & Digital Education For Mass Employment, Wealth Creation And Poverty Alleviation." The Father of the Day is Dr Gani Adeniran, a retired lecturer from the faculty of veterinary medicine while the governor of Oyo state, Engr Seyi Makinde is the chairman of the day.

Speaking at the conference, the Sigma chief, Toyinbo Ayodeji, revealed that the organization is preparing to receive over 700 attendees at the lecture. He further revealed that the primary sponsor of the event is MTN. According to him, the purpose of the event is to enlighten the public on a particular trending topic and that this year's edition is being held as part of activities commemorating the club's 75th anniversary. 

The last edition of the event, the 10th edition, was held in January 2020 at the Alumni Hall.

Zik Hall Holds Town Hall Meeting

Oloyede David Oyewale 

The Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall held a town hall meeting on Sunday, the 22nd of June 2025. The town hall meeting, which was held to discuss some pressing issues that concern the hall, took place at the B block basement at around 7pm on the evening of Sunday the 22nd.

The meeting began with a report of the activities of the executive council, which was delivered by the hall chairman, Sotomi Daniel. In the report, he recalled the various capital projects that the executive council had started and the ones they were still working on, such as the statue renovation and the second TV purchase, among others.

Consequently, some Zikites raised questions about some issues that are bothering them, which the hall chairman, Sotomi Daniel, gave answers to.One of the questions asked by Zikites is about the issue of water shortage, to which the hall chairman answered that there is no time that light will be in Zik Hall and that water won't be pumped. He further revealed the various efforts that have been put in place and are still being put in place to ensure the issue is solved.

Another question asked was the reason why a sum of money is always charged; whoever the defence team meets, their room is open and their gadgets seized. The reply given to this was that this was done to make all Zikites take the locking of their rooms seriously, asking if it had been a thief who had stolen the gadgets, would they have even been able to even think of paying any fine to get their gadgets back? 

After all had been said, the hall chairman commented on the political situation of the hall. He made reference to the last students union elections in which all candidates who ran for a post were defeated except the one who ran unopposed. He also made reference to the recent CBN elections in which none of those that went for the post won. The hall chairman attributed all these to a lack of belief of Zikites in the spirit of Zikism and the lack of trust in the candidates that are endorsed by the hall stakeholders.

He went ahead to say that any candidate that Zik Hall endorsed should be widely supported by Zikites, noting that the lackadaisical attitude of Zikites towards political matters that concern the hall has also contributed to the political situation of the hall, and not until all these are addressed, Zikites, will there be positive changes.

UI'SU Announces Final Fee Payment and Course Registration Deadline

Idris Adebeshin

The University of Ibadan Students’ Union has announced a final one-week extension for the payment of school fees and completion of course registration for the 2024/2025 academic session. The new and final deadline has been set for Friday, June 27, 2025.

The extension comes as a result of engagement between the Students’ Union and the university management, offering thousands of students a lifeline amid ongoing academic and financial challenges.

 “We understand the pressure students face, especially given the current economic situation. This extension is about ensuring that no student is left behind,” the release read in part.

The Union also confirmed that students who applied for the NELFUND Loan have now had their funds credited to their e-wallets, an outcome that follows collaboration with the Bursary Unit to resolve refund backlogs from previous sessions.

The Union stressed that no further extension or portal reopening will occur beyond June 27. Only students who complete their registration will be recognized as bona fide students eligible to sit for exams.

Students facing difficulties with registration or payments have been urged to visit their departmental executives, the ITeMS Office, or the NELFUND Support Office at NCC Digital Park along Tech Road for guidance.

UCJ UI HOLDS Press Conference; Announces GCJS, Francis Egbokare Interpress debate

Oloyede David Oyewale

UCJUI has on Friday, 20th of June, 2025 released information about the Global Campus Journalism Summit as well as the Francis Egbokare inter-press organisation debate.

The information which was released in a press conference, announced the date and shared vital information about the major events which will be taking place in the organisation in the first semester of the 2025 academic session.

At the conference, it was announced that the Global Campus Journalists Summit and the Francis Egbokare Inter-Press Organisation will be taking place on the 5th of July. 

The theme for the event is "From campus to newsroom: Sustaining truth, freedom and innovation in the age of AI" and it is scheduled to hold at the KAAF auditorium.

It was also announced that registration for the inter-organisation debate commences on the 20th of June and ends on Sunday, the 23rd of June.

It is expected that each press organisation should have two representatives, and the debate will be in the British parliament style in which the top four best organisations will make it to the finals, in which the winner will go home with the grand prize of 100 thousand naira.

It's also expected that there will be a training for the participants of the debate to familiarise them with the dos and don'ts of the debate.

Five weeks after commencement, Zik statue renovation stalls

By: Oluwagbenga Kolawole 

Renovation efforts on the Nnamdi Azikiwe statue in Zik Hall have gone into hiatus. Observation by Zik Press showed that as of Friday, 20th of June, 2025, only the statue and its base area have been repainted. 

A section of the background wall was painted black, with the rest seemingly abandoned. 

A total amount of #203,000 was approved unadjusted for the statue renovation by the 7th assembly of the ZHLC in May. Consequently, work began on the statue less than a week later, on May 10 to be precise. 

Zik Press observed on that Saturday that the gravel and dirt around the statue had been cleared and the statue was was being repainted. The idea, according to Sotomi Daniel, was to beautify a central aspect of Zik Hall in order to improve the overall aesthetics of the hall and to show the efforts that Zikites themselves are putting into improving the attractiveness of their hall in order to subsequently attract sponsors too. 

In his words, "This is the central part of Zik Hall, so we must make it look good. When we finished the repainting of the statue, people were amazed. There were some who were not aware that a statue was there, and it made the hall look more beautiful."

