About a week ago, when Idiates might have considered emptying their perfume bottles as an alternative to bathing, Indy hall benevolently threw open their gates for them to fetch water. Leaving out the Mascot-Kantagites-Idiates brouhaha that followed, it is interesting to observe the generosity of a male hall to a female hall in dire times. But Indy hall is not the only male hall deserving of such accolade. The great Baluba kingdom has sustained a tradition of rendering assistance, even unsolicited, to female halls. And a good instance is the recent tank-washing exercise in Awo hall.
On the 29th of October, Mr. Osuji Johnpaul, Zik hall’s Health Minister with other executives mobilized Zikites for a tank-washing exercise in Awo hall. While a number of Zikites heeded this clarion call to service outside the four walls of Zik, it is noteworthy that certain dissenting comments were offered concerning Zikites rendering such services outside the hall.
Some of the dissenting remarks were voiced to question the logic of shifting attention to a female hall, when internal needs are still glaring. This is in spite of the fact that Zik hall had organized an internal tank-washing exercise earlier, howbeit, for potable tanks only. Other opposing remarks were snidely raised to question gender equality calls – why wash their tanks for them, since we are all equal? Although Zikites certainly assisted Awoites in the exercise, it is needful to review the rationale behind this Zik hall tradition.
Far back in the ’90s, precisely, 21st of March, 1990, Queen Elizabeth Hall was gutted by fire. In gratuitous response, Zikites trooped to Queen Elizabeth Hall to salvage lives and properties. This noble, voluntary and spontaneous act became a rallying point for a Zik hall tradition of leading efforts in response to demanding situations around UI, including organizing protests.
It is on the basis of these historical antecedents that the practice of tank-washing in female halls emerged. Overtime, Zik hall has engaged in this selfless service which past administrations have explored as an opportunity to grease the wheel of good relations with female halls of residence. Little wonder Zik hall is favourite among other male halls in garnering support from female halls.
Supplying further justification for the practice, the Health Minister explained, “it is not the first time that a tank washing exercise was carried out in a female hall, and guys from other halls were involved. During the Pharm George’s tenure, a past Health Minister, a tank-washing exercise was held in Awo hall and Zikites were invited to assist”.
Esther Eludinni, Awo hall’s Chairperson, also commended the practice. When asked about the reaction of Awoites, she said, “Awoites felt glad about the tank-washing exercise because it meant cleaner water for their everyday use”. She further stated that Awoites would be happy to reciprocate the gesture, “If there’s a way we could be of help to Zik and the whole student body, we would gladly come in” she added.
Responding to the gender comments passed on the practice, the Health Minister clarified that, “helping the ladies in washing their tanks doesn’t have to be a gender issue in my opinion. It’s just an act of service…” He further encouraged Zikites’ participation in the tradition by reminding them of Zik hall’s renowned spontaneous response to campus issues. He implored Zikites, “Let’s remember past traditions when there wasn’t a student union body and Zik hall was and still is the main hall in the school. If anything was happening anywhere we will be the first on ground. So let’s continue that act of being there and helping each other in times of need.
Awo hall’s Chairperson shared similar sentiment by advocating for a continuation of the practice. “I would encourage the practice to be done in future, in Awo and other halls of residence”, She said.
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