Congratulations to all Nigerian students who are fortunate to get admission into tertiary institutions across the country. I know you must be nervous and eager to resume lectures at the university. However, there are things you must know about our tertiary institutions to help you navigate through a series of academic struggles. Once again congratulations.



Life On Nigerian Campus



As you roll into your new hostel, some of your perceptions about the higher institution will change immediately. Most of our hostels lack serenity, cleanliness and basic hygiene. There is high hope that you may be greeted by an oozing smell from kitchen drainages or bathrooms. However, you should not be too disappointed because the lack of hygiene can be mostly attributed to the people living in these hostels and not the authorities.

Each hostel block has designated cleaners to keep it clean every day but the pace at which it turns unkempt will shock you. Anyway, get good people who are very serious academically as roommates. Believe me, this is the most important decision that will determine the rest of your journey at the university.

It is normal for most Freshers to look clumsy because of the new environment they found themselves in. Strange and diverse people from the six geopolitical zones of the country. Meeting these diverse people will be advantageous to your stay. Make friends with people from other tribes and learn some of there ways of live. I remember meeting Yoruba people at Army University Biu. I remain friends with some of them till date.


Academic Expectations Vs Reality


How lectures are conducted differs entirely with normal system that we are used to in our secondary schools. If care is not taken, you may end up missing a lot of classes during your new days simply because you do not know the venue. Worst is when you end up attending lectures meant for 400 level students. To handle this issue, create a social network with your coursemates, ask your class rep to add you into WhatsApp groups to obtain all relevant information regarding your academics.

You may be expecting only members of your department at a particular lecture hall, but you will end up meeting the whole faculty students in one big hall like Titanic. I remember during my first days in Nigerian Army University Biu, students of three faculties (Computing, Engineering, Environmental) were attending GST courses at same time in one multi purpose hall. We were about 700plus.

In cases like this, try as much as possible to attend lectures early. Book front seats and engage in other activities as you await your class lecturer. 100 level is usually tough and hard. This is because you are trying to adapt to new settings which you are not used to.


Things To Prepare For

1. Hostile Attitude Of Nigerian Lecturers: some lecturers are very mean and unfriendly. They do not tolerate students at all. So be careful how you talk or behave around such people or you may end up getting carry over even before you sit for exam. All thanks to Almighty Allah I haven't come across such lecturers during my days.


2. Disappointment From Those You Consider Friends: As a fresher, you are bound to make friends easily on campus because you will be exposed to diverse people. However, some are only after your finances, foodstuffs etc. While others may lure you into secret groups or convince you to join bad gangs. This is the right time to remember your home training and never disappoint your parents.


3. Security Concious: The whole country is ravaged by insecurity and threats to life talk less of your campus. There are dangerous and mischievous creatures lurking at our schools. Do not stay late at night. If you must, do not be alone in remote locations. Walk among your peers.


4. Eat And Maintain Good Hygiene: you may come from poor background family but do not use that as an excuse to live dirty and unkempt. Poverty has nothing to do with dirtiness. The little food supply you came with, manage and eat regularly when the need arise. Do not be stingy or hoard food. If you meet good people as roommates, it will be wise to eat together and share the little supply you came with from home.


5. Do Not Underrate People: There are people who look very poor and struggle to make ends meet in school. You see these types of people washing others clothes, doing assignments for money etc. If they tell you there story, tears may overflow your cheeks. Do not underrrate these people at all cost. You never know what their story will be tomorrow. Respect and live in harmonious relationship with people irrespective of their religion, culture or background.


6. Create Good Connection: You networking skills will determine who you rock with in the future. Do not go chase after girls, make the right relationship that will be beneficial. Those friends will play significant role in your life after school. That being said, treat them better with love and respect. Remember, there is life after school.


Important Things To Do As University Fresher


There seems to be high number of unemployed graduates in not Nigeria. Some of these unemployed graduates have started to say that the university certificate is becoming useless. That is not entirely true. Do you know that more than 85 percent of these unemployed graduates have second class and third class degree? Imagine having this grade in a country where there is high competition for getting a job! Therefore, to be among the very best, you must make plans for the future right from undergraduate days.

Try as much as you can to graduate with second class upper or first class if possible. You have high chance of getting scholarship to foreign countries for your master's degree. There are thousands of international organizations that offer scholarships easily which many Nigerians are not even aware of. Nigeria Campus will continue to bring scholarship alerts that are less competitive.

Make a good study plans right from your 100 level of you so much desire to get a good job after graduation. Interact with those who understand better and learn their ways. Ignore the unserious students who roam campus aimlessly. Some of them have connection while others are simply non academic students.



Source: https://www.nigeriancampus.com.ng/2022/04/what-every-fresher-must-know.html?m=1

This is so true.
Life on campus is someworth amazing, but, you've got to be true to yourself and expect less from people