[OPINION] DO AWARDS DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF A UNIVERSITY RESTAURANT?

When you go to eateries and restaurants especially on campuses these days, your eyes would surely behold awards of various sorts.

These awards were attestations given to restaurants based on their quality services, and hygienic environment. This would have been wonderful, only if they really deserve such awards. What baffles me mostly is that all of these restaurants have an award which says ''best eatery of the zone.''

If they can struggle to keep the tenets of hygiene and quality service, as much as they fake what is not, just to get the award, health issues relating to the intake of food will be curbed. 

My favourite restaurant  is ''Iya Moria" as it is popularly called. This is not because her daughter is in my department o! but because of the quality of her food. It is an eatery located in the Distance Learning Institute (DLI) area of University of Lagos. Her Patronisers ranges from UNILAG/DLI students to lecturers, and also occupants of Honours hall of residence even Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech).

The clean environment of the restaurant is laudable. Chairs are well arranged, with serviettes and toothpicks on each table. Of course they have enough awards to their credits, there are still some things that needs attention.The environment is hygienic, but not the people serving the food. You see the ladies with unkempt hair, serving with their bare hands without gloves. Though this is common to all restaurants on campus.

Another serious issue is the kitchen. I am not exaggerating, but you need to see the kitchens of highly rated eateries on campus like Salado, Olaiya, Red bricks, Jesus Embassy and the likes. They are so rough and dirty that the sight alone can discourage one from eating, irrespective of the fact that the main eatery is clean. When the genesis of the meal is not clean, what is the point of designing and decorating the main eatery? It is synonymous with a lady with dirty underwear and clean clothes. 

   

That restaurants are honoured with awards is a good idea, but if they are working hard to meet up with required standards is an issue that must be addressed. I think UNILAG Medical Centre should try and inspect these restaurants without notifying them and should suspend any restaurant that does not meet the required standards set for them. This will not only make them take care of these restaurants, it will also create a very presentable and healthy environment for not only students but also for visitors to boast of.

 

ADEYEMO ESTHER TEMITOPE

200 level, MASS COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT.

[HEALTH] UNILAG JOGGERS INCREASE; EXCERCISE: AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR BEING

 I have a task for you: try getting out of your hostels between 5:am to 6:30am. It seems the University of Lagos students have started paying attention to health issues or making friends with students from the department of human kinetic and health education (HKHE). The increase in the number of students who jog in the morning has skyrocketed to an abysmal level.

Recently, it has gone beyond students who want to burn fat alone. Students who are not even 'obese' so to say have realised the need to keep fit. "I feel it is imperative to keep fit, whether you are fat or not. That is the reason why I am exercising." says one of the joggers.

The whole school is usually bubbling with sporting activities as early as 5: am. You cannot miss students panting as they jog from their hostels to DLI and back on campus.

Exercise is an activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to kip fit (Arcus dictionary). Exercise helps prevent weight gain or maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activities, you burn calories. It helps combat health conditions and diseases; it improves the mood, and boosts energy among other things (mayo clinic staff)

The knowledge of this, with the craze for "six packs and abs" in men and "flat tummy" for the ladies are the major reasons why UNILAG students have suddenly gone sport conscious.

Students now partake in sporting activities at the University’s Sport Centre, and Aerobics lessons in their various halls of residence which I heard was a compulsory class assignment for all HKHE students to organize aerobics every Saturday till the end of the semester.

Alyssa Shaffer said "as you work out, your lungs are getting stronger, your motivation is at its peak, you are protecting yourself against cold and flu, and you are blasting calories." Alyssa Shaffer is an award-winning writer and editor, specializing in health, fitness, and nutrition.

You do not need to register at a gym, or do anything gruesome. All you need is a "leggings and tank-top" for females, and a "short and t-shirt" for the males. With that you can join UNILAG students as they burn calories and stay fit.

ADEYEMO ESTHER TEMITOPE

200 level, MASS COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT.

[OPINION] STUDENT UNION: A BLESSING OR A BANE?