The project is supposed to feature a repainting of the statue, getting new gravel stones for the base area, a repainting of the background wall, as well as a string work design for the background. New flags were also supposed to be erected around the statue.

However, since the repainting of the statue and its base was completed, nothing else has been done, except for the time when a section of the background wall of the statue was repainted earlier this month.

Zik Press subsequently reached out to the hall chairman on two occasions to enquire about the progress of the renovation. In the first instance, on May 13th, Sotomi stated that the project (statue renovation) was 50% done. He also noted that the flags would be brought before the end of that week. And that a Zikite, Artwaves, would be in charge of the string art aspect of the project. 

When asked when the string art would be finished, the hall chairman stated that he could not give an estimated date of completion given how massive the design being prepared is. 

On the second inquiry on Saturday, 14th of June, Sotomi revealed that the flag is ready. He then attributed the delay to the contractor in charge of the thread art. "We don't want to mount the flag when everything else is not complete. This week (the previous week as at the time of publication) the contractor brought the wood for the design, and he assured me that by Wednesday (June 18th) or before the end of the week, the string art will be completed," he said.

 The problem, according to the hall chairman, was that there was a change in the design, and this took a lot of time because the contractor in charge couldn't get the materials he needed. He further revealed that all the contractors had been paid but that some aspects of the project were being delayed because of the way it would all come together in the end.

When Zik Press reached out to Artwaves, Mr Akubuike Jonathan, on the topic, he stated that string work takes a lot of time. A visit to check in on the string art showed that the project was still at the nailing stage. He confirmed that changes in original design plans slowed down the project, but he also expressed confidence in the fact that the project will be finished in a month.

"I can't estimate given the extent of the work required," he said while showing Zik press correspondent. "But if I have to say, I will say this will take a month or even less than that."

MBBS Wins Seals Cup For The Second Consecutive Time

History repeats itself as MBBS department wins the Seals Cup 2025, after defeating Human Kinetics Department in a penalty shoot-out.

The first half of the match commenced with both teams dominating each other alternately. Though several tactical efforts were displayed by the MBBS , it was to no avail as their opponent, KHE's defence seemed a formidable rock with Bade, their defence player, nodding out the ball with his head. The first half ended in tie as no side succeeded in shaking the net.

With each side maintaining the momentum status quo, the second half kicked off. This time, KHE came with a full force as they skillfully gravitated towards their opponent. Despite a series of spicy attempts provided by the KHE, the MBBS goalkeeper remained unbudged.

The second half equally ended in a draw, and subsequently, the match extended into a penalty shoot-out. It was indeed a fierce skillful combat as players from the both sides converted the chances, though some occasionally missed their chances,  eventually making the scores even.

However, the winner of the game would later be decided after all eleven players had taken their penalties. A costly miss by one of the KHE players, was capitalized on by MBBS who emerged eventual victors for the second consecutive time.

Zik Hall Executive Council Releases Notice of Town Hall Meeting

By Oloyede David Oyewale

The executive council of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, the Effulgence team led by Daniel Oluwapelumi Sotomi, has released a call for a town hall meeting on the 22nd of June, 2025, to discuss some pressing issues affecting the hall of residence.

In a release on Thursday, 19th of June, 2025 which was signed by both the Hall Chairman and the Hall Secretary, the council revealed that items to be discussed at the meeting are the reports of the Executive Council, the welfare of the hall, the political future of the hall, and other business.

Every Zikite is advised to attend the meeting by the Chairman.

Female Uites Inspired at "She Leads" Seminar

By Oloyede David Oyewale

"Don't let other people's definition of success define you. Learn to prioritize, and don't be distracted by anything—you're going to make it no matter what."  

These were the powerful words of Miss Orire Agbaje while speaking at the She Leads conference. The event which was themed Shaped for More, took place at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, on Saturday, 14th of June, 2024.

The program, organized by Team Diligence in conjunction with Temidayo Adeboye, was aimed at inspiring and empowering young females in their careers and other areas of life. 

According to Temidayo, SheLeads is not just an event, it's a transformational initiative created to awaken the leadership spirit, identity, and potential in young female students within the university environment.  

"Rooted in the belief that women are not waiting to be given space but are born to create space, SheLeads is designed to spark clarity, confidence, and courage in young women who are searching for their voice, their strength, and their impact," he said.

"This year’s theme, “Shaped for More,” reflects the journey every woman goes through  from discovery to development and ultimately, to destiny. The event will feature power-packed sessions led by exceptional female leaders who have walked the walk  women who are not only thriving in leadership but are using their platforms to pull others up."

Highlight of the event was the panel session, featuring notable female voices. Among them was Afolabi Gloria Adebayo, a creative writer and the President of the Department of English, who admonished young women not to follow trends or base their success on a man.  

She emphasized, “Be proud to write the story of your life not one drawn in the shadow of a man.”

Another panelist, Anifowose Nofisat, advised young women not to succumb to societal pressures. She urged them to seek balance and remain grounded, even in the face of challenges.

Other panelists include Ajimuda Peace, an entrepreneur and co-founder of Foodbolt, and Precious Oluwapelumi, a law graduate from the University of Ibadan. Both shared insightful words of encouragement, motivating attendees to rise above limitations and pursue their goals boldly.

Seals Cup eSports Finale Holds At Synergy '25

By Oluwagbenga Kolawole 

The finale of the Seals Cup eSports tournament was held at Trenchard Hall today, Saturday, 14th of June, 2025, at this year's Synergy '25 event.

The event which was organised by Ibadan Comic Con in conjunction with Nexal gaming, Oyo state ministry of youths and sports among a host of other sponsors had in attendance several Nigerian anime and comic book enthusiasts.

There were various side attractions with various Nigerian comic book companies and artists making an appearance in the exhibition. Audience were also encouraged to participate in various mini games and contests.

