This an Article By Ojo Aderemi, a Student Of The University Of Ibadan . You will surely love this!
1) Kenneth Mellanby Hall (Est. 1952) Mellanby hall is a hall that is neither black nor white. You probably have heard of that saying that an average Mellanbite is a journalist. Lol. That hall has dominated the journalistic scene of UI in recent years producing the presidents of the Union of Campus Journalists 4 times in 5 years. (we'll come back to that). Mellanby Hall was the home of Nigeria's First Student Martyr -'Kunle Adepeju.
2) Lord Tedder Hall:- (Est. 1952) If you are a fresh student and your hall is Tedder you will be fine. Tedder has produced more intellectuals with global recognition than any other Hall of Residence in Unibadan. Tedder also has a history of radical students unionism. In 1952 Tedderites pulled down the wire fence that had been built around the hall. They claimed they can't live like "Zooites" and that the fence was an infringement on their freedom. As a result all Tedderites were EXPELLED from Unibadan. The "revolution" spread to other halls of residence. Funny all students were expelled. Those who wanted to come back the following session had to reapply. The ring leaders were expelled. Some later attended the University of London but still claim Lord Tedder Hall. It was the headquarters of students unionism for many years. The Hall is famous for public speaking and has, hitherto, vowed to debate Harvard University in the coming period. The tradition of radicalism in Tedder Hall will always be there. Some have posited that the hall was built on revolt. Periodic revolt against "oppression" still happens in the hall.
3) Reverend Kuti Hall:- (Est. 1954) If you have been allocated Kuti, it is either you know somebody somewhere or you know somebody that knows somebody somewhere. Or rather you are one of the luckiest freshmen. Kuti is the Hall of butter boys (based on speculation). It looks like a hotel and had been regarded the neatest Hall in previous times. Despite the dyspeptic character of the hall, it has produced more Students Union presidents than any other Hall since 1999. That is mystery.
4) Sultan Bello Hall. (Est. 1962) Sultan Bello Hall could be the most beautiful hall in Unibadan as regards its architectural design. The architect who designed the hall must have been a genius. Bello Hall is also known for public speaking and British Style of politics..
5) Queen Elizabeth II Hall. (Est. 1956) Queens Hall is a hall I don't understand. The uniqueness never dies but sometimes enters 15% or "battery low". Once in a while queens spark at you when you cross the red line. The thing I do not understand is that queens don't warn you about the Red Line. If you talk to them harshly they will reply you with equal measures. More female fresh student wants Queens Hall.
6) Great Independence Hall:- (Est. 1961) Katanga Republic is, to tell the truth, a hall of stubborn boys. The hall was built on revolt as well. Funny Katangites protested days into the commissioning of the hall. The stubbornness has continued till this day. It used to have the capacity to mobilize quickly. However, there was a period when the hall housed several extraordinary students who could engage professors in arguments (with references to adequate sources of information and facts). Those were the glory days of Great Independence Hall. When you know too much, you become too stubborn.
7) Queen Idia Hall:- (Est. 1975). If you are not an Idite, please cry. The most unique female hall of residence on the entire continent is Idia Hall. Let me tell a brief story to back my assertion. Queen Idia was mother of Oba Esigie of Benin Empire (in the 1400s). Way before the advent of Oyinbo people, Queen Idia had been advancing her feminist ideas. She was a soldier who lead field operations. She lead the Benin Empire to victory in the battle of Idah. Google search Idia or consult the Student Information Handbook (page 67-68). So you know what the character of the inhabitants of the hall will be like. A hall of lovable but stern girls -since the beginning. The hall has been involved in student struggles at every stage of it. FACT!!! Idia Hall has stampeded male halls more than 10 times in 10 years. Please don't name your kids after tough people -Idia as a case study.
8) Obafemi Awolowo Hall:- (Est. 1986) Awo hall is the largest hall of residence in West Africa. It was housed male, female and post graduate students.
9) Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria:- (Est. 1962). FACT! Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall had the highest number of First Class students during the 2012/13 session with over Seventy-One Zikites on First Class. Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall is the most radical hall of residence in Nigeria. "Zik Hall" as it is famously called has a famous saying that "we will not and by shall not tolerate anything that comes in form of oppression". Zik Hall has maintained a tradition of discipline right from the beginning. Human Rights Activism and social democracy has been a long time culture of all Zikite since the beginning. They (Zikites) regard themselves as intellectual and active defenders of Human Rights. In 1971/72 sessions Zikites went on hunger strike to protest against the corruption of the hall management and the inattentiveness of the University management. The hunger strike lasted for 48 hours. Eventually a protest broke out and several students were shot. Kunle Adepeju (whom the University will be remembering in coming weeks) was killed during the protest. Zikites never vandalize properties during riots. They take it as "unnecessary". Zik Hall only allows members of the hall to contest in the Students' Union elections periodically. So the hall has not produced too many presidents of the Students' Union yet is the capital of students unionism in the University of Ibadan. Zik Hall has a tradition of ejecting student leaders who "under-perform" from the hall. When Zik Hall sneezes, it is said that the entire University of Ibadan community catches cold. Zikites, although intellectuals, are not to be insulted. A Vice Chancellor of the University once committed a blunder he wished he never did. He said Zikites are ungrateful for the kind of "toilets and bathrooms" they have... It took a plethora of pleas from the entire University community before Zikites released him from the toilet in which he was locked. The Hall Chairman was asked to face the SDC alongside other "rascals" (who are now successful people). The entire Hall went to attend the SDC sitting to solidarise with the Hall Chairman... The Zik Hall story goes on and on. If you are a Zikite please go get and read the 200 page book "Scoro 108" written by a Zikite. Zikites go any length to protect their dignity.
IN CONCLUSION, every Hall of Residence is great but some Halls of Residence are in their golden age.
NB. In the University of Ibadan there is no such thing as past glory, glory lasts forever.
Tags:
News