For quite a while now, there have been excitement in the University of Lagos, due to the impending resuscitation of the proscribed SUG(Student Union Government).

After nine years of scrapping it, the SUG is on its way to limelight, but this time 'rebranded' as SU (Student Union).

I don't mean to burst your bubbles, but if the overrated SU will propel the changes we so desire is a question that should be on the uppermost part of our minds.

Let us not forget that the students union was interdicted for a reason, a justifiable one. The school authority has done well by proposing the intended SU. 

In the midst of the fervour, let us be conscious of the fact that there are underlying factors around the SU. A popular saying goes thus 'once bitten, twice shy'. The Vice Chancellor (VC) did not just wake up and decide to bring back the SU. I am sure the decision has been well examined and deliberated on, for it is only a foolish man that will let history repeat itself.

Yes, as students, we all want a body that can represent us. A platform through which, we can be heard and recognised. What has been pricking my heart is the drafted constitution for the SU. Representatives will be from each faculty and hallS of residences in the university which is a good idea. Are these representatives willing to serve, or are they seeing this as an opportunity to exploit the minority under the pretence of fighting for rights, especially the faculty presidents?

 

The Ex-Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Olukayode Amund said in an interview that the University of Lagos students are not matured enough to be in any leadership position, hence the delegated or elected representatives will be well trained for a month. I do not fault this statement as it is regrettably obvious that we students are not playing our roles well.

There had been reports of some student leaders politicising their positions as if they are gods. When a post like this cannot be managed, how do we expect good governance in the SU. If things are not put in perspective with the look of things, the SU might be banned for a very long time. 

This article is not meant to ridicule, but a clarion call for checks and balances. As I have said earlier, the school authority knows what it is doing as the pros and cons of this decision would have been analysed. 

All the students in the University of Lagos cannot represent the renewed SU. Are the selected few willing to be responsible to the students, or is this an avenue for bad politics?

I might sound pessimistic, but I feel it is better to analyse bad possibilities. Rumour has it that the school authority has been greasing the palms of the quasi Student Representative Council (SRC) which is made of Council of Faculty Presidents and Council of Hall Chairs. I feel it is obligatory to address this. The present Quasi-SRC is meant to be an independent body not subjected to external coercion or compensation.

Recently, representatives were taken to Whispering Palms, Badagry for a 3-days retreat intended for the discussion of rudimentary issues affecting the students.

At first I held no objection to this, until I thought of it well. I hope the retreat is not a way of canvassing for the students’ interest. It was said that a student requested for money as compensation for hard work. I feel this is rather mortifying as it did not portray a good image. It is not by force to be a representative, if you are looking for benefits, then you are not worthy of the position in the first place. 

The suspicion that there is a conspiracy to limit the effectiveness and power of the much awaited Students Union through constitutional provisions that would make it a dependent, undemocratic and a bureaucratic union is a grave issue that was addressed by the Press Club UNILAG in an open letter to the school authority and the constitution drafting committee some weeks ago.

Another aspect of the constitution causing controversy is Article 7, section 1A which states that election into the ULSU executive council will be conducted through an electoral college. The question is who are the electoral college? Are Akokites being disenfranchised from voting?

Ostensibly, there are lots of arguments accompanying the drafted constitution and a call for review. It is evident that the union has to be strong, to make its presence felt. If the union will be subdued by tenets, what is the point in the first instance? We should rather subject to protesting alone then or what do you think?

The bone of contention is that the SRC should be at alert, and not forget that their loyalty is with the students. Protecting the students’ rights is their first statutory obligation. They should not be compromised by accepting 'brown envelopes' or fair treatment of any sort which will result in being responsible to their 'heavenly benefactors'

Being independent with a crystal clear defined goal will make them objective in their dealings with the authorities. What need to be said will be said without mincing words, likewise what needs to be done.

Leadership is not a one-day workshop, it is a gradual process. I believe if well practiced now, there is light at the end of the tunnel for our crumbling Nigeria. It is all about serving for positive changes.

