Convocation ceremonies are joyous moments no doubt. They are usually a period of eating and drinking. So much back slapping and laughing are part of the game.
Nonetheless, there are some things that are just the minimal. Keeping our environment clean and tidy should not be thrown to the dustbin. My observation of exactly that being what was done by those that came for the Convocation Ceremony at the University of Benin yesterday (The blog post was started on Saturday morning but just got concluded now) was most disheartening.
Everywhere on campus was littered.
Even the space beside the VC’s office was not spared.
As a people, I always think we can do better. Why would people come to eat and drink in a place and not have he consciousness of coming along with what to use to pack their dirts? If indeed it was the dust bins provided by the university that were overflowing that showed those provided were not enough, I actually think more could have been provided, that would been the shortcoming on the part of the university.
However, what we had were half filled dustbins while the ground was littered everywhere. Nowhere was spared.
Like I said before, as a people, we could always do better.
The good news was that the sign of the dirts being picked up could be seen by Saturday morning.
When I was on my way to the Founder’s Day celebration, I noticed that someone was already picking up the dirts close to the Central Administration area. I was glad about that but wondered how one lone person could cover that whole area alone. He seemed not to mind the lone work though. Whether he was enjoying doing it is a different ball game. I saw no one smiling.
By the morning of Sunday, on my way to church, I noticed that the usual beautiful view on the Uniben campus was totally restored.
I must confess that the thing I enjoy most about strolling around the Uniben campus was the lush lawns and beautiful flowers. The aesthetic environment was the first thing I noticed when I came to assume duty for my sabbatical leave appointment earlier in the month. Indeed, the ambience of the bungalow where I stay, which I understand used to be the residence of the outgoing Vice Chancellor, is another beauty of behold. It is as if the woman has a thing about greenery, fruits and flowers. The compound is overflowing with all three. I am glad I can live in a house as beautiful as that in Nigeria. I do look forward to coming home from the Faculty everyday due to the ambience of the compound.
I was therefore highly offended by the way people littered the whole campus in the name of Convocation ceremony and graduation celebrations. Indeed, I doubt if we litter the campuses where we go and do this same ceremony when we go abroad. We will definitely “t’owo omo wa b’aso”. In summary, we will behave well. So, why is it difficult for us to behave well in our own country?
I get pissed off when I ask for their dustbin in a public place and I would be told “Just drop it there. It will be swept later.” I smile most times but put the item back in my bag until I can get a proper way/place to dispose it off. I was not just trained to drop things on the ground anyhow. When I get a proper litter bin, I will drop it. That is the training I was given. This sort of “drop it …” attitude is the only way I can explain what happened on Friday, 22 November, 2024 at the University of Benin, Ugbowo campus. This is because it does not make sense to me that you will carry coolers of rice and drinks but forget to carry the disposable bags for the litters they will become after the food and drinks were consumed. Let us do better, people.
Just speaking my mind here.
Congratulations to all our new graduates. May your light never dim.
Have a great week, everyone!
Lara Authe
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IYABODE OMOLARA AKEWO NWABUEZE 