Atanda Ayobami

The National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS), University of Ibadan, experienced an unprecedented rejuvenation in social activities in the first semester. As promised by the current executives codenamed Team Rejuvenation, the students under the aegis of the NASELS-UI became enlivened as a lot of well-packaged programs rolled in from time to time. In no small measure, the Sinmiloluwa-led executives have successfully etched a pivotal and mouthwatering significance, which, without any form of exaggeration, is indelible, in the mind of NASELSites. The unity, sense of belonging, togetherness, communalism, and friendship disposition among the students across all levels that were dead before have come back to life. The NASELSites engage in social harmony currently and are happy to be members of one of the oldest departments in the premier university. All thanks to Team Rejuvenation.

Team rejuvenation began their mandate, not administrative but ceremonial, during the Freshers’ Welcome of the department. They graced the ceremony a day after they were elected. Despite not being in power yet, they were fully on the ground to serve as motivations to the fresh students and guide them. Further, within few weeks of being at the helm, the NASELS-UI leaders organized The Retro Day, an idea of unraveling the freshness of the fashion sense in the 90s. The NASELSites came out en masse, dazzling in their dresses in vogue in times past. Both NASELSites and other students from the Faculty of Arts gobbled the highly aromatic indomie sponsored by Addmie. The student of English, UI, rounded off the social events in the first semester with a movie show tagged ‘A Night of Horror’ organized by the NASELS, Yoruba Students’ Association (YOSSA), and Linguistics Students’ Association (LINSA).

¹In short, last semester was spectacular for the students of the Department of English. It was wow! A mesmerizing one! The executives did their best to resuscitate the bereft sense of belonging. Like magic, it became resurrected, and many NASELSites enjoyed the semester, having seen no such since their arrival in the department. At present, vociferating the success of Team Rejuvenation in the first semester cannot undulate the status of the NASELS. There should be more. Settling for less is a form of mediocrity. The student body is supposed to be a pacesetter among its contemporaries in the university. Hence, the good work must not stop.

The NASELS holds Know Your Literature and the NASELS Prize for Literature contests annually. The President, Akomolafe Sinmiloluwa, promised to bring the competitions back during the electioneering and she reiterated it during the Press Night. With the meticulous effort of the Team Rejuvenation in the first semester, it seems the contests will be held this session, having skipped both in the last session. Furthermore, Sinmiloluwa, during the Press Night, promised that she and her team would buy football jerseys for the NASELS Football Team. The Deen’s Cup will soon commence. Ipso facto, it looks like the players will look professional instead of putting on civvies. This will enhance the morale of the football team. With the unity presently in the NASELS, hopefully, the male football team can win the Deen’s Cup for the first time since 2003.

Hamzat Yetunde, the social director, affirmed in her manifestos that she would make the NASELSites socially inclined. However, she did as promised. Her efforts and the results got last semester cannot be overemphasized. It was like a magic. She with other executives churned out the best results — unexpected. The Retro Day was superb. The Night of Horror — a movie show — was fantastic. It is safe to opine that the NASELSites should be ready as she puts forward a lot of social events this semester, in which the dinner party will be part of the utmost importance.

The tutorial organized by Arowolo Tehillah, the vice president, was effective last semester. The treasurer, Abiodun Ihinrerekanmi, corroborated her (Tehillah’s) efforts. The fresh students were not left without help. This, without mincing words, gave the 100-level students a sense of belonging and consequently integrated them into the body. There is a myriad of events and fun in the second semester. It is expected that the vice president aids the fresh students once again as she promised.

The public relations officer, Opeyemi Elijah, is not tired of disseminating information to the NASELSites. He does it timely, even during the holidays. He posts birthday flyers promptly. Nonetheless, it seems he is weary of posting on the NASELS’ WhatsApp TV. The posts are no longer frequent. Perhaps he has not been given a budget to run the TV or he is tired. The NASELSites want a splendid second semester. If this will be achieved, the PRO is supposed to entertain the students with numberless memes and a lot of content that will ease their stress and entertain them.

Avoiding gainsaying, the first semester for the NASELS was historic, full of fun and memorable events. Notwithstanding, the second semester is here. The students desire to have much more fun and a lot of extracurricular activities.

Hence, due to the energy shown by Team Rejuvenation and the existing events of NASELS, it is projected that all the events and contests — Know Your Literature, The NASELS Prize for Literature, Dinner Party, and others — will be held. It is believed that the semester will be fun and intriguing.