ADEYEMO ESTHER TEMITOPE

200 level, MASS COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT.

LIFE FOR UNILAG MASSCOMM

 There is only one centre of excellence in the university of Lagos...mass comm dept. if u do not believe, go and die. If your department get library or multi-media display board, or auditorium, or 6 sub-departments you will come and explain very soon.

As you step into my department, you cannot but notice our able Mr martins. After him, na him, before him na still him. Have you seen porter wey get mouth pass president before?, na Mr martins be that o. Although he 4ucks up some times, his head is still there. How can I forget my able Mr Osabor...big and stocky. The continent he came from, we no understand till date. As per promotion now, we no dey too see him. But seriously, we miss his ghanian-sierra-leone/liberian accent.....lmao....all join.

Something just struck my mind, our on point staff room, just by the toilet. You see Dr Soji Alabi gisting with Mr Teslim Lawal and somtimes Dr Adepoju  Tejumaiye.  Sometimes we wonder if Mr Taiwo is in the room at all "just saying". Our memorable print laboratory which is supposedly out of bounds to students. We have forgiven them sha just because of Mr Adams. The man dey limp but Mr martins no get swags reach am.

How can I forget our lecturer's cubicle in d name of offices. If you mistakenly turn your head in Mr popoola and Dr. Amobi’s office, be sure to land in medical centre as your precious head will hit a wall.....go and do ur medicals, all ye stubborn students! 

The broadcast studio manager, that one go dey do like say he get choko for head....we be one treat em fuck up one time like dat, but we kon realise sey we no fit, sey na only mouth we get.

Let's move to the back of our department which is dominated by our one and only mama masscomm. At the sight of her pretty face, you will be filled even without buying egg roll. Wetin we fit do? We sha won't go on hunger strike "only the smart ones will understand".

Sometimes, she is nice, sometimes you just don't wana cross her path. You will hear stuffz like "I no get change o", "drop ur money for carton, com bak for change", "crackers is two for 25naira oo". Wetin man pikin fit do? She is still our mama masscomm. Abi una tink sey na beans make person dey see caprisonne buy for university.

When frying her egg roll, she doesn't joke with sanitising her hands wit her"work skirt" after answering nature's call. We still love her like dat.

Now to the photocopy spot....Mama yemisi's exact job, nobody knws. Broda wale and mama tope are always hustling for customers. The only problem I have with the pretty robust woman is that her girl's pancake is always staining our photocopies. Must mama tope be the one to laminate our dockets every year? story for the gods.

If aunty Grace is typing, looking at her fingers is synonymous to fainting. You must surely get dizzy....she is too good. The new development now is that we now have a female cobbler. If I say masscomm is the best now, you will all b "yinmuing".

I have a personal problem with the new noodles nd toastbread spot. Did they say they should never wash the outer part of that noodles pot? They will use hands to rearrange eggrolls for show glass,kon put nylon for hand whenever dey won sell. Who is deceiving who?

I have nothing to say about d new masscomm building. I sha knw dat  1 day,dey will open it. The only positive thing about it is that, you will always find Stine Okey (So called Vice-President) lurking around there looking for a babe to jam.

MCSA executives of life. Our only punishment is that this year, most of them are"down to earth" especially the guys, u knw wot I mean.eg....Ola...Figo....Lanre, Ranti  wey manage tall, his strong face can abort a baby. Ola forget passmark o, but our president too gentle, na to dey change footwear he sabi. Who change shoe pass 4 him nd lanre, na Google go still rectify it. Ola, you and all those babes, smh, we dey see your parole wey u think say dey coded o!

That Lanre go dey do like Alinco up and down. How he take know English na only God knows. He speaks Yoruba pass Alfa communicating with his other Alfas...Lolz. Can someone help us tell Figo to stop carrying school bag up and down,no be only him get laptop. Me self get, Jumia never deliver am ni. Lanre ntie hs size is d size of his car....won’t say more than that. Precious,"lips r sealed".

