THINKING OF EKEHUAN CAMPUS???
LEARN
ABOUT EKEHUAN PEOPLES AND CULTURE....
By: Asekhamhe Vinson Osikpemhi...
In the heartbeat of the ancient city of Benin, the
capital of the heartbeat of Nigeria, lies a beautiful world of its own, a
serene and perfect academic cum social environment – The Ekehuan road campus of
the University of Benin popularly referred to as E.K. City.
Lest I forget, the University of Benin has two
campuses, Ugbowo and Ekehuan; with the former being the main campus. However,
there is more to Ekehuan than being just a “small” campus with four
departments. It is agreeable that the right combination of people could yield a
positive result even though the population is low. Such is the case here. A
combination of Theatre Artists, Mass Communicators, Fine Artists and Education
students will certainly yield the best of Academic cum Social Life. So academically,
socially and even religiously, E.K. City stands out.
As expected, different kinds of people make up the
over 1000 students in this campus. Over time, I have been carefully studying
the various kinds of people and their lifestyle on campus. Ranging from the “Jackophites”
to the “Spirikokos.”
The first group of people I’ll examine are the Jackophites.
Ordinarily, one would expect a student to always study but in Ekehuan Campus,
and perhaps in most Universities, studying seems to be left for some special
people, who take reading as their profession on campus. These set of people are
always seen with their books from Sunday to Saturday, with little or no time to
relax.
I had once come across a boy talking to himself on his
ways to the bathroom, perhaps trying to remember what he memorised and just
then he past the bathroom and was going towards the back gate holding a
soap-can with a towel hung around his neck. That’s how far these Jackophites
can go. Night class seems to be their second room. In fact many spend
more hours of the day in class than in their room. Fair enough but however,
what bothers me is the fact that many go to class with over five big textbooks
as if going to open a library in class. Long stockings cover their hairy legs
not really because of the usually cold night, but against the attack of giant
“Ninja Mosquitoes” who are a major component of E.K. City and after hours of
fighting with one page of their the textbook, hopelessly they spread their
wrappers, turn their books into pillows and sleep like every other “unserious
student” in the hostel. As early as 6:00am they are up, packing their books
again to their hostels amidst chants of “Jackophites” even though they
battled with just one page of their book.
Another category of people in E.K. City are the
religious people popularly referred to as “Spirikokos”. One amazing
characteristic of students in Ekehuan Campus is that 97% of the total
population belong to one fellowship or the other even though a very good number
attend just once a semester probably when there is an occasion that involves
refreshment.
In spite of this, there is a very important group of
people that attend fellowship more than they attend lectures and spend a
lengthy part of their night in the supposed volleyball court which has been
changed by these people to a prayer ground. Others pray round the campus,
speaking in tongues. Most of them extend this religious nature to their rooms
and classes, turning the room to a church even when other roommates are asleep
as well as “yawning in tongues”. Imagine somebody wakes up and yawns speaking
in tongue. Lol... some highly fanatical ones tend to describe anything that is
not church-inclined as sinful or as my friend would say, “Canal” leaving their roommates as victims. So when coming to E.K.
City, wish not to have a spirikoko as a roommate.
As a campus filled with sculptural works, courtesy of
fine artists, it is no surprise that the sculptural works play hosts to lovers
at night. This brings us to the next group of people called the “Corror
Masters”. To every E.K. City
student, “Corror” is a term used to describe a quiet place for lovers.
The constant patronisers of these ”corrors” are referred to as “Corror
Masters”. these people range from couples to friends with benefit or
even the popular cliché- “Just Friends” who take romantic strolls to the
Education Department, Library and Library Annex premises, Petroleum Engineering
building and the back of numerous Sculptural works especially the famous “Mama Ekehuan Sculpture”. What they do
remain unknown to us though, who knows? It could just be tutorials. Lol...
As in every community, there is usually a group of
people called the “Busy Bodies” which I would like to classify alongside “Party
Freaks”. These people mainly ladies are always at the forefront of
every party on campus with their bum-shots and armless tops. You will certainly
see these people at blasts, birthday parties within and outside the campus, at
every sound of music, or just strolling with any willing friend.
