LIFE IN UNILAG ( EPISODE 1)

photocredit: DEJI OSHO PHOTOGRAPHY @_Dejiosho_

DISCLAIMER!!!
All human names and characters used here are fictitious, though its based on my personal experience in akoka. Please note that in no way or manner have I attempted to attack any personality or body of organization in the write-up below. If the shoe fits then its just a mere coincidence.

I've written this article out of my interest for free writing. 

Do have a nice time reading this.

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Gate! gate! gate!

That was what the driver kept repeating until
I entered the shuttle, still wondering when the bus was going to get filled. Then it occurred to me as a shock when people started moving in, before one could say Jack Robinson the bus was ready to leave.  

...

I was so busy looking at the tiled road of Yaba as the bus zoomed off that I didn't hear the driver who was already shouting ignorantly.. -Money from the back! way your money na-

Oh my. I said. Still wondering if he was talking to me. How much is my money!? I asked, directing the question to nobody. Immediately, everyone knew I must be a fresher. ... .... .... ....

Soon we were starring into the vast space at the front of UNILAG GATE. 

Wow! One could have thought he was in the states .- Mtcheww see this one sha, I'm sure its one of the pranks played by Nigeria universities. - First impression thingy- but it looked like Unilag has more tricks. All these kept racing in my mind until I heard a deep voice from my side say something like over... .... .....

 New hall!!  ...its the driver again but this time I think he's talking to everybody. Almost everyone got down, so to avoid any awkward moment I alighted too.

...

Wow, wow, wow. Am I  seeing another Unilag???

Its my second week as a fresher and the first time I'll ever leave campus and come in late at night. But I'm still doubting if this is the unilag I've been seeing for days.

photocredit: DEJI OSHO PHOTOGRAPHY @_Dejiosho_

... The red lights or should I say dark yellow lights illuminating everywhere but in a modest manner making the palm tree-like ornamental trees look like they were touching the sky. And the endless tiled roads. Branching into different corners. I was looking at forte oil filling station and at the same time looking at the nice view of the mosque accompanied with a serene view of churches, one that looked like a catholic church and some other churches. Oh! Wait, a church beside a mosque? Cool.. Perfect.  What a wonderful blend of religion! Great. At that moment I felt like reciting the National anthem.

No wonder they say Unilag is the nation's pride.

One could appreciate a school no more than this.

The wonderful display of nature's beauty while hiding its faults. Yeah, I thought they usually say a swampy land is of no use. A moment! did I say swampy? Crabs!!! yeah look at that crab trying to dodge the traffic. Bwhahahahaha. Poor little thing.

....

I was soon attracting attention with my laughter. So I just moved forward and swayed across the road like a confused Zebra, crossed through to the other side and made entrance into New Hall.

.... The students of Unilag, they must be as classy as they've been portrayed so let me just watch my steps just then I bumped into this nice looking lady.

Are you confused or something? She said.

Sor...sorry I'm going to Sodeinde hall pls.. I said.

Still not sure if she heard me. This time I repeated myself but in a louder tone. Then she said Oh, see that build over there, she pointed as I was busy appreciating her anatomy.  She was still pointing  at one big hall looking innocent . I stopped for a while, focused my attention on the hall at then showed her a perplexed look.

 Is that...Sodeinde?

She nodded and smiled, surprised ehn? Then she walked away.

I was still doubting my eyes and ears and probably my definition of consciousness.  Come to think of it This can't be the notorious Sodeinde, at least not as portrayed on the web! I don't think anybody in this hall is capable of playing the role of Dracula'. Am I getting anything wrong or are they getting everything wrong?

I just stood at the front of the gate for a while and then brought out my Phone , called my course rep and gave him my assignment.

Its high time I left for my hall Biobaku hall -the hall for the gentle guys-.  Wait let me get some suya. I said to myself.

....

Standing before the suya man. Hey! How much be that Suya?  

200 naira. He said, without paying attention while spraying oil on the raw meat.

Ah?? Why na. 

This one na Special!

Special ko, abeg gimme the one wey no special, yeah that one! Cut hundred naira own for me. Ah wetin, shey dis one na taste ni? Why e come small like this?

...Oh Lord, no patience like that of an hausa man. The guy just stood there looking at me, he didn't even fake a smile. .

Then I heard something like a lady's voice behind me. 

'Hey, you again.  She said while smiling at me.'

Eh mm.. Hi. *I was thinking fast as a sharp guy*

You look familiar,  have I seen you somewhere or something? I said trying hard not to smile back. But this pretty young lady was working magic with her smile.

'Of course, unless you have a poor memory. You can't possibly forget the face of your helper. She said just before she added 'Duur'.

I quickly gathered myself and said ' Oh, I'm Jay. *stretching my hand out* Nice to meet you. I'm Shola. She said. ... .... ....

.  If there is anything different about Unilag its the fact that the Unilag we know is quite different at night . The beautiful romantic view along senate building, a place called love garden, where you always see lovers hanging around.

New hall and its craze. Suya spots, lovers holding hands. Girls moving in threes. Guys moving in twos. Rap battle, diss, freestyle and all that. New hall is known for its noise. Always bubbling.

Education and its serene environment, I heard there is another love garden there too, never had the time to confirm it.

I might need to add that Unilag is not complete at night without publicity noise for one thing or the other. Usually a bus carrying 10 to 15 people screaming and yelling 'come for this, come for that.

Akoka, indeed and in truth... 

to be continued...