Awards were also given to artists and other personalities to recognize their contributions to the Nigerian comic book industry. Comic republic's Alexander Esene was awarded comic book artist of the year for his work on Chibok issue 2.

John Uche for his work on Celestial Eyes chapter 1 won Comic book writer of the year beating Olusegun Babawele with Fusion issue 1, Saint Verlane with Ecclesia issue 1 among other nominees to the prize. Cuisel Joshua Peach with Celestial Eyes 3 won Comic book letterer of the year beating Olusegun Babawele with Fusion issue 1, Michael olasubomi baligun for visionary issue 5. 

The Comic book colorist of the year is Alexander Uoriwoh with Chibok issue 2 beating Levis Chah with Ireti issue 9 and Victor Akinneye with Vanguards issue 3 among others. John Uche was awarded emerging talent of the year, beating other writers, artists, letterers and colourists in the category.

 Celestial eyes chapter 1 by The Machine Publishing won Comic book of the year, beating Ecclesia 1 by Scourge comics, Akili by VX comics, Chibok 2 by Comic Republic, and Alter ego by Symphoni studios. Comic Republic won the Comic book studio of the year award beating Symphoni studios, The Machine Publishing as well as Etta studios to the prize.

The Machine Publishing won Emerging studio of the year award over Comic arena, Etta studios and one other studio while Harrison prime, Ayodele Elegba among others were also awarded for innovation and general contributions to the comic industry.

Seals Cup eSports 

The keenly contested eSports tournament had categories for chess, e football, Free fire, EAFC and Call of Duty Mobile. Nifemi Famoriyo from faculty of education won the finale of the Free fire tournament, while Emmanuel Giwa from the faculty of technology defeated his opponent from the faculty of science to take the first position in the Call of Duty Mobile tournament. 

In the chess category, Akporherhe Blessing from the faculty of Clinical Sciences won first position, while Ebenezer Poba from Faculty of science won the e football category. The winners walked away with medals and various prizes.

Is it still A Democracy?

          

I'm lost like a toddler on the battlefield,

Restless like a struggling chick on eagle's feet,

as I try to sieve democracy from autocracy

Or maybe, monocracy.

No! they only wield power for fame and name

Blind to the blind,dumb and lame,

they are not leaders, they are raiders

Or was it because they were not with axe or gunpowders?

Is there still a democracy?

In a town ,though with a million of candles,

yet light fades out?

In a village where Niger flourishes,

yet drought 'n' famine kills?

Or where masses voice are buried

While theirs echoes beyond the town's boundary,

Tell me it's a democracy!

As their manifestoes, a simile of fallacy!

Democracy, beyond its appearance on nation's calendar!

it is a speech, that only good service could render,

Democracy day beyonds a public holiday,

A good life, that young and old crave for all day.

Zik Hall League Match-day 4: Masterclass and 1561 FC Dominate in Style

Stoic

Series of impressive and thrilling performances were again recorded on Match-day 4 of the Zik Hall league. 

1561 FC recorded notable victory of 6 goals to nil against Daebs FC. Vanguard FC also defeated Blaze FC with 4 goals against 2, courtesy of Korede's hat trick.

Masterclass FC recorded an emphatic win of 4 goals against 1, as Eme strikes 3 times. The Young boys FC clinched a narrow win over Alma Guerrero FC as Jamiu scores the only goal in the match.

Also, Bluelock FC goes away with the win against Incredibles FC, courtesy of Maleek's brace.

The Struggle For University Education In Present Day Nigeria

University education is a pricey cake. According to official JAMB figures, 1,955,069 candidates sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. As of 2024, this figure was also roughly 1.9 million. Putting aside the abysmally poor performance of most of the candidates and the even more abysmal way in which the UTME tests are conducted, if anything, these figures show that tertiary education, most especially university education, is something Nigerian youths want to acquire. But then, there are hurdles.

Nowadays, tuition fees in public universities and other government-owned tertiary institutions have become almost similar to the fees charged by their private counterparts. Federal universities that used to be exceedingly cheap now compete with state universities for who would charge more exorbitant fees. A couple of decades ago, the big selling point for public universities was that the costs were subsidised by the government. And in a better climate, where the future of the country and the welfare of its citizens were prioritised, the health, social services and infrastructure, and most importantly, the education of the populace were treated as priorities.

 But nowadays, it would appear that even governments all over the world that should be more concerned about the quality of life of their citizens choose to focus on other priorities. And Nigeria is not left out in this unfortunate trend. The issue of commercialisation has left very gaping holes in various sectors of our economy, as almost everything in the country has been commercialised for the sake of efficiency, even education. As it stands, even with the student loans, a paltry 7% of the 2025 national budget was allocated to education, a figure so much lower than the 26% recommended by the UN.

The concept of free education that was so aggressively peddled in the past is now beginning to sound like a myth, echoes from a time that never truly existed. Leaders of tomorrow now have to pay through their noses to get anywhere close to obtaining the golden fleece. This is because universities and other tertiary institutions have elected to increase the amounts payable by the students, despite initial claims by the federal government that federal universities are tuition-free. However, with the student loans that have now been introduced by President Bola Tinubu's administration, a policy that has been described in several different quarters as insensitive and mortgaging the future of the country, students in government universities can now borrow money from the government to pay the fees charged by their schools. The NELFUND initiative even provides monthly stipends to beneficiaries, but if the original terms hold, they will have to start paying it back after graduation.

 While the policy has provided a semblance of relief for students in some quarters, it is sad to note that only a few years in, reports of administrative shadiness as well as misappropriation have started circulating. What is even sadder is that a developing country like Nigeria found the student loans policy as the next step in the right direction for education in the country. One would think that a country like ours would focus primarily on building her youths and getting qualified individuals into its job market. Instead, the government has chosen to make education a commodity. Even if this is the case in other nations, it is important to note that Nigeria does not have the job market prospects of those other nations.

