By Gbenga Awomodu
In a few weeks, I will say goodbye to the undergraduate years. Like it happened to me when leaving the primary school and even the secondary school, I have started to have a deep sense of nostalgia. Barely five years ago, we all wore our matriculation gowns and felt really cool about ourselves. We never really saw beyond that day… No one really knew what lay ahead. Today, I look back and see fantastic moments and bashed hopes, deferred dreams and hope renewed, up times and down times, good times and not-so-good times. I will miss a lot about UNILAG. The Lagos Varsity Christian Union has been my home away from home. If I were to write about my experiences in LVCU, it would take a whole book! Today, I share some of my experiences at the Lagoon Front Resort…
The University of Lagos is perhaps the only university in Africa bordered by a lagoon. The lagoon front is a major tourist attraction in the university community. It was given a serious face lift last year under the leadership of Prof. Tolu Odugbemi, the immediate past Vice Chancellor.
***
Sometime in Year One (2006), some weeks to my second semester examinations, a senior I had known in the secondary school met me at the Lagoon Front under one of the numerous trees that dot the beautiful landscape. He greeted me in an unusually husky voice that was in tandem with his shabby appearance. After the basic introductory banters, he asked me for my department and course of study. “Hey, Chemical Engineering… that is good! Hope nobody has been disturbing you o?” He then went on to tell me tales of students in higher levels who took advantage of freshers like me who were naïve novices. Well, I was able to convince him I didn’t really need his help… I have never seen him since then!
***
In mid-2008, a big volcano hit me badly. I had just checked one of my results, and what I saw made me simmer. It felt like someone had jabbed a dagger right into my heart! I had just seen the lowest score ever in my life!! How could I have scored this low; even though the lecturer had contributed a lot to this dismal and unacceptable result? My spirit was troubled and I hurried to the Lagoon Front, perhaps somewhere in the cool of the late afternoon, like the ebb tide, my soul could find some rest and my spirit some calm. I spilled out tongues I could not understand… I wrestled with God in my mind and spoke so fast I wonder how he still heard me. I must have spent about an hour in my groaning but when I left the Lagoon front, I had received some peace in my heart. But we humans hardly understand his ways. Despite the lecturer’s word to review our scripts, over a dozen of us had to write the course the following year… Still, I trust God, for he knows best and who am I to challenge him?
***
I have often visited this same Lagoon front to do my last minute revisions, moments before the commencement of exams. In these last two years, I have written most of my exams at the Julius Berger Lecture Theatre, a three-minute stroll away from the Lagoon Front. During the examination period, it is not rare to spot scores of students doing some last minute cramming and revision. While the ‘learning colleagues’ from the Faculty of Law who have strayed like lost sheep from their Law Library are trying to properly file the series of legal cases and definitions in the new cabinet they just acquired in the expiring semester – their brain memory space that is -, the young Engineers in the making are busy gnawing away at gigantic formulas and differential equations like sick fellas chewing bitter paracetamol pills. But some people come there not to read, but on romantic picnics. Remember, this is a tourist attraction, a relaxation spot even for people not members of the university community. Sometimes I wonder what the studious students think in their mind when they see twin lovers at different spots under the coconut trees tangled in hot embrace and telling themselves sweet nothings, while they are busy pacing the length and breadth of the shores, trying to stuff their brains with as much information as possible for their impending exams. How many of them can actually stand the repugnant smoke from the pipers, usually a group of guys who visit the Front to feed on marijuana and cigarette. Occasionally you see two mature lovers doing justice to one or two bottles of beer. In short, here you could make motley of friends!
