By Abdullah Tijani
“Goooooooooooooooooal,” the land rumbled as the sound of the students watching Nigeria VS Algeria semi-final AFCON reverberated the air. It was at night, everywhere was moony dark. The light from the moon and the rays of the projector that beamed from the projecting football-show to the wall of J Block were the only light that illuminated the veranda.
“Good one Ighalo,” one of the indistinct chatterers muttered loudly. “We still have hope,” another student said in a conclusive form. This is Jubril Aminu hostel at night, lively and lovely.
Many believe that when students leave for holiday, the hostel will be boring, scanty and scary. But, as it turns out, it is just a stereotype of what they had drawn through imagination in their minds. In the real sense, during the break, hostel is not a bad place to live.
When the break first started, Gideon would sleep in his room, lying effortlessly — refused to stand up — even when the sleep had dried out of his face. He would spend almost 18 hours on his bed. The hostel was boring. But he changed the track after two days, when he started reading ahead of next semester. He also unconsciously set daily routine for himself — over-sleeping, watching movies, and reading.
“Though this is my first break in this school, the experience is fascinating.” Gideon said.
Though Gideon said it is fascinating, but as it turns out, it seems something is more to Gideon’s fascination. Having fewer students and more mosquitoes, it is logical that mosquitoes would not have enough students to feed on, so they verge their thirst on the few that are around.
“The first night, mosquitoes stung and satisfied their urge on my body but I repel the following day by getting new mosquito net.” Gideon narrated his experience.
Gideon lives in E Block, one of the gargantuan buildings that make up Jubril Aminu Hall. Until two weeks ago, Jubril Aminu Hall used to be crowded and rowded with approximately 3,000 students living there. But ever since the university has been on its end of semester break, the hostel has turned scanty and quiet. However, despite being vacant, the most crowded place is the front of J Block, where the loose number of 100 Students often gathered at night to watch the just concluded African Cup of Nations. It was there the known lively atmosphere of the hostel is brought back to life.
Not only at night, it might be quiet during the day, it is not boring. Though the hostel is scanty and short of rowdy hordes, students like Gideon are living a comfortable life more than ever.
Gideon’s first time experience thrilled him, and would not hesitate to repeat the same. “Even though we are having fewer students, and mosquitoes keep multiplying, I’m happy but I think the happiest ones will be the mosquitoes.” He grinned as he spoke.
Three weeks ago, Mubarak Umar, a co-occupant at Block E was the first person to wake up as the day lit up its light. His mind could not rest. The thought of 9am exam had gripped his mind before he slept the previous night. But as he was opening his eyes today, despite the rays of the sun premonitioning the arrival of the hot sun, Mubarak did not think of waking up. He had been sleeping for the past 12hours, and in his mind, he is just beginning.
Outside his room, the rays are more lighting than the last minute, and will soon call up fully the arrival of the sun. The atmosphere is cool and quiet, nobody can be sighted, and there is no hope that anyone can be sighted at any moment. Only the sounds of the birds chirping on a motionless tree that filled the air.
When Mubarak finally stood up, the temperature was almost already at his peak. The sunning and shining of the sun could not let an early struggler call it morning but for Mubarak, it is still morning since he is just brushing his teeth and beginning his daily routine. “Let me quickly cook and eat, then go and enjoy this streaming Wi-fi,” Mubarak thought as he was brushing.
Even though many of his friends have gone home and did not go with them, the streaming Wi-fi is filling the absence of his friends. “Whenever I feel like going out, I remember the Wi-fi.” He said effusively.
There are still many things that few students left in the hostel could now enjoy. The rooms are now more spacy, more quiet, there is enough water, unpolluted latrine toilets, among others. “I don’t regret staying around, and I don’t feel bored either. I even feel more comfortable than before.” Mubarak says confidently.
Inside J Block which varanda hosts group of students at night for a lively football show is not so quiet in the day either. When strolling around the block, the sound of a hip-pop music from a stooling MP reverberated throughout the block. The sound kept increasing toward room 10. These occupants were dancing and twisting their bodies, and Anate Abdulsalam, the MP owner is impassively carried away with the sound. Their mysterious motions seemed like someone in a celebrating mood of jamboree.
Anate loves this time most, the feeling of waking up in the morning knowing that “there is no queueing at the bathroom, no lecture, that I can wake up anytime” is a dream come true.
Anate would only have to wake up, eat, sleep, watch movies. “Knowing there is no disturbance, let me tell you, living inside hostel during the holiday is awesome.” Anate said convincingly.