Furthermore, the education that students are now having to pay so much for nowadays is not exactly as qualitative as it should be. It's not like for all the fees that suddenly skyrocketed, the standards also took a similar leap. In fact, considering what used to be the standard as well as also the economic situation of the country, students nowadays are paying more for less. We live in a world that sees new breakthroughs and discoveries in science, technology, medicine and the humanities almost every other day. But Nigerian students find themselves struggling to replicate these feats with even more meagre resources. We cannot but mention the overburdened lecturers, the inadequate or nonexistent facilities, congested classrooms, and the congested academic calendar, among several other issues that the existing universities have, direct consequences of poor government funding.

There is also the mental and psychological strain. Students have literally turned themselves into superheroes trying to balance school and work. After working to support themselves in school, they have to work even harder to teach themselves what the lecturers are supposed to teach them. While doing all these, it seems like they would actually have to be praying for luck and for the government, because consecutive economic policies of the government seem intent on impoverishing the greater part of the population. After enduring all these and eventually making it out with a degree, these youths now have to deal with the truths of the harsh realities of the Nigerian labour market, with many of them having debts hanging over their heads.

 Despite all these, however, more and more youths still struggle every year to get this education. In fact, since 2017, the number of UTME candidates has been on a steady rise. Despite stories of how broken the system is, these candidates are looking for the chance for quality higher education. While this is wholesome and heartwarming in a way, it is still a call to action for relevant stakeholders to remedy this decay. All is not lost, but the nation and its people must work together to salvage what is left of the country's university education.

"Beware of scammers!" —UI'SU To UI Students

The Muffin Man 

The University of Ibadan Students Union has on Tuesday, 10th of June, 2025 sent out a security alert to the student populace of the University.

"We have received credible reports of individuals impersonating student entrepreneurs, university staff and house agents. These fraudsters are reaching out under the guise of offering assistance to clear extra years, secure accommodation or to offer products and/or services; demanding payment in return for services they cannot and do not intend to provide," the statement read in part.

The Union then reiterated that neither the school nor the student union will solicit for money for course clearance or fee payment stating that several perpetrators of these scams have been apprehended.

The statement then enjoined the students to be vigilant and exercise extreme caution when dealing with strangers.

On The Issue of Smoking In Zik Hall

Stoic

The menace of smoking and drug use by some residents within the hall is not news to residents of Nnamdi Azikiwe hall.  It has remained a great source of concern to not only residents whose rooms are close to the smoking  hotspots but also other residents of the hall at large. One could easily catch them red-handed in their numbers during the early and late hours of the day in the hall's kitchenettes, store rooms and behind every other block, most especially the alumni block which they have made their den and favorite smoking spot. 

Dangers of smoking and drug use

Any random human being who has the unfortunate privilege of witnessing these smokers doing their thing certainly cannot but question such an act and the reasoning behind it, given the unpleasantness it produces and the spectacular way it takes over the air. Clearly written on the carton packs of most cigarettes is the widely known caveat “Smokers are liable to die young”. This brings even more concerns about whether or not these people are aware of the gravity of the harm they are doing to themselves or if they probably have a death wish. But then scientific research has shown that the nicotine from cigarettes and tobacco-related products is very addictive, and sadly addiction rewires the brain in a strange way.

The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction profile for Nigeria, one of the most recent comprehensive studies on smoking-related mortality in Nigeria, updated in February 2025, reports that tobacco smoking was responsible for approximately 15,926 deaths, equating to roughly 0.87% of all deaths in the country, with the breakdown of about 11,974 male deaths and 4,132 female deaths, respectively. While less data is available for non-tobacco-related fatalities, the World Health Organisation (WHO) attributed 6,273 deaths in Nigeria to drug use in 2020. This underscores the dangerous effect of smoking and drug use.

Beyond the well-known health consequences, such as lung disease, heart conditions and cancer, smoking and drug use among students come with a variety of other risks that impact their academic, psychological and social lives. Such risks include memory impairments and lack of focus, which may lead to poor grades, absenteeism and higher drop-out rates. Also, mental health is affected, as students who use drugs and smoke are more prone to anxiety, depression and addiction. Socially, substance use damages relationships with family and peers. It often led students into negative peer groups, increasing exposure to risky behaviours and violence.

Also, students caught with illegal substances may face arrest, fines, or a criminal record, which can harm future education and career prospects. Maintaining this habit can also strain limited student budgets, sometimes leading to theft or debt.

Passive smokers are not left out

Zikites who live in rooms which are close to kitchenettes where other people smoke fall into this category. They inhale their own dose of the fumes from the cigarettes, and this has its own ripple effects. These effects, whilst being indirect, trigger serious issues for non-smokers who are exposed to cigarette smoke. They go far beyond the smoker, posing serious health risks and harming others and society in ways that are often overlooked. It is necessary to state this, as very few Zikites think that they are safe as long as they do not partake in the early-morning and late-evening smoking. Most Zikites have a natural disinterest in this issue. In the words of a certain Zikite who is a resident of a room close to one of the kitchenettes on the ground floor of B block, “I don't have a problem with them as long as it does not affect me and I don't do it.” 

Speaking to another Zikite who also pleaded anonymity, he stated that the issue of smoking is not new; neither is it peculiar to Zik Hall. In his words, "it is everywhere now. They kind of move in groups. They have their own kind of safe space, which is sad because these issues do not limit themselves to only the person smoking."

 A call to action

In conclusion, smoking and drug use can derail a student's future on multiple levels, making prevention and early intervention essential. This therefore makes it necessary to call on the hall's management and executives to look into the matter to help prevent this issue from escalating even further. The campaign against drug abuse should not come only during the hall week; rather, it should be a continuous and consistent thing. The punitive measures should be consistently reiterated to discourage the perpetrators of the act.

