The Environment of the University Of Benin is one designed for academic learning. This is why the institution is reputed for producing well bred graduates.
However, going to class, night class and library are not just enough for the attainment of that level of erudition, where you stay, what you eat and your daily routine are also important in achieving that accomplishment.
I'll channel the article towards where you live.
If you plan on staying pretty close to UNIBEN environment, you have four options, they include;
1) School Hostels
2) Ekosodin
3) Osasogie
4) BDPA
Like every other thing in Life, living in any of these places will not be all rose, tulips and marshmallows, neither would it be all rocky, thorny and gritty. Each of these places have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Starting with the School Hostel:
There are 7 undergraduate hostels in UNIBEN, 8 actually, if we should count Keystone hostel as well, but no one (figuratively) knows when application begins for Keystone hostel. 6 hostels are available for Students from all faculties including Halls 1 to 5 and NDDC (inconclusive), while the 7th is specially built for Medical students.
Here are some advantages of living in the school Hostel:
1) If you like the community life, the school hostel is for you. You get to share your belongings (if you want to), have fun and meet new faces who have like minds as you do. It is rarely dull, especially the Boy's Dormitories. However, in Halls 1 and 2, there are limitations to this community life.
2) Encouragement to study. When you are in the school hostel, you are encouraged to always go study, most especially when the persons in your room go out to study often. Some persons may consider that as enough motivation to put them into study mood, but this doesn't work some others. Know yourself before you make your choice.
3) Security: When you are in the school vicinity, so long you do not have your hands in anything shady, then you should not be scared of being attacked with a gun pointed in your face. The school security is quite watchful. You should be careful about who you talk to, though. Respect everyone around you so that you do not fall victim of anything. Although, there has been reported cases of crime within the school such as rape and capital crimes, it is often done on persons who do not behave or walk with caution. For example, a young woman who walks into a dark and lonely bushy environment at about 2am in the morning should not blame the security for not doing their duties if she meets anything bad.
4) Water and Electricity supply. Except for a few times, the school supplies light and water to Dormitories on regular basis. If you are in the school hostel, you can be sure of electricity supply from 7pm till about 7 hours time powered by the Generator is Nigerian Power Authorities are out. Then, power is supplied from 5am to 7am as well. Although, this is not always so, as the system is not that stable and a sometimes, students tamper with the electrical devices and cause them to malfunction. The use of Hotplates and heavy appliances also disrupts this system.
5) Closeness to nightclass. Well, if you like nightclass, this is an advantage to you.
6) Inexpensive. Life in Hostel is quite inexpensive and the fee paid for a space is very much affordable. It ranges from 8,000 naira to 25,000 naira. Prices of foodstuffs within the vicinity is relatively controlled by the Students Union Government, that will react to increment of the price of any commodity or services.
7) Popularity and Exposure; this one is more of an advantage to politicians and showbiz individuals. For example, Popular TG Banks started cracking joke in Hall 3 and it was good for him. Some others gained popularity after living in the Hostel. You will also gain exposure, knowing different kinds of people from different parts of the country.
8) Closeness to course mates. A number of times during the semester, you might want to join heads together with some of your course mates to deal with certain academic issues and the Hostel is just one cool place to do this.
These are some of the disadvantages of living on-campus. Some of the disadvantages include:
1) Untidy environment. The environments are relatively not tidy and way far from serene. The cleaners are on ground and do their duties, but students have the habit of messing things up. It takes a lot of grace to keep your cool and not run mad or even pick up the habit yourself.
2) Space. You barely have space of your own in the Hostel as you always have corner mates who may be of good character or not. You might find yourself sharing your belongings unwillingly, and your state of mind could be very much altered if you are the kind of person who need the space to keep a sound state of mind. Sometimes, you might find unauthorized persons using the space allocated to you.
3) Noise. Where there is community, there is noise. In the midst of all the Hostel bubble and amazing moment, there is bound to be noise as a by-product.
4) Bedbugs and Rats. It's one of the packages you pay for when you're subscribing to living in the Hostel.
Living off-campus is very much not a real cure for the on-campus wahala. It has it's own ways of itching apart from it's soothing aspects.
Some soothing aspects include:
1) Privacy. You pay for your own privacy and you get it. Anyone can visit and there's enough space. You can bring in all your devices and appliances, so long you can afford it. But you should be careful about this so that you do not get carried away.
2) Serenity. It depends on where you rent. If you do not chose well, you might end up in an environment that is relatively loud, especially when your neighbors play table tennis morning till evening, or use loud speakers like practicing DJs. But if you chose well, you get what you want.
3) No Porter Wahala. The porter is that person who stands or sits at the entrance of hostel deciding who enters and who doesn't. You won't find them off-campus.
Disadvantages include:
1) Distractions. One of the mighty disadvantages is freedom. You're free from most external factors. You're confined within your doors, can rest without been disturbed, and you can spend weeks without studying without anybody even noticing. Funny enough, this disadvantage is due to misuse of the freedom and not the freedom itself. You might get tempted a few time to get into certain acts that your parent may not be proud of also. Off-campus individuals are most likely to be involved in sexual activities. Doesn't mean on-campus UNIBEN students are completely innocent as well, or all off-campus brothers and sisters are guilty.
2) Expenses: Off campus is expensive. You're more or less a bachelor or spinster living on your own off-campus, so the shops around don't really care. You will be directly affected by economic changes, unlike within school vicinity where some things may be subsidized for you. The rent for off-campus range from as low as 35,000 naira and above at Ekosodin, 50,000 naira and above at Osasogie and BDPA.
3) Insecurity. Although, Ekosodin is thought to be the most unsecured place around the University, insecurities and criminal case are reported in other places such as Osasogie and BDPA, and even inside the school as earlier mentioned. Knowing records of wherever you are planning on going would help you avert unfortunate scenarios. Certain Houses and streets, especially at Osasogie and BDPA, have reputations for been robbed on semester basis.
4) Distance from class. How long you'll travel to class and fro everyday should be considered as well.
However disadvantageous and advantageous these places may be, one should consider financial reasons as well as how much their mentality can carry them wherever they are going, be it school provided Dormitories, Osasogie, BDPA, or Ekosodin. However, in cases where You are not provided spaces in school, rent a place off-campus or squat with someone in the Hostel (Disclaimer: not encouraging anyone!)
There has been some speculations that off-campus students tend to do well than on-campus students. This is really not certain. Academically sound students utilize their time and what they have and use them to produce the results they have. Copying them could be to one's detriment. Speaking to the school guidance and counseling unit could help you find the study pattern that best suits you.
This is not the entire information you need to know about living on or off campus, you could still ask questions if you want to.
If you have any experience with living in BDPA, Ekosodin, Osasogie, or Halls of residence, please drop them as comments. Thanks.
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