Crushed - Nikhil Lagh

Cartoon Illustration By Pelumi Ponmile

I felt like jelly. I didn't know if I was dreaming or just delusional, but I could have sworn that his smile carried a wisp of intended affection. He was Olamide, my longest lasting crush. I met him at our fresher's party where our eyes met and locked for several breathless seconds, and though we were several metres apart, I felt this connection between us.

Despite being a bag of smiles, I could not help but notice his peculiar features; fair skin, jet black hair and ruthlessly dark eyes which made him more attractive, and also that he moved with effortless finesse as one who was accustomed to silk and servants.

Lord help me, I found myself thinking long hours about him, writing his name at the corners of my books and having private conversations with him in my head. It was hard for me to not think about him. Each day, I would resolve to speak to him but after the usual hi's, I would be at loss for meaningful words, besides my girlfriends always reminded me of our society's unwritten 'law' which doesn't allow for the female expressing such things and I stayed that way for several weeks, hoping the feeling would grow cold.

Some days to the close of the session, Olamide and I shared a table in the cafeteria and after our meal, we sidelined taking bikes and opted for the long walk to the gate. It felt like a walk to paradise for I seemed to understand everything he said (and did not say). He told me he liked my dress sense and that I was decent and stuff. He didn't even ask for number like any other guy would, he just smiled and said he would see me tomorrow.

He flagged and boarded the next bike and I kept waving till he was out of my sight. I sang all evening and slept like a child that night. My beauty sleep (trust me, I was not dreaming of him) was cut short by a pounding on my door. Dreary eyed, I opened the door and there stood Lanike, a classmate, drenched in tears. She slumped into me and whispered the words that forever changed my life, 'Olamide is dead'. I was lost, she looked too serious to not be serious and last I checked, April was still very faraway.

I shook her off and sat on the floor, looking for an escape in my mind. She began talking about how the bike he boarded last evening was run over by a truck some minutes away from his hostel, and from there, all I heard was gibberish. I was ridden with self-guilt and bitterness for no just cause, my longest lasting crush had become my last.

(Nikhil Lagh is a Student of the Department of Political Science, OAU Ile-ife and a member of the OAU Peeps Team)

4,220 Jostle For 255 Admission Slots In OAU’s College Of Health Sciences

Over 4,000 candidates, who scored up to 200 in the 2016 JAMB UTME, have applied to study in OAU’s College of Health Sciences this year. This comes at a time when the college only has the capacity to admit just 255 students.

As usual, the Department of Medicine and Surgery has the highest number of eligible aspirants this time. Following the registration of candidates for the institution’s admission screening exercise, 2296 UTME applicants who wants to study Medicine have 50% and above. Other 99 pre-degree medicine applicants scored up to 60% or more after their programme.

For Dentistry: 88 UTME applicants scored 50% and above, and 19 pre-degree applicants have 60% and above.

[In case you missed this: Learn how to calculate the admission screening score]

Department of Medical Rehabilitation and Department of Nursing Science have 302 and 1114 UTME aspirants with 50% and above respectively. 186 Medical Rehabilitation candidates and 116 Nursing Science candidates who passed through the school’s pre-degree programme are also eligible.

The maximum admission carrying capacity of OAU’s College of Health Sciences is 255; Medicine (100), Dentistry (25), Medical Rehabilitation (70) and Nursing Science (60).

The cut-off marks for various departments in the College of Health Sciences are out. Click here to view it and other faculties.

Ewetola Michael, OAU Best Graduating Student Bags Another Recognition

During the last convocation in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ewetola Michael was announced as the overall best graduating student. Michael, alongside four other best graduating students in their institutions have been recognised and awarded for their academic brilliance.

The Annual Reward Nigeria Award, hosted by Culbeat New concepts limited at the Saturn Hall 4 Point Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, was held in honour of five students who distinguished themselves as the best graduating students in their respective institutions across Nigeria.

Five of the universities graduates were rewarded with N50, 000 prices for their academic brilliance

The awardees were; Umar Ningi, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Thompson Mba, University of Nigeria, Nsuka, Dasola, (UNN), Ademola, University of Ibadan, (UI), Ewetola Micheal Adeboye, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Ayodele Dada from University of Lagos, (UNILAG).

Speaking during the award ceremony, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan (M.D, First Bank of Nigeria PLC) who was the key speaker advised the students to work harder and merit their brilliance in their future engagement

“You are been celebrated now, simply because of your academic brilliance, but it will be a waste if at the end of it all, you could not make your brilliance to have an impact in your future endeavour . Nigeria needs your contribution to drive the country forward.”

Also speaking at the award on behalf of the organizer, Mr. Kunle Akintayo said; “We are grateful to God for another success of this year’s award, despite the fact that the sponsors are not forthcoming. We have written and went to many corporate bodies for sponsorships, but they are not ready to support the award, but we hope they will one day be able to be associated with this project which is of a very important to Nigeria youth and education system”.

Incase you missed OAU Peeps' exclusive interview with Michael, click here to meet him.


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OAU Admissions: University ePortal Reopened For Screening Till Further Notice

Following the unprecedented announcement on the University's eportal that the screening exercise of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife would close on Friday 9th September 2016, aspirants who were, as at then, yet to complete the process were thrown in a panicky state. An emotion further aggravated by the inaccessibility of the eportal since Friday, 8th September, a day to the said deadline. However, there might still be another chance just yet as the University has once again extended the closure date of the screening exercise till further notice.

As at the time of compiling this report, the screening application platform on the portal is accessible. It is however advisable that aspirants endeavour to complete their Screening process in due course as the process may be closed anytime from now.

ASUU Denies Alleged Strike

Dr Ben Ugheoke, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) University of Abuja’s chapter, says the union has not issued strike notice to the Federal Government. In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, he said that he did not grant any interview or issue a statement on pending strike as it was reported.

“My attention has been drawn to a publication online and on social media captioned UniAbuja ASUU to begin strike on Oct. 2. The public and ASUU National Executive Council should know and note that no one came, either as journalist or any press team, to interview me."

“I hereby denounce such a publication as the work of mischief makers, targeted at misleading the unsuspecting public about the trajectory of the struggles of ASUU. “ASUU is committed to revitalising the University of Abuja and indeed, the education system of Nigeria,’’ he said in the statement.

He urged the public and stakeholders to disregard the report as it did not originate from him.

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