Opinion: Let Us Blame The Freshmen

The Muffin Man 

Apathy and widespread disinterest in governance and political affairs among students of the University of Ibadan is a subject that has had a lot of extensive discussion. In fact, it is an issue that is discussed almost every other day in student gatherings, in press publications and other similar contexts. But this is nothing new; it is a rot that eats deep into the core of our very own Nigeria. We are not in the business of taking responsibility for our affairs; rather, we are in the business of shifting blames. For our UISU, if there's anything we've learnt so far in this decade, it is that our sense of responsibility is nonexistent and our priorities are strewn all over the place, and this issue begins as soon as new students step foot into the university campus.

To start with, as per custom, the new guys are always warmly welcomed, and a lot of extravagance is thrown into welcoming them. Not to be inimical, considering how much of a toll the struggle of getting admitted takes, there is probably something worth celebrating. However, in the light of current economic realities, too much is getting spent on the fresher welcome, an event that most freshmen don't attend. We have seen the outrageous amounts some faculties and halls of residence spend on their freshers' week, some of them spending between #400,000 and #600,000 to welcome freshmen. It would appear that a significant chunk of the recently increased basic dues has found its way into organising these parties.

During elections, freshmen constitute the bulk of the total voting populace. Naturally, given the fact that they are the ones who have to deal with registrations as a matter of urgency, they always fit the criteria of being constitutionally recognised financial members of the departmental, faculty or hall of residence student associations. This, however, gives them an edge— even though in most cases, they can't hold a post, they can determine who holds the post.

As a result of this, they become the natural prey of the predatory politicians and student influencers in UI. Their naivete is exploited by these ones who will weigh them down with their own troubles. It starts with sharing flyers on WhatsApp statuses and class/faculty/hall groups to actively peddling the good news of this person's coming. Before you know it, they begin to carry someone else's baggage on their head whilst dragging theirs behind them. They become foot soldiers for someone else's campaign. Some of them sink so deeply into the cause of another person's ambition it would seem as though they've been brainwashed. And there is very little indication to show that this is not the case. Efforts to get them to focus on what they actually came to accomplish in school will get hit with a sharp and cold rebuff.

It is sad to note that it is from this stage that the unfortunate seedling of entitlement is planted into the minds of many Utes. They don't only support a candidate for the sake of supporting said candidate; they do it for the good karma of someone else supporting them too when their time comes. So in their minds, it stops being about what the voters decide but rather about what they have decided.

These freshmen are actually early-stage demonstrations of the mentality that most staylites hold on to till the end of their stay at university. Some of them hold on to that foot soldier mindset till they graduate. He is from my hall/faculty/fellowship; I must help him is a mentality many proudly latch on to till the end; it even carries them into the broader Nigerian democratic processes, where they begin clamouring for tribalistic and religious sentiments. Others, however, hold on to their lukewarmness and their evenhandedness; they'd rather leave matters that concern them primarily to others who have the time, a mentality that has time and again proven to be defective. Meanwhile, there are even others who hold on to the party mindset. Their priority from the moment of the freshers' welcome becomes finding the next lit party.

In the meantime, after elections, freshmen still constitute the bulk of those who don't actually understand how to ask for better treatment. Imagine living in a dilapidated environment with light issues, toilet issues and water issues or going to class with registration issues and no insight on which course you should be taking, but when asked about how well your rep, hall chair or faculty president is performing, you begin to sing his praises of how he organised a tutorial for you when you first resumed and how he is actually a nice guy. This is exactly what most of these freshmen do. On the one hand, one could argue that they are not familiar with the new environments in which they have found themselves, that they are not familiar with the processes and the politics. On the other hand, however, it is just basic human instinct for a person to notice what is out of place in his or her environment and then try to get it fixed. It is a basic human instinct to be inquisitive and to find new ways to improve one's quality of life.

But then, as much as one can argue about the malleability of freshmen, it is important to note that as far as the issue of popular participation in politics is concerned, the burden falls on everyone. As the saying goes, iron sharpeneth iron. If the returning students are not concerned themselves, what is to say that the new students should? Moreover, it is not about them; it is about the wrong indoctrination that they and so many of us carry.

Maybe next time we will talk about the staylites who choose to be passive.

Seals Cup Knockout Fixtures Announced

David Osunwa 

With the dust of the group stage barely settled, the Seals Cup now charges into its most thrilling phase, the knockout rounds. The Round of 16 draw has laid out an exciting path to the quarter-finals, with heavyweight clashes and potential upsets on the horizon.

On one side of the bracket, tournament favourites MBBS will square off against Chemistry in what promises to be a tightly contested tie. The winner of that fixture will meet whoever triumphs between Physiotherapy and Political Science, setting up a challenging quarter-final clash.

Elsewhere in the same half, Geology prepares for a seismic showdown against Veterinary Medicine, with the victor advancing to meet the winner of the derby between Agricultural Engineering and Petroleum Engineering.

On the opposite side of the draw, Civil Engineering is set to face Economics, with the winner going on to meet either Industrial and Production Engineering (IPE) or Pharmacy, depending on how that match-up unfolds.

The final quarter of the bracket features Psychology versus Human Kinetics. The winner from that game will go on to face either W.B.E or History, depending on the outcome of that tie.

With the stakes now higher than ever, teams will need to bring their best performances as the race to the finals heats up. The path to Seals Cup glory has narrowed. The knockout rounds promise increased intensity, as teams prepare to navigate the single-elimination format with little room for error.

