By G.M.K
My heart leaped as I contemplated walking through the gates of Indy. I had plugged in my earpiece to drown out the dirty jargon hurled by jobless boys in the name of Aro. The time or energy to engage, none I had.
Ears tingling, I removed my earpiece, hoping that I had heard wrong. Someone had screamed, “Oyan re e”. A lump formed in my throat as I turned back to the perverted boys. I took a picture and walked away, several thoughts crossing my mind.
On the 1st of October, 2023, the Student Union of the University of Ibadan, organized a march against Gender Based Violence (GBV). This is a brilliant initiative to tackle an infestation that has eaten deep into the roots of the society. However, the Union has ignored the fly on its nose to kill the fly on another’s nose.
The Campus is a smaller sector of the society that predicts what happens when the characters evolve into the external world. There are several issues to be addressed in the campus subculture.
Some weeks ago, there was another incident where ladies were not allowed to pass through Zik, lest they pick beans. Many would say that it is a harmless practice and it is the ladies that are uptight for not complying.
Close your eyes and imagine dragging your heavy tired feet to your hostel. You are just five minutes away… you repeat to reassure yourself, only to be stopped and told to pick beans. Your stomach quivers in hunger and beads of sweat dance on your forehead. Your social battery is depleted and your eyes are red from despair.
You try to beg, however they tell you that you would not be allowed, regardless. They laugh at your despair and pose for you to take as much pictures as you want. “Take it to whoever you want to…they crone…Tell the SU President, let him come here, he can do nothing…” Hail Supreme ZIK, the ruler and head of the University and the Union Government. They are overall, above the law and empathy for their fellow students.
The Union should look into these issues and assure the physical, mental, emotional and psychological well-being of her students. Their efforts must be commended as they have taken the torch from their predecessors and brightened the fire. However, this is a plea from a student to her union to come to the aid of the students and address these injustices.
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