***
Sometimes, I just visit the Lagoon front to experience the cool breeze, indulge in the relatively quiet ambience, and simply spend time all alone. How I love the inspiration that flows at times like this! Penultimate Sunday, after the LVCU service, I needed to compose a song for my local church so I took a quick trip to the Front. I frantically begged God to give me a song, and He did! In the less than forty minutes I got the first verse and chorus ready. (If I may add, I completed the song two days later, and the Youth Choir presented the song and came first last Friday. They now represent the Archdeaconry at the Diocesan level)…
***
Last July, I took a stroll to the Lagoon front, my earpiece perfectly nailed into my ears, cool music seeping into my head. I love music. A lot! …I made an unusual decision, picking a quiet spot to the extreme left, near the wall that borders the Lagoon and the Guest Houses. For the first twenty minutes, I observed as the canoes brought in passengers from the other end of the Lagoon into UNILAG and loaded waiting passengers. The female canoe paddler reminded me of the popular saying, “What a man can do, a woman can do better.” She looked happy and contented in her made-in-Naija English jersey and pair of thigh hugging jean shorts; she steered the little boat with such ease and skill that her deft handling caught my rapt attention. I made a mental note there and then to return and get her picture (Lanre Shonoiki, my cool friend had to part with 100 box to take this shot sha. The female captain smiled as she squeezed the note into her tight pocket)… A few moments later, two young chaps approached me, a guy in a hearty gist with a beautiful girl. They held hands and were all smiles. In twenty seconds, they walked past me and stationed themselves right behind me. Though my plugs were still intact and the music was still on while I tried to manage inspiration to write a poem, the chirps of these two lovebirds reminded me of their continuous lurking presence at my back. Once or twice I had to look back, and there they were cuddling and stirring into each other’s face. I think the guy was trying something funny… Their giggles and the girl’s occasional silent screams punctuated those moments. Eventually, it was time to leave and I stood to exit. A few metres away, my curious mind turned my head backwards to discover something: the guy’s face was now buried in her face. He was teaching her how to kiss (or maybe it was the other way round). The poor girl must have been praying in her mind that I leave. I imagine how much I had delayed their action. Anyways, that was not totally new. It is not entirely strange to behold cuddling couples in the most creative and desperate positions, even in front of the Julius Berger Lecture Theatre in the cool of the evening, when the path is least traversed and nobody is really watching… They seem to be telling whoever cares to listen: this is our choice. If you like, stare. Really, what you do with your time is your choice. Ain’t it?
(c) Gbenga Awomodu, September 2010
Toyosi said:
Whoa!
I kindof have similar story other than the LVCU part. The law student straying from their faculty…U rather mean “looking for comfort rather than corrupting their well packaged heads with more legal catastrophe or just seeking for that nature’s calm by just starring undisturbed into that endless water with emanatn foul smell but, enduring coz of the feeling its just for the CGPA and it will soon be ova, dats why the smell, marijuana smoke or wareva u call it or even the sight of cuddling lovers like those irritating crabs don’t matter. Lots to talk abt. Guess, I shld write my own piece but, wldn’t mind getting those memorable picx 4rm u. I enjoyed this, beautiful
Gbenga Awomodu said:
Hi Toyosi, Thanks for visiting. Good to know you enjoyed reading! I’d really like to read your piece too. Perhaps you could include your experience with the crabs (I know UNILAG girls scream when they see crabs moving close to their legs – chance for some guys to ‘form protective-cum-romantic’). Sure, you can get the pics when you’re ready with your flash…
Myne Whitman said:
my rasp attention ***, I think that should be rapt.
Otherwise you’ve just taken me on a sweet journey to the Lagoon front. Maybe I will make a real trip there soon.
Gbenga Awomodu said:
Much thanks Myne for visiting (great to have you here again!) The ‘little fox’ has been fixed… 🙂
Lucky Adike said:
Reading this just made me nostalgic again. Remember that we all started together Gbenga! I know God will take you to greater heights
Gbenga Awomodu said:
Thanks for reading Lucky. Yes, God will. I believe! My regards.
Michelle Chikezie said:
Humorous, captivating and very interesting…!