Village Beauty: "Zikites have the courage and ability to stand up for one another,"—Interview with Miss Baluba, Ademide Omojaro

In this week's village beauty segment, Zik Press reached out to the winner of the Miss Baluba pageant, Miss Omojaro Ademide. In an exclusive chat with Zik Press correspondent Olayinks Awoyeku, she tells us about herself, her academics as well as her perception of Zik hall.

Zik Press: Welcome to Village Beauty, kindly introduce yourself.

Miss Omojaro: I'm a student of University of Ibadan from the department of Theatre arts. I go by the name Ademide Omojaro popularly known as Dee or athletics.

Zik Press: Miss Dee, what do you do? It is quite obvious that you are a student, but what other things do you venture into?

Miss Omojaro: Okay. I do quite a number of things, I'm a dancer, a hairstylist, an artist, an athlete, a footballer and so on.

Zik Press: You have such a diverse engagement. How do you balance these different pursuits with your academics?

Miss Omojaro: You know there's this catch phrase of when it's time to play, you play and when it's time to be serious, be serious. I just balance them according to my schedule. Although, since I resumed Uni, it's been quite a task.

Zik Press: When you resumed UI, what was the first impression you had about Zik hall?

Miss Omojaro: Hmmm, to be honest, I saw them as razz. And normally I'm not razz but I'm free, so I felt that I think I'll roll better with Zikites.

Zik Press: When you started getting acquainted with Zikites, are there any remarkable things you noticed about them?

Miss Omojaro: Hmm...among the male hostels ,they have this uniqueness, the courage and ability to stand up for one another even among other hostels.

Zik Press: You contested for Miss Baluba, how was the experience like? Also, when you were announced the winner, how did you feel?

Miss Omojaro: The process was smooth as we were provided all we needed. It was fun too cause the instructors weren't mean. When I was announced winner. Being happy was an understatement. If you had seen the video I was grinning from ear to ear.

Zik Press: Wow! That's must have been an exhilarating experience. As we round up, what's is your view about feminism in Nigeria?

Miss Omojaro: My view about feminism in Nigeria is that feminism is a complex issue with various perspectives. While there's growing recognition of the need for gender equality, it faces challenges due to cultural norms, religious beliefs, and patriarchal structures. Nigerian feminists advocate for equal rights and opportunities for all, irrespective of gender, and strive to challenge discriminatory practices.

Zik Press: Thank you for coming

Miss Omojaro: Thank you for having me

Opinion: Hall Culture and Campus Politics: Disruptive, Progressive or Somewhere in Between

By Virtuoso

Within the University of Ibadan community, hall culture is arguably the heartbeat of student life. It goes beyond any residence-based camaraderie. From the brotherhoods and sisterhoods that cross every hall to the fierce rivalries and alliances, it molds identities, informs social interactions, and heavily influences campus politics. For many, hall affiliation is the primary and most significant lens through which decisions, alliances, and leadership choices are made. But as we reflect on this culture, a pressing question arises: is hall culture a disruptive force that holds us back and undermines our progress, a progressive crucible nurturing leadership, or a complex mix that lies somewhere in between?

Brotherhood, Sisterhood, and Beyond

Before we critique, it is important and fair to recognize the strengths of this culture. Unarguably, hall culture offers undeniable benefits. For many students, it provides a vital sense of belonging and community and as some would say, “a home away from home” kind of feeling. Importantly, hall culture is not exclusive to any one residence or gender. It exists across all halls, crossing the boundaries of brotherhood and sisterhood alike. Moreover, its influence extends beyond residential halls into departments and faculties, where similar patterns of allegiance shape social and political interactions. While these wider effects deserve their own discussion, it is clear that its reach is both deep and broad within the University of Ibadan student community.

Well, these networks also serve as early training grounds where leadership is learned and tested. Undoubtedly, students gain invaluable experience. As noted, hall politics is where many learn the basics of leadership i.e., teamwork, negotiation, and even public speaking skills that shape various future roles. Moreover, the spirited rivalries between halls promote interest, excellence, and active participation in politics, social and sporting activities, and even cultural activities. Also, lifetime bonds formed through hall affiliations often translate into lifelong mentorship and professional networks, underscoring its lasting impact beyond campus walls.

Toxic Hall Culture as an Unfortunate Reflection of the Broader Nigerian Society

Yet, in many ways and at its core, hall culture is a microcosm of the broader Nigerian society itself i.e., a representation of movements, loyalties, and followership often divorced from critical assessment. Loyalty to one’s hall mirrors the loyalty Nigerians show to their sub-communities, ethnic groups, geographic regions, or even political parties. While this can promote solidarity, uncritical followership can lead to disastrous outcomes. And for a university community meant to nurture critical thinking and leadership, this blind loyalty is a dangerous legacy. The result? A society grappling with loyalty that sometimes blinds us to competence and accountability.

The clearest and most obvious expression of this culture is visible during campus elections, right from the Students’ Union level to the various departments and subcommittees. Students overwhelmingly vote not based on a candidate’s personality, track record, vision, plans, or leadership qualities but on which hall they belong to. This unfortunate reality transforms elections into a numbers game dominated by hall blocs rather than a fair, merit- based contest of ideas, vision, and feasibility. The consequence is predictable: mediocrity in leadership, diminished accountability, and a governance system beholden more to parochial interests than to the student body’s overall welfare i.e., leaders who owe their positions to hall loyalty rather than merit or accountability. Such practices undermine the quality of governance that ought to be witnessed in an acclaimed intellectual student community. It undercuts the values of merit, transparency, and vision that student governance ought to uphold.

The Urgent Need for Reform: Balancing Tradition and Progress

The challenge now lies in striking a balance i.e., preserving the positive aspects of this culture while reforming its detrimental and toxic tendencies, especially in campus politics. Reforming campus elections to prioritize merit, clear and feasible plans, and leadership vision over hall loyalties has never been more crucial. Encouraging students to engage critically with candidates and demand transparency can significantly transform the political landscape. 

