For close to three years, I toiled day and night to document the events in the lives of a cross section university undergraduates with a view to identify the practices and activities that leads to a successful university career.
The passion with which I pursued this project zealously was born of my discovery that most anti-success vices found amongst students are a result of peer influence, thus channeling this influence positively can rid the society of the identified vices and help undergraduates have a fulfilling university career, ready to contribute their developmental quota to the society upon graduation.

The product of my toil is “STUDENTS’ SURVIVAL KIT” a book written in simple English and with the twin aims of providing guidance for freshly admitted undergraduates and a worthy companion for all undergraduates throughout their stay in the university.

Below is a synopsis of the book

1. The University in Nigeria
The book opens with a brief but concise description of the evolution of the University system of tertiary education in Nigeria.
2. University administration
A detailed description of officers and processes that ensures the smooth running of the university
3. Important terms
There are several jargons that stares a new comer in the face upon arrival in the university and in this chapter I attempt an explanation of all of such terms and by so doing introduce the typical reader to the university. The chapter closes with a tale of my confusion with some of these terms when I arrived at the university newly.
4. Personal study habits
In this chapter I introduce and describe my adaptation of the traditional SQ3R method of studying favored by educators and educational psychologists the world over.
The chapter is divided into 3 Units thus:
Unit 1: Guidelines to effective personal study
Unit 2: The traditional SQ3R studying method
Unit 3: Taking notes from a text book.
5. Tips for studying in groups
Having noted that it is common for students to study and undertake several academic activities in groups, I have in this chapter shared my thoughts and experiences on what makes such endeavors a success. The chapter is broken into two sizable chunks thus:
Unit 1: general tit bits
Unit 2: factors that contribute to a good study group.
6. Location of study
In this chapter I dwell on factors that affect the location of one’s study such that studying there can be a delightful and exciting experience. I also highlighted the need to use the Library and emphasized the role of proper conduct in using the library and library resources.
This chapter is divided into two units thus:
Unit 1: the essentials
Unit 2: using the library.
7. Time management and Study
Here I explained the fundamental fact that time is a limited resource that must be put into meaningful use for any one to achieve success in any endeavor.
I described my experience at arriving at time schedules each semester to allow for a meaningful use of my time.
I also expressed the need to prioritize and suggested tips I have found useful in arriving at an effective personal time plan.
8. Taking Examinations
Here I suggested tips for preparing for and passing examination while examining the several erroneous approaches to examination popular amongst students with a view to discourage those practices.
9. Calculating your G.P.A. and C.G.P.A
Here I disclosed the rudiments of calculating GPA and the CGPA and the relation of these measuring tools to the final grade of degree obtainable in the university, so students can monitor their academic standing as they progress in their study. In the event that errors are discovered between what is calculated by a student and what is published by the authorities, the necessary steps to take in ensuring the errors are corrected are described.
10. Managing your finances
This chapter exposes the typical freshman to some of the financial commitments and traps on the university campus viz:
Unit 1: meeting living costs
Unit 2: the habit saving
Unit 3: raising extra cash
11. Managing your health
How do I handle ailments?
Where do I go to get medical attention?
What do I do to prevent me from taking ill?
I attempted to answer these and many other questions relating to an undergraduates health issues.
I close the chapter with a story from my early days in the university that chronicles the need to report sickness to the right authorities.
12. Socials
Described the social setting of the university and I identified the need for moderation.
This chapter is broken into sizable units thus:
Unit 1: the SUG and other associations
Unit 2: clubs and partying
Unit 3: on dressing well
13. Cultism
The ugly evil on campus is stripped and the activities and methods of its’ perpetrators exposed so as to help “freshers” avoid these nefarious groups.
14. The final word
A series of general advice for the freshman and stalite alike aimed at expressing the overall aim of the book.

Or how else do I tag this blog?
Maybe not exactly finally!
Because this, really is just transiting from one level of existence to another-or is it from one stage of life to another-and really there may not be any note of finality.
But come to think of it, when one’s path is constantly troubled and each time one attempts progress, one obstacle or the other evolves in the path (or so it seems) that causes time dilation, the END becomes elusive and the MEANS becomes uncomfortable.
Ok enough all this philosophical jabbering!

