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Political Apathy in Agronomy: Who Will Drive the Change?

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  By Ayodele Abigeal The election period is drawing near, and before we know it, the ban on electoral activities will be lifted. But is there going to be a change this time around? Or are we going to witness another cycle of begging people before they pick up nomination forms? Many students remain uninterested in the political affairs of the department, yet we continue to complain about our executives year in, year out. We complain about their attitudes and ineffectiveness during their tenures. But have we ever stopped to think about why things keep going that way? The change starts with you. Just imagine a situation where four different candidates are interested in a particular position. Do you think there would be room for an inefficient candidate to emerge? Absolutely not. Political apathy in the department has become a growing concern. When students are uninterested in the political affairs of their department, only a few people are left to participate in the process of choosin...
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Rest: The Peace After Every Little Sleep

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  By Kehinde Esther Boluwatife We chase deadlines, bills, and dreams until our bodies start to whisper, “Slow down.” Most of us ignore the whisper until it becomes a shout. Rest is not laziness. Rest is recovery. It is the quiet space between effort and breakthrough. Think about it. After every little sleep, something shifts. The headache you carried to bed is lighter. The problem that felt too big last night now has options. The anger in your chest has cooled. That is peace. Not the loud kind with music and celebration, but the soft kind. The kind that says, “You are okay. You can try again.” We live in a world that rewards grinding. We post “hustle 24/7” and wear exhaustion like a badge. But even phones need to charge. Even the earth rests at night. If nature knows to pause, why do we think we are exempt? A little sleep does three things for us. First, it resets the mind. While we sleep, the brain sorts through the day’s noise and keeps what matters. That is why answers often com...
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The Beauty of Yam: A Crop Worth Knowing

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  By Abdulraheem Aminat Opeyemi Ask most people what yam means to them, and you'll get answers like “pounded yam” or “amala.” But behind every plate of yam lies a fascinating story of biology, adaptation, and agricultural importance, one that every student of Crop and Horticultural Sciences should appreciate. During a recent lecture on yam, I learned details that changed how I see this everyday crop, and I want to share them with you. A Crop Built for the Tropics Yam, from the genus Dioscorea , is a tropical crop through and through. It thrives in warm climates, growing best at temperatures around 30°C. This is no accident. The plant's physiology, from its vine growth to its underground tuber development, is finely tuned to tropical conditions: warm soil, adequate rainfall, and long growing seasons. This is why yam farming is concentrated in tropical belts of the world, particularly West Africa, rather than temperate regions. Understanding this adaptation matters for horticultu...
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Littering: A Major Threat to Our Environment

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  By Ayodele Abigeal Why do people throw dirt on the floor? What could possibly be their reason? These questions cross my mind every time I see someone littering, especially within a learning environment like the University of Ibadan. Two major factors may help explain this habit. The first challenge is the inadequate number of trash cans available for proper waste disposal across the university. Many students complain that they have to walk long distances just to find a dump site or bin for their trash. If we are truly committed to ensuring a clean and healthy university environment, this should not be the case. The second reason is a lack of awareness. Many people simply do not understand the serious consequences of throwing waste on the floor. Littering is not just an eyesore; it has serious consequences for our community. Improperly disposed waste can create conditions that support the spread of harmful microorganisms and disease vectors. During rainfall, waste can also be wash...
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Stop Trying to Fit In: Finding Your People in University

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  By Sulaiman Rashidat Mopelola You see them from a distance. Three, four, five, maybe six girls walking together, laughing like they have known each other forever. And for a moment, you wish you were one of them. Wanting friendship is natural, but constantly trying to earn a place in an already-established group can make you forget that genuine friendships are supposed to feel mutual. You see them walking together across campus. They laugh at jokes only they seem to understand, share food, borrow things from one another, and probably have a group chat filled with conversations you will never see. You watch them and think, I want that. Why do people desperately want to belong to a particular group? Probably because they do not want to be lonely in school. There are times when you finish a long, tiring lecture and are completely exhausted. You are feeling moody and do not want to relate to anyone, not even your roommates. But there is just that one person or group of people who know...
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Light Inside UI: Does It Really Serve Students?

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  By Ojemakinde Bolatito Maria At the University of Ibadan (UI), electricity supply has become increasingly unpredictable. Sometimes, power is available; at other times, students are left without it for extended periods. Even when electricity returns after an outage, it may only last briefly before another interruption. For students who depend on electricity for their academic and daily activities, this inconsistency is more than an inconvenience. A Reluctant Shift from Stability to Scarcity There was a time when power supply was reliable. Students could rest assured that electricity would be available upon returning from lectures to charge their academic devices and continue their learning. Not anymore. The inconsistency in power supply has left students uncertain about when electricity will be available, making it difficult to plan around a basic utility that should support their academic and daily activities. This uncertainty raises a pressing question: what is really happening ...
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Pageantry: The Fight for the Crown

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  By Sulaiman Rashidat Mopelola People compete, one wins, everyone claps. But pageantry is more than what meets the eye. The stage is quiet.  The contestants stand backstage, adjusting their dresses and taking one final breath before the lights come on. Behind the glitter, rehearsed smiles and carefully chosen outfits lies a nerve-wracking competition that demands more than beauty. For every contestant hoping to win the crown, there are weeks of preparation, nerves, expectations and pressure to prove that he or she deserves the title of king or queen. Now, let’s talk about preparation. First, the contestants have a general rehearsal, which may involve dance, drama or any other activity aimed at showing unity among them. Then there is the walk rehearsal for both male and female contestants, generally referred to as the boot camp. Marks are awarded during this stage and later included in the contestants’ general scores, so everyone strives to perform at their best and get notice...
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