Gbenga Awomodu said:
Thanks, Angel Michey!
atm said:
MD this is really nice. very realistic. i guess my own input will b to say that i don’t find it so easy to read there. away from d water i’m very distracted. especially by all d things u mentioned (one day i even saw a snake. it dint take me 2 mins to pack my books). and wen near d water i can’t stop staring at it. i guess it’s cause of the peace and d questions about existence, but really lagoon front has done its part for me. it’s like going somewhere to be without d world itself. it’s just great. and i can say u did justice to it.
atm said:
MD ds is really, especially realistic; but i learnt my lesson a long time ago that lagoon front is not the place for me to read. ds is for two major reasons. one, while away from the water i get easily distracted, especially by all d things you mentioned.one day i even saw a snake there. it dint take me 2 mins to pack my books and two, when in front of the water i just cant help staring. the first time it hapnd it thought it was weird and ran away but later i realised its very natural. lagoon front has done its part for me. and i think you did justice to it.
Gbenga Awomodu said:
Thanks atm, good to know you enjoyed reading!
kilojopelo? said:
This is really nice and humorous though i must confess it did give me some nostalgic vibes.
Gbenga Awomodu said:
Thanks Jopelo! I’m happy you enjoyed reading.
Babarinsa kmax said:
I have not been to the lagoon front after my registration early this year. But with this, i think it would become a place for solace and holy adventure. Great piece.
Gbenga Awomodu said:
lol!@ ‘holy adventure’
charity said:
wow! unilag lagoon front experience …I didnt really hav d time 2 visit except in yr1 wen i was in moremi. guess ii’ss becos of the distance. it’s a great piece really …nd wishn i could turn back d time 2 explore lagoon front. lol
H.Dele said:
Its a very nice idea.Thanks
Gbenga Awomodu said:
Hi Dele, thanks for visiting and commenting on Egbe’s Diary. Hope to have you here more often! Warmest regards.
Ope said:
Hi Gbenga, I really like your blog and particularly this piece. Makes me remember Unilag. The funny thing is that I can only remember visiting the Lagoon front mostly in 2nd semester year 5. I pray that God continues to guide you and uplift you.
Gbenga Awomodu said:
Amen!!! Yay! So glad to have you visit Egbe’s Diary. 🙂 Hope to host you more often. Warmest Regards!
adesuwa said:
nice thots about lagoon front.never really got hooked to the place.u know we were on the “sane” side of campus.
Gbenga Awomodu said:
Ade the Treasure! Yea, the “sane” side of campus kept us really busy!
Tutu said:
If the “sane” side of campus is what I am thinking…it really kept us busy!!!
Nice article Gbenga, think I should explore the Lagoon more…I only have memories of Baptism and Tayo Alo’s birthday!
Gbenga Awomodu said:
lol! Yes, it kept us busy.
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Stephen Ubimago said:
Unilag my unilag. Gbenga, i agree with totally. unilag is beautiful and the lagoon front is at the heart of the uniquness of the institution. Greatest Akokites!!
Stephen Ubimago said:
Unilag my unilag. I agree with you totally. Unilag is a beautiful place and the Lagoon front is at the heart of the uniqueness of the institution. Greatest Akokites!!
Tayo Akinwande said:
This really reminds me of those days indeed. I was there on few occasions too. Sometimes, to do little cramming and some visits really helped me out with some reflections and meditation. I was opportune to witness the presence of different groups meeting for study, prayer, drama or song rehearsal (I can remember having a NDF drama rehearsal there sometimes back) and for some other ………. Years have passed by, but the outcomes of those visits still live.
Lagoon front will always be there and people will always visit……… my wish is that, years after, people will always have good story to tell
Gbenga Awomodu said:
Bro. Tayo!!! Yes, NDF (Nehemiah Drama Family) is surely a place to have been. I share your sentiments. Thanks for visiting! Hope to host you here from time to time!
Igwe Twins said:
Gbenga this is very impressive! we have been to unilag water front couple of times and our experience are not too different from yours.. we love this article especially your great sense of humour.. my brother is still laughing!
BEST WISHES
Gbenga Awomodu said:
Thanks bro(s)! 🙂
Hephzibah Frances said:
Wow!11years ago! I’m here in 2021 looking for details about the lagoon resort and I see your post. Hope God has done you well. God bless you