Publisher of QEDNG Olumide Iyanda has returned to Sultan Bello Hall at the University of Ibadan 29 years after leaving the hostel where he spent his undergraduate years.
Mr Iyanda, who studied history at the University of Ibadan, was admitted for the 1991/92 session, which began in 1992 due to delays in the academic calendar. He graduated in 1997 instead of 1995, following interruptions caused by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strikes and student protests. He also served as editor of Echoes magazine, published by the Sultan Bello Hall Press.
Reflecting on the visit in a social media post, Iyanda said it was his first time back at the hostel in nearly three decades.
“I visited Sultan Bello Hall, University of Ibadan, last week. It was my first time back in 29 years. I returned to my old room, A22 – the famed Jam Temple – where we made music, produced a magazine many loved to hate and forged friendships far too strong to fade,” he said.
He described his years in the university as some of the most memorable of his life and spoke about the freedom he enjoyed while living in the hall.
“I spent some of the best years of my life in UI, and Bello was the home I never thought I’d find. The hall rewarded my service – some say notoriety – by giving me the freedom to choose which room I stayed in throughout my time in the university,” he said.
Iyanda also spoke about the culture of Sultan Bello Hall and how its residents viewed themselves in relation to other halls on campus.
“Every Bellite carried himself with the nobility and grace that occupants of halls like Zoo (aka Zik) and Independence couldn’t imagine. Even our neighbours in Kuti, Tedder and Mellanby wished they were us,” he said.
He, however, expressed concern about the current state of the hostel, noting signs of decline.
“Unfortunately, the Bello Hall I saw last week wasn’t much to look at. The rapid deterioration of the school’s historic structures has robbed it of its magnificence. Some of the few students I spoke with say they are just making the best of a bad situation,” he said.
Iyanda added that there are lessons to be learned from privately run hostels.
“The government, university management and even parents have much to learn from some privately run hostels,” he said.
Despite the concerns, he noted that the hall still holds a central place in the university because of its history and location.
“Still, Bello stands as the centre of attention because of its location and history. Going back is one of the best things I have done this year,” he said.