One very important group of people you must take note
of are the “Caucus”- what a friend of mine would refer to as the “Ekehuan Stakeholders”. This group
consist of mainly final year politicians and a few politicians from other
levels. All they sincerely demand is loyalty since they can boast of political
power to determine who gets a political position. They are usually very busy
during election periods, meeting with various aspirants especially from Ugbowo
campus seeking the support and votes from their “newly found sister Campus”.
You see, during elections, Ekehuan and Ugbowo are one, after that they are
whatever you think they are.
These stakeholders usually have nicknames which must
be called at the introduction of any political meeting. You hear names like the
Tony Annenih of Ekehuan Campus,
Honourable this and Comrade that, etc.
For a fresher coming to Ekehuan Campus with a
political ambition, you just might have to be familiar with the “Ekehuan Stakeholders”.
Personally I don’t like too much seriousness in
whatever I do; I would rather prefer a friendly and jovial approach to issues.
This explains why I must talk about this wonderful humorous group of people
called “Bobo Masters”. Confused? Never mind, its one those E.K. City
terms. “Bobo” often referred to as “washing” simply means exaggerating the truth or rather “Over-exaggerating” a fact. Not everyone is a star in this field, hence the term “Bobo
Masters”. For instance a guy walks pass his firends to class with his
bag and maybe holding a book and they start shouting: “Scholari, Aristotle,
Jackophite...” “We know say you don finish that book cover to cover, 6 times”,
“abeg make I dey with you na”.
Or in a situation where you are properly dressed, like
really dressed applying the rules of fashion and a friend stops you and gives
you some lines. “See your N50, 000 shirt, chai! Everything whe you wear na 1
million.” “Bros make I clean your shoe na”.
Many other scenarios may warrant “washing or boboing”
just like an unbelievable scene I witnessed where two friends lay on a lawn
claiming to be greeting each other, waiting for the first to rise up.
For you coming to E.K.City for the first time, don’t
be surprised to be the next bobo victim and don’t get too carried away when
they say you are beautiful or handsome, it may just be bobo.
Now amongst all these categories of people, there is
also a very important category of people who have little of all these features
in them. They are the “Average Students”. They are religious, mini-jackophites, party
like once in a blue moon, socialise freely, participate in politics and sports,
and even join in fulfilling the “Bobo Theory”. They do not go to the extreme in
anything even in their studies, and are comfortable with their simple lives.
Maybe you should identify with them when you come.
The last group I should talk about are the Aliens. Yes
I call them aliens because somehow, they are students of Ekehuan Campus, but
you may just be seeing them for the first time in 2-3 years. Some may even be
your classmates yet you would get to know in subsequent levels. Others may
consequently be absent from lectures and surface on examination day.
Some others do not belong to any organisation, not
even fellowship. They don’t attend lectures, and when they do, they don’t say
anything neither do they participate in group work. As a group leader, I was
shocked when someone walked up to me two days to the production and said “I am
your group member”.
So don’t be surprised when people say you are course
mates and you are just seeing them in 200l or even final year especially Mass
Communication students.
Naturally Ekehuan Campus is a fun-filled place, filled
with different kind of people ranging from people who have made the common room
their homes, to those who belong to almost all societies on campus yet they
never get tired.
It also consist of funny staff ranging from potters
who take delight in seizing your “HP”, HP does not mean your HP laptop here,
but means your Hot-Plate; and find Joy in shouting at those beautiful daughters
of Margaret Ekpo who delight in visiting the cute sons of Nelson Mandela before
4:00pm on weekdays. “Hello is it
4’oclock yet? Are you a male or a female?”; to those funny lecturers whose
lectures are amazingly funny, interesting and “crazy”. Be ready for the
assignments that can make you run mad and which of course you will be grateful
for, someday.
E.K. City also consists of beautiful and attractive
spots including the front of girls’ hostel which is the meeting/waiting point
for couples, friends, etc. And always filled with romantic goodbye scenes
especially at night or at that awkward moment when a car drops off that girl you’ve
been eyeing.
Lest I forget, to the guys, “thou shall not approach an E.K. City girl empty handed.” Thank God
for close by Mat-Ice, utilise it. You could even visit Lucky’s Mishai or Dan’s
Pop corn. Don’t place too much hope on the only ATM machine on campus; it just
might disappoint you at the eleventh hour.
Most importantly, enjoy your four years on E.K. City,
visit everywhere; Night class, volleyball court and once in a while, shake
body.
