Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). Established in 1961 as the University of Ife, it was renamed in 1987 in honor of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Titi stood at the grand school gate, taking in the bustling scene before him. Vendors shouted their wares, cars honked impatiently, and students moved in groups, chatting and laughing. He exhaled slowly. I'm one of them now. A student of this school. I just hope this place won't add to my troubles.
Adjusting his bag, he walked through the gate and found a shuttle spot. "I'm heading to the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management (FEDM)," he told the driver. After being directed to the right bus, he climbed in, settling into his seat.
As the shuttle moved, Titi looked out the window, admiring the architecture around him. He passed landmarks like Oduduwa Hall and the Amphitheatre, impressed by the scale and design of the campus. Soon, the bus pulled up at his stop: the White House Complex.
Stepping off, he took a moment to study the building. The massive white structure had a sleek, modern design, with geometric forms and an extensive use of concrete. He nodded to himself, appreciating the aesthetics before heading inside.
After asking around, he found his way to the administration office. Knocking on the door, he stepped in. The office was an open space with several tables arranged around, occupied by elderly men and women.
"Good afternoon, sir. My name is Titilayo. I'm a newly admitted student in the Architecture department, and I've come to complete my registration," he said to a man seated near the door.
The man barely looked up before pointing to an elderly woman. "You will meet her for that. I hope you've brought the necessary documents?"
"Yes, sir," Titi replied, then moved toward the woman. "Good afternoon, ma—"
"I heard what you said before. I'm not deaf," she snapped, barely looking at him.
Titi paused. Who be this one abeg? Before he could react, she added, "Pass your documents and don't waste my time."
Omo, wetin be this old wench problem? he thought, silently handing her the papers.
She barely glanced at them before asking, "What department are you in?"
"Architecture," he answered.
She nodded. "Have you paid your school fees and all necessary dues?"
"I got in on a scholarship," he replied. "I brought the necessary documents for that."
She stopped and looked at him, then continued flipping through the papers. "You need to get your oath of undertaking and health center card before I sign for you. After that, you'll collect your files. Do you understand?"
"Ma, how do I—"
She cut him off. "Do I look like ChatGBT to you? If I answer this question, should I also wipe your nyash and breastfeed you?"
Titi blinked, his patience thinning. No be simple question I ask?
The other staff in the office exchanged glances. One of them, a man from before, muttered under his breath, "Why Miss Deborah dey do like this for the boy?"
Titi collected his documents and left, shaking his head. Chai, I just enter this school, and I don already get problem. Wetin be this old hag problem?
Behind him, the man turned to Miss Deborah. "Debby, wetin the boy do you wey you dey vex like this?"
She didn't answer, simply watching as Titi walked away, her brows furrowing slightly.
---
Titi wandered through the building, shaking off the earlier encounter. After asking for directions, he found himself at the architecture studio.
The studio was a large, open space with neatly arranged tables and stools. A few students were already there. One of them, a guy about his age, walked up to him. "How far? You in the Architecture department?"
"Yeah," Titi nodded.
Hearing this, the others turned, introducing themselves before going back to their business. Only five remained with him—three boys and two girls: Charles, Amaka, Saviour, Patience, and Faith.
"Do you know where to get the health center card and oath of undertaking?" Titi asked.
"You'll have to go to the health center for that," Saviour said. "As for the oath of undertaking, you can get it at any cyber café."
"Thanks."
Patience leaned forward. "So, you chose Architecture? Do you like the course, or did the school choose it for you?"
"I chose it myself," Titi replied, but his thoughts betrayed him. If not for that old bastard, why in the hell would I study Architecture when I could have gotten scholarships in other fields?
His mind drifted to his adopted family. His "parents" had made him sit at home for two years before finally agreeing to let him go to school. But Mrs. Ademola, driven by a petty grudge against a friend whose husband was an unsuccessful architect, had forced Architecture on him. That illiterate woman probably thought that just because one person failed, the whole profession was useless.
Thinking about it, he calmed down slightly.
Faith grinned. "Mad o. Some of us were forced here too. You guys that actually wanted to be here should take care of us."
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Titi. He sighed internally. Not again.
He quickly changed the subject. "How many are in our class?"
Charles responded, "So far, we're 67 in number."
Titi nodded. "Then why are there so few people here?"
Amaka answered, "It's orientation week. Most of our coursemates are at Oduduwa Hall."
Titi nodded again, thinking, Then why are you guys here?
After a few more questions, he finally found an empty seat, sat down, and took a deep breath.
This school don already start wahala, but make I see how e go be.