A few days back, precisely 17th Oct. 2006, I was invited to the Head of Department’s office (as an undergraduate, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye Ogun State, Nigeria, reading Physics) to fill the NYSC Mobilization form. NYSC-is short for National Youth Service Corps-a compulsory and not ‘voluntary’ one year service to the fatherland which all freshly graduated (from all tertiary institutions) under the age of 30 are required to undertake else …ok! I will do a blog on the NYSC, later on.
Yeah filing the form was emotional!
Finally after 6 instead of 41/2 years, I am graduating - 9 months pre-degree + 31/2 years full time study.
My mind reeled to my 1st time at this University having earlier applied to study Chemical Engineering at a neighbouring University. I was finally accepted into the pre- degree program of the OOU to study Geology. That was 2001- a year of self-discovery-at least partial.
That year, I discovered my innate skills, interests and capabilities and finishing one of the best 100 students of 2700 or thereabout and considering the events prior to my admission and the 1st few days of school, that was a feat!?*
I opted to study Physics with the believe that there lies the explanation for the existence of life and possibly the hereafter but was I shocked?
Yeah shocked with the stark abstractness of modern Physics-Quantum mechanics-while still contending with the reality of Newtonian mechanics.
In retrospect! I honestly, may not have found fulfillment anywhere else, the challenges here though nerve wrecking has contributed in making a strong and resolute person of me.
Though it is clear am not making a 1st class (as it is a battle between a 2nd upper and a 2nd lower) I hope it shall be a upper. I wont be shocked with whatever the reality eventually begets as I have over the years done the SWOT analysis and have my mind prepared for the worst, while confidently working and hoping for the best.
While I’m not the extremely bookish person, I have my fair share of “exceptionality”.
While on campus I won several laurels and served the community. Yeah-(remind me to put this in my CV) I got involved with the Directorate of students affairs and was invited thrice (only honoured two) to deliver orientation lectures to freshly admitted undergraduates. (These were great moments when I attempted to put into force my believe in ‘peer partnership’ and positive peer pressure to work)

The laurels included:
2002: 1st place essay competition: National Association of Science Students, OOU Chapter, and was presented the award by the deputy speaker of the Ogun state House of Assembly (I wrote on the immerse benefits of Science & Technology to our collective existence).
2003- Outstanding Student of the Year, Faculty of Science OOU (NASS)

2004-Exemplary studentship (OOU Governing Council, 2004 Convocation Awards)

I had challenges- had to write Chemistry 102 twice, which translated to 4 units carry over and I scored a number of Ds and Es where I believe I should have done better considering the level of work I put into preparation and the quality of answers I supplied-Oh! That’s a common excuse on campus.

I completed the forms amidst shouts and screams of celebration, amidst my other colleagues. I humbly left the office for the library to continue preparation for my final exams.
A tear dropped


N.B.
Somebody please remind me to:
* Do a thank you blog for all lectures who had taught me.
* Do an analysis on my experience on campus
* Kabiyesi- the Almighty lecturer.

Fellow Nigerians, it has been a tumultuous period for us all but we thank God for seeing us through
When we took over governance of this country a few years back the nation was in a state of monumental disarray. Poverty reigned supreme and corruption was our second nature. All public offices and departments were non-functional and our people did not have access to the basic necessities of life e.g. portable water, good roads, good education and good health care, despite the billions of dollars purportedly spent on those areas by successive governments. Ethnic militia groups reigned supreme and our police became a weapon of the state against the masses.

The Int’l World began to introduce all forms of restrictions on our country and her citizenry, the Great Britain refused our youth entry visa into her borders, the United States aerospace agency banned all flights taking off from our airports from landing anywhere near her airports, they subjected our travelers to all forms of painful experiences because of our notoriety as great drug traffickers and advance fee fraudsters.
Some of our Governors and other top officials were detained overseas for different nefarious offences which they couldn’t disapprove.

The nation was in a total state of disrepair and was nearly collapsing.
However, on assumption of office we identified that our major problem was that of VISION-not Visions like Vision 2010-which was just a national rip-off but real VISION, really seeing where we want to get to and reaching for that destination.
For us, our VISION was a better Nigeria-the Nigeria of our dreams, the Nigeria of the dreams of our freedom fighters long gone.
The tasks were set, and work commenced, though Herculean and monumental, we craved and got your supports.
Today we are all living witnesses to the transformation that our great nation has undergone.
We set about a true national rebirth, we decidedly determined to renovate the public service and return trust to governmental institutions, we did not only pay lip service to DUE PROCESS, but implemented it at every level of government and through partnerships with organized labor and the organized private sector, we ensured that the policy was fully and totally entrenched in our daily lives.

Fellow Nigerians, I am proud to say that with our commitment to excellence and your support, we have finally arrived at the Promised Land - that has remained promised until now. Today we have an educational system that is the envy of other countries of the world-Our Minister of Education and that of the European Union recently signed an agreement to train European scholars interested in the African cultural practices at several of Universities.
Our scholars were recognized by several Int’l groups and institutions-as 5 of our Professors are Nobel Prize nominees -we pray they eventually win. This is a testimony of our restructured educational system which provides a balance between academic & professional training.
Our health sector has also recorded a laudable boost as ailments that had previously been untreatable locally can now be catered for within the confines of our borders-our expertly trained specialists who left the shores of this nation during the dark days have returned and are helping with the evolution of the New Nigeria.
Our people and public infrastructure has once again returned to their place of glory, the economy can now favourably compete with that of some developed nations and the fact that the exchange rate of the Naira to the dollar is now N5 to $1 and with the successful execution of the final phase of theeconomic plans of this administration, the rate will be close to N0.50k to $1
We have left the bottom of the ladder as the most corrupt nation in the world and we are now the 2nd most uncorrupt nation in the world.

Fellow Nigerians, we are where we hope to be and we got here by collective efforts.
Now to retain and even improve our collective standing, requires collective efforts-please don’t go to sleep just yet.
With this New Nigeria, we can confidently face the future and answer truthfully the many questions I am sure our unborn children will ask
Thank You!


…and suddenly I woke up.
It was only a dream.