Lanre for Mass Comm’s (2015). Masscomm students, I don’t think we deserve two consecutive short Presidents, one Pepsi, one Fanta....lmao. Stop wondering if I am part of the executives or not....Uno fit know

You see all dis year one students, dey just enter kon scatter department, dem no won gree at all. Love nd her friends go dy shake yansh up nd down, dia is God oooo. Daniel always busy, nd he is no longer d class rep self, I tire o! Joseph go dey form macho up and down as if sey em fit beat all of us. You see that Bukunmi, na everybody she know. Sewa ntie, her ikebe na die. Don’t wori am nt in 100level.

200level.....:mmm "clears throat".  Ayo class rep, we don’t know if his glasses should be on his nose, because why the nose is always lookin up to heaven is still a question for d gods. Whether it is Funke or Jumoke Mako likes,we are confused. We all know Emeka is always restless and Muiz is always saying shit.

Parole is always doing parole up nd down. Wale and Tayo are always making noise, although them don calm down this semester. If I dnt mention our vocabularistic alfa, I knw say u go sue me. He knws how to blow our mind away with nonsensical ideologies. 200level DE students bin dEy form badoo, results don dEy show dem when! *ntoi*.

Charles our psycho guy know book die, Chiamaka self don dey fear, but as Karima don get 75 three times now, Charles nd chiamaka must to bow. U must b tinkin am a DE student, they tink goooo!

Coker Damilola noise maker. U might be so sure am in 200l now(woteva). Don’t mess around with Taiwo our socks girl, she go yab u flat. The thinnest girl between Anu, Esther, Feyi and Helen is still a matter for debate. If I no mention your name, no vex. I cannot com and die.

300 level, their girls too dey form. Msca program, dem no go com, Communication for Christ (CFC) fellowship, mba. Where dey stand, Osabor still dey try figure am out, but Popoola say him go find the answer inside specialised reporting volume 2. Must Figo be wit Esther/Josephine always? Those girls go soon fight sha! Must Rasaq always dress like power rangers? Must Lanre form Badoo all d tym,must Kelechi be seen with Ayomide and Adeyemo all d time? Una sha don finish newspaper production....am suspecting u guys. Mary ntie her face don turn gold,to see her you must buy ticket. 300level go for cfc fellowship and male Pastor Emmanuel go dey happy I no kuku blame her. Margaret gimme annointing, I want to get A's this semester. Yetunde out of make up and school, choose one. Never mind. Am not in 300level either.

For 400l I sha knw sey girls dey trip for Tobi but dey will never confess. I also knw sey diploma students just finish jupeb exam. Be ryt back after ds commercial break.dnt b shocked,na only my own ryt up fit get commercial break for d whole of Unilag.

‘MCSA WEEK is coming, make una  participate. At least dey try. Dem buy TV for una reception. Communication for Christ (CFC) chairs are not meant for ghosts, attend.

ASL Tutorial is on for all 100, 200 and 300 Level Students of the department. Dem no dey beg person. 3rd class and pass is real.

UNILAG HUB and UNILAG PAROLE  BLOG  no go finish ur mb...let's support our own!

Yetunde is a makeup artist, if Uno knw, na em u don dey hear so

Support aAlfa, follow him to the mosque. Help Figo’s ministry, stop giving him your assignments to do, his gp is at stake. Jospeh, Ayo, Abdul and Sylvia’s pocket money don finish, pay ur class dues.’

Welcome back....If you nid any girls picture in masscomm, contact Stine Okey’s phone" just saying". 

Lecturer wey fit shout without Mike, contact Tejumaiye. 

The direct opposite na Mr Taiwo.

For daily prayers-Pastor Popoola.

For online assignments-Dr. Amobi

If u like wear nonsense to d dept, let Mrs Joy-Rita catch u.

If u want to pass statistics and data analysis, contact Mr Richard.

Dnt know wot to write again, wud get bak to u guys though...remember if u are not in masscomm, u r on a long tin!

SIGNED:

ANONYMOUS