Hall culture, with all its complexities, will certainly remain a defining feature of student life on campus for years to come. However, as the university continues to mold future Nigerian leaders, it must champion a culture of meritocracy, vision, and critical engagement. Students must challenge themselves to rise above blind allegiance and demand leaders who bring genuine value and integrity. Only then can this culture evolve from a divisive force into a truly progressive institution. Only through this transformation can hall culture evolve from a reflection of the unfortunate, disappointing societal challenges into a beacon of hope and progress for Nigeria’s future.

News: Nice Linus Writes UI'SRC, Seeks Clarification Over Disciplinary Case

Nice Linus, embattled law student has on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 written to the UI'SRC to seek clarification on the decision of the house to invite her for a disciplinary hearing.

The UI'SRC had on Monday, June 2nd invited Hon Segun (Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall Constituency), Hon. Shalom (Queen Elizabeth II Hall Constituency) and Hon. Nice Linus to provide statement of defense for their actions having been identified as key parties in an altercation with some UI'SU executives on May 15, an altercation that later influenced the executive's decision to unilaterally suspend the scheduled May 17 congress.

In her letter, Nice pointed out that the resolution of the May 16 emergency sitting of the housed was that all honorable members involved in the altercation were to be referred to the SRC’s Disciplinary Committee. She then expressed surprise that a letter of ‘notification of allegations’ was ferried into her account via WhatsApp by an unknown person who according to her "refused to properly identify himself/herself." 

She then recalled the refusal of the UI'SRC to recognize as an honourable member despite court order and then asked if the letter referred to a different personality.

"Recall that I sent a letter of notification to the Council on 28th of March, 2025, to

which the Speaker made a release on the 29th of March, 2025, using the Students' Representative Council’s letterhead to state that the Council cannot recognize a Court order because it fails to follow a ‘due process’ specified by the Speaker in that letter. Attached to this letter is the release the Speaker wrote, dated 29th March, 2025, as a reminder. It thus follows that I am not recognized as an Honorable member of the 12th Assembly. Could it be that this latest letter allegedly from the Disciplinary Committee was addressed to a different personality? Additionally, as earlier stated, the resolutions of the Council say that only honorable members of the 12th Assembly were referred to the Disciplinary Committee. Why is a letter from the Committee addressing an ordinary member of the Union as ‘Honorable’?"

"At this point, I must refer the House to Article XXVII, where the duties of the Disciplinary Committee are clearly outlined. According to the Constitution, the Committee: “...shall be solely responsible for disciplinary actions against members and any erring officers of the Union. iii. The Secretary shall cause any erring member of the Council to appear before it. Where and when an erring member fails to appear before the Committee, without justifiable reasons, he/she shall be suspended from the Council until he/she appears.” It is disappointing that the Disciplinary Committee cannot properly interpret this provision. Perhaps the term ‘members’ may have posed a confusing meaning to members of the committee, but had the entire provision been properly read, the understanding that ‘members’ there refers to ‘members of the council’ upon whom the authority of the Committee is binding and who stand to risk suspension if they do not accord the Committee its constitutional authority, would not have eluded the authors of that letter," the letter read.

She also pointed out the fact that UI'SRC disciplinary committee lacks jurisdiction over matters involving ordinary students and that his void would have been filled by a Judicial Council had the Council been considerate enough to establish one. "Given my current status as an ordinary student, it is unexpected that I find my name on such a letter from the Disciplinary Committee. Unless the Council intends to take a stance different from that which it has already taken as evidenced by the March 29th, 2025 letter," the letter read in part.

"I must point out the fact that 48 hours is not a reasonable timeframe. I must refer the Disciplinary Committee to the rules of Court in this regard. ‘Adequate time’ may be up to 42 days; but is; in the least, seven days. Telling an accused person “you shall ask no questions!” as done by the stranger on WhatsApp, is unconstitutional, unethical and unacceptable. It puts the Disciplinary Committee’s commitment to justice to question. The onus lies on the committee and Council by extension to be of good conscience and be committed to justice and fairness," she said.

"On a final note, I wish to urge the Council to bring clarification on all the issues raised, including the neglected issue of my due recognition as a member of the Council and the conduct of the Disciplinary Committee," the letter concluded.

News: UI'SU Announces Extension Of School Fee Deadline

Oloyede David Oyewale

The University of Ibadan Students Union has in a release on Tuesday, 3rd of June, 2025 announced the extension of the school fee payment deadline.

According to the release dated 3rd of June, 2025 and signed by the president, Covenant Odedele as well as the general secretary of the union, Olowu Victor, the school fee and course registration deadline has been extended by two weeks. The new deadline is now Friday, June 20, 2025, instead of the earlier date of June 6.

The release further stated that the Unions leadership had categorically rejected the original eight week window of payment stating that it was "insufficient in the light of the economic realities of the country."

The Union's leadership also said that they have been working with the Bursary Unit to speed up the refund of money from the previous session. They waited to announce the extension until they were sure that many students had started receiving their refunds.

In addition, the Union released that there has been no increase in school fees this session compared to last session and that any fee issues seen on students’ portals are being corrected.

For students who applied for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Union said that the school and NELFUND are ready to start sending out the loan payments, while enjoininh sudents to start checking their loan wallets from June 4.

Furthermore, the Union revealed that it succeeded in getting a wrongly added studio fee for 300L, 400L, and 500L students in the Faculty of Technology and students in Science & Technology Education under the Faculty of Education reversed.

The Union promised to keep standing by students and to ensure no one is left behind due to financial constraints and administrative lapses. 

