By Oloyede David Oyewale
When we talk about basic social amenities, what often comes to mind are good roads, potable water, healthcare facilities, electricity, and so on. However, with the current state of electricity in the country, stable and regular power supply has become a lucid dream for most Nigerians. This, nonetheless, does not change the fact that providing stable electricity would go a long way in improving the lives of citizens. The same can be said of the recent solar installations seen across many halls of residence on the University of Ibadan campus.
In the final weeks of the 2023/2024 academic session, Blocks A and B of the Great Independence Hall, University of Ibadan, were illuminated with a solar-powered electrical system. This initiative has helped to mitigate the problem of epileptic power supply that the school has long struggled with. Shortly after, Blocks C and D also received similar installations. Just last week, the same was done in their Junior Common Room (JCR). Now, Katangites can watch whatever shows they please or engage in other activities without worrying about darkness. Meanwhile, the neighbouring Zik Hall has seen nothing— not even a single solar streetlamp.
Other hostels such as Kuti, Bello, and Idia Halls have also been powered with solar energy. Even parts of Obafemi Awolowo Hall and Queen Elizabeth II Hall have been fitted with solar lighting systems. Although there are differences in implementation across these halls, one fact remains clear — Zik Hall has been left out. As it stands, the hall seems to be the only hall yet to enjoy the benefits of solar illumination. At least, the likes of Tedder and Mellanby Halls have solar-powered streetlamps in their open spaces.
But then, the darkness in Zik Hall is not merely inconvenient; it is dangerous. For many residents, navigating their surroundings at night has become a daily struggle.
Zikites Lament
For a hall that prides itself as the energy nerve of the University of Ibadan, Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall has been left behind. The mantra, “When Zik Hall sneezes, UI catches cold,” no longer seems to apply. While most halls on campus have embraced the radiance of solar technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall remains suspended in the dark ages — a fact that does not sit well with many of its residents.
“I think the darkness issue is not good at all. It’s very bad, especially for people who don’t have a torchlight or a power bank to support them during the night,” said Aniekan Marvelous, a 100-level student of Urban and Regional Planning. “For example, I don’t have a power bank or any torch to help with light at night. Last night, I had to borrow one just to get some light. I feel like Zik Hall needs to work on solar power as a solution to help Zikites deal with this lighting issue,” he added.
Beyond discomfort, the absence of light has also worsened insecurity in the hall. Darkness provides cover for theft and other crimes. “If someone tries to steal and there’s light, at least the person can be identified. But now, with no light in Zik, if someone steals or commits a crime, it’s hard to describe or identify them because they escape using the cover of darkness,” Marvelous explained.
A 100-level student from the Department of Petroleum Engineering, who asked to remain anonymous, described the situation as “a major one.” He said, “When there’s no light, you can’t really see. It affects me in the sense that I can’t read. Sometimes, whenever I want to fetch water, I can barely see. There was even a time I almost fell down because of the darkness.”
Another student from the Department of Mathematics, who also preferred anonymity, echoed similar concerns: “I feel like this is a very concerning issue. Most times, the place is usually dark if there’s no light. Someone can fall — like from the staircase — due to the darkness. It actually happened last semester. So, it can happen again to another person.”
When asked for a possible solution, he suggested, “I feel like the best option would be a solar system — at least the corridors should be lit.”
Ojedele John, an occupant of B Block, also expressed disappointment. “When there’s no power, it’s a big problem. We have epileptic power supply, especially at night, and there’s no backup lighting like solar. Other hostels in UI have solar systems installed, but Zik Hall doesn’t have anything like that,” he lamented. He went on to appeal to the hall management and Zik Hall alumni to help by providing solar-powered lights, noting that it would greatly improve visibility and safety at night.
This same sentiment was shared by Feranmi, a finalist in the Faculty of Education. “It is a really concerning issue. As I am now, I’m about to go off-campus to charge. It would be better if we [Zikites] could network with prominent alumni to support or even sponsor a solar project for Zik Hall,” he said.
The Flickering Lamp at Zik Quadrangle
At the centre of Zik Hall quadrangle stands a lone yellow lamp, its wiring stretching into the cafeteria. This lamp was installed this session to address the various security concerns that have arisen from the hall’s chronic darkness — in what is arguably one of the liveliest areas of the hall.
According to the Defence Minister, Emiola Waliu, the lamp was erected through the efforts of the executive council, floor representatives, and other members of the hall, in cooperation with the owners of New Flava, one of the vendors in Zik Hall cafeteria. He revealed that they spent roughly ₦15,000 of their own money to get the light installed.
As dull as the lamp may seem, it stands as a symbol, a testament to how little students themselves can do to confront this paradoxically overwhelming and underwhelming darkness. It highlights the reality that Zikites, on their own, cannot do much to fix this problem.
When pressed about the efforts of the executive council, Waliu explained that the hall excos have consistently reached out to the hall management, who have assured them that Zik Hall would soon get its own solar system — though even he doesn’t know how soon that will be.
In his words, "when we went to meet them, they assured us they were working on it. And one thing about UI is that if they say they're working on it, it could be next two sessions or next session. No one knows."
Call for Urgent Intervention
The persistent darkness in the Baluba Kingdom has dragged on for far too long, and it demands urgent intervention. The hall executives, hall management, school authorities, alumni, and even the University of Ibadan Students’ Union need to expedite whatever process it takes to bring solar installations to Zik Hall.
As it stands, no other hall in the University of Ibadan faces as many security challenges as Zik Hall. Leaving it in darkness is like leaving the gates open for thieves — a risk that could worsen if the situation persists. Administrative processes may be a stumbling block, but if nothing is done soon, it may be the reason Zik Hall’s security situation deteriorates even further.
