Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) Students like many other well-meaning Nigerian students in public universities have been at home for over eight months due to COVID-19 outbreak that has caused the pause in academic activities. AAUA INSIDER correspondent, Olabisi Bello, engaged AAUA students on how the lockdown has been for them, what they have learnt, and what they miss about school.
Here are their views
Awe OlamiLekan, 400 level, Physics and Electronics
Actually want to thank God first. I learnt so many things but mostly I missed my guys in school and all cruise in school. Just learnt how to give thanks.
Oyesuntimi Oluwatosin, 100 level, Agricultural Economics
The lockdown has treated me so wellin the sense that I have been able to work in a diverse area. I was able to work perfectly with my uncle and learn more about building, presently I’m an accountant in an oil and gas company…in short I have gain a lot of experience and connection and also boost my found.
To be frank I count on nothing to miss.
Well I’ve missed all of my friends and lectures in general
I’ve started my fashion designing tutorials and I can say I’ve learnt a lot
Ishola Emmanuel Oluwafemi, 100 level, Sociology
I miss my friends ,my leaders of my department and my level adviser
Have learnt things like Guitar. Improve on my drumming skills. Making liquid soap.
Adeboye Joy Oluwatoyin, 100 level, Philosophy
For me, the lockdown has been a great opportunity for me, and a forecast of what will happen after been a Graduate. During the lockdown I empower myself with a handwork. I decided to learn hairdressing. I created more passion for the work as a dream of becoming a great Entrepreneur. Sincerely there is nothing special I miss about school than the fun of been around my friends.
Adeboyejo Ufedo, 100 level, Philosophy
In all honesty, this lockdown gave me more space to surf the internet well; I got to learn what the four walls of a classroom won’t teach me. I miss the companies of new friends I just made, and I miss the activities that come up in OBJ hall.
Abidoye Glory Omowunmi, 100 level, Guidance and Counselling
Well, the lockdown has not been bad. It makes me better and selfless, I got more time to check on people who are so depressed but wouldn’t voice out coz everyone is too busy to notice or give them listening ears. Not been able to go anywhere makes me reflect on the past and helped me to recognize all I didn’t pay attention to before, plus I learnt a new skill that I don’t even think I’ll ever engage myself in if not for the lockdown. The major thing staying at home taught me is to find happiness in what you have and wherever you are and never to say anything is IMPOSSIBLE because no one could have thought a time like this where everyone would be forced to stay at home would come. I miss the 7:00AM lectures and strolling around the school anytime am bored and don’t have much to do.
Manuwa Adebowale, 200 level, Economics
The effect of this lockdown is worst for the mental health and happiness for me. Being unable to meet my friends and enjoy what i usually do in pre-COVID days e.g Attending lectures, studying with my friends and so on. I also miss God’s Family (Church). And I really can’t wait for all this to be over in no time. In all this Mayhem, have Learnt that:
I can find hope even in dark times, the lockdown has taught me that things don’t have to be done in a hurry, how to adapt to things even more than i thought, creativity can shine anywhere, do not take people for granted. There is a lot to be grateful for.
Akinyode Faith, 100 level, Sociology
The lockdown has been weird. I’ve never been “forced” to stay indoors for a particular period and then when I thought everything was going on well….boom seems we are back to square one. I learnt that God still has power over everything and he is the greatest. I miss Obj hall events!
Afolabi Dolapo PKA Demzy Mayana Level: 200 level, Geology
I miss everything about school, my friends, the shows, the cruise, and every damn thing. The lock down has been kind of mixed. Like been fun and boring at the same time, I learnt some new skill even diverted into some new programs; Crypto Currency Management and The art of plastering Tiles. Though I wasn’t done anyway.
Taiwo Oluwatobiloba, 100 level, Mathematics Science
Personally, I am Grateful for the lockdown and I’m among those it favoured cause I was able to focus on my skills and start a small business; T.T Design & Concepts, where we do with website creation, social media marketing and graphic design. Within the lockdown, I have been able to help 30 start-ups business with business ideas and marketing Strategies. So I miss school a little bit but I know the schooling system in Nigeria doesn’t prepare for Certain things in the labour world because I am done with my ND from Yabatech since 2017 before furthering back in AAUA.
Ogunmola Abidemi Mercy, 200 level, Guidance and Counselling
The lockdown has been hell and it has also been fun
During the lock down period I learnt a lot of things like makeup,model,beauty pageant and a host of others
I also had fun during the end SARS protest
I missed a lot at school; the one-mic activities, restaurant and the school environment at large.
Arowojolu Foluke, 100 level, Microbiology
It was boring at first but…it gave me the opportunity I needed to learn some things. In short, the lockdown has really helped me more than I can imagine. The only thing I miss about school is my villa.
Oluwanifemi Sophie Ogunmilade, 100 level, Economics
The lockdown for me has been exhilarating. I would say it is a journey of self-discovery and personal development for me. I have taken up things on a normal day I would not even think of doing and as impacting as the lockdown seems for me it still has its downside. I’m in my first year in AAUA and it is general knowledge that all 100 level students have GSTs 7AM most days in the week, I have lost that discipline of waking up early to start my day. I know it can be stressful but truth be told which disciplined person starts their day 12PM almost every day.
These responses have been published on AAUA INSIDER with very minimal editing to preserve the original voice of the respondents.
Author
Bello Olabisi, known to most individuals as Dorian is a literature student. She’s a dark poet with a weird sense of humor, a spoken word artist, a nature photographer, a freelance writer, an active volunteer and a lover of stuffed toys.