June 6: Anxiety And Uncertainty As Fee Deadline Looms

The Muffin Man 

 A large number of University of Ibadan undergraduate students have been thrown into a state of anxiety over the fast-approaching school fees deadline.

Recall that the university senate had, on Monday, 6th of May, 2025, released an internal memorandum on the opening and closing of the school fees portal date for the 2024/2025 session. 

According to the memo, the date for the opening and closing of the portal for freshmen is 17th February to 6th June, 2025, and for returning students, 14th April to 6th June, 2025, while late registration will be from 9th to 27th June, 2025. Late registration attracts a fee of 20,000 naira, meaning that students had exactly one month from the release of that memo to pay up their fees or risk paying an additional 20,000 naira in fines.

A sizeable number of students who spoke to Zik Press about the June 6 deadline expressed optimism about the fee deadline being extended, while most of them remain apprehensive about the situation. For Emmanuel, a student of the faculty of social sciences, the fees deadline scheduled for the 6th of June is not borne out of adequate consideration of students, especially given the fee hike.

He, however, remained hopeful that the deadline would be postponed. "I stand to be corrected on NELFUND; I am not even sure they have started disbursement. Considering this, fingers remain crossed whether the deadline will be extended, which I would like to presume so," he said.

Gbadebo, another respondent from the faculty of arts, was more particular about the economic situation of the country. In his words, "Public universities that we've always known to be the school of the masses are gradually becoming the school for a selected few out of the masses. Such deadlines are unfair to both the students and the parents getting the fees."

When Zik Press reached out to the vice hall chair of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, Adebayo Similoluwa, he was of the opinion that the bulk of the issue linked back with the UI'SU. "Since the Union dropped their release, a lot of students have accepted their fate and have started finding a means to get their fee paid. But we all know that it isn't everyone that can easily afford that money in that short period of time," he said.

He further stated that given how little the time frame is, the UI'SU should be able to help students to at least fight for an extension. When asked if he believes the deadline will be extended, Adebayo responded in the affirmative. 

Stella, an Awoite, did not hold back when quizzed about the situation. For her, the leadership of the UISU failed on several occasions to step up to the plate and champion the causes of the students in the school. For her the cases in which the UI'SU held a town hall meeting, refused to call a congress, and eventually cancelling the congress were instances in which the Students Union could have effectively acted as the voice of the students. Their failures in these instances is what created the present situation with the fee deadline.

In the meantime, for some of the students who applied for NELFUND, the foreseeable future remains bleak given the fact that most of them have not even been paid. Those who spoke to Zik Press correspondents expressed their exasperation over the situation, as the situation is already out of their hands given the fact that disbursement has not started on their portal.

Zik Press also reached out to some student representatives. For Jokomba Quyum, majority leader of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall constituency at the University of Ibadan Students Representative Council, he remains hopeful that positive feedback could come.

"As a student, I'm apprehensive like every other student as regards the deadline because I have also not paid my school fees. As Zik Hall Majority Leader, I have been working hand in hand with the leadership of the council, other majority leaders and the student union executive committee to make sure something is done regarding the deadline and increments. A meeting was held with the leadership of the university, and we already have good news that some increments have been reversed. I believe we will get good news regarding the deadline too, soon," he said.

Jokomba Quyum is not alone as the speaker of the 7th Assembly of the ZHLC; Oladoja Ayomide, who is also a member of the UI'SRC, also shares this sentiment. For Ayomide, the decision of the management to fix the school fees payment deadline for July was harsh considering the economic realities of the country.

"A large percentage of the student populace won't be able to meet this deadline, which means that necessary changes need to be made to the decisions of the management," he said.

Ayomide further revealed efforts being made to get a possible deadline extension. "A resolution was passed recently for a delegation to be sent to the school management to discuss the increment in order to have a possible reversal. Also, there will be an extension of the deadline," he said.

When asked how confident he is in this delegation and their mission and told to rate his confidence in their ability to get a possible reversal or a deadline extension, Ayomide stated that he had no confidence in them getting a reversal, but on a scale of one to ten, he rated the chances of a deadline extension at a seven. 

In his words, "I don't believe that this delegation alone is capable of getting us a reversal, but they should be able to facilitate the process."

Recall that last week Sunday, on the 25th of May, the UISU executive council sent out a release on the fee deadline. While the release did not explicitly say anything to calm down the student populace, the union, however, restated its commitment to get the deadline extended while enjoining students to take advantage of NELFUND. It remains to be seem what would come up in the next few days.

Zik Hall League Matchday 2: Thrilling Wins and Key Performances Light Up the Fixtures

Matchday 2 of the Zik Hall League delivered a spectacle of exciting football as teams battled fiercely for supremacy across the pitch. Several standout performances and crucial goals defined the day’s encounters, setting the tone for a competitive season ahead.

Young Boys stamped their authority with an emphatic 6–1 victory over Incredibles. Marvellous was the star of the show, netting a brace, supported by goals from Martin, Joba, Odeegard, and Gbolahan. Barnabas scored the lone consolation goal for Incredibles.

Vanguard FC secured a narrow 2–1 win against Da-Ebs FC, with Korede shining brightly by scoring both goals for his team, proving decisive in the tightly contested clash. In another commanding performance, 1561 FC cruised to a 5–1 triumph over Masterclass FC. Samad’s double and Akinpade’s strike powered 1561, while Eme scored the sole goal for Masterclass.

Elsewhere, Blaze FC edged past The Indispensable FC with a slender 1–0 victory, thanks to Richard’s decisive strike that settled the closely fought match. In a thrilling encounter, Alma Guerrero FC scored late to defeat Bluelock 3–2. Heskeyman’s brace and Justice’s goal proved crucial for the win.

As the Zik Hall League progresses, teams are proving their mettle and signalling their ambitions. With such performances, the race for top honours promises to be intense and closely fought in the coming weeks.