By Mistura Dauda.
The Lagos State University student arcade has been under construction for some years but was finally commissioned on the 2nd of December 2021 by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, amidst controversies.
The student arcade is said to be the largest in Nigeria, Members of LASU staff including students were present to witness the grand opening of the student arcade.
Moreso the governor of Lagos State used the medium to re-announce the previously proposed but later cancelled “peace walk” which was Intended to honour the lives of citizens lost at the Lekki toll gate during the End SARS protest.
The proposed “peace walk” was received with mixed feelings,with the president of Lagos State University Students Union(LASUSU),Uthman Oladipupo Badmus in support of the Governor's proposal and the majority of Lasuites strongly against the walk.
However, it is quite glaring that this fuss has affected the functionality of the student arcade.
A student arcade is usually a relaxation spot for students where they can go to relieve school stress. It should be a hub for student activities with different facilities to aid interactions between students. Still, the Lasu student arcade seems to be defeating that purpose.
The recently commissioned arcade is always deserted except for a few who visit there solely for the purpose of taking photos. The events surrounding the unveiling have tainted its perception among students and feels like the purpose of the arcade is lost.
Also, it certainly looks like the major purpose of the student arcade is to serve students politicians, considering the fact that even the lowest position holder has an office in the building. After all, who doesn’t want an office in the biggest student arcade in Nigeria?
These offices has in turn now become motivations for politicians in the upcoming LASUSU elections.
Although this isn't a ploy to bash the student politicians who have decided to use the arcade as a political sovniour but it is to stop the breeding of the notion that the arcade belongs to student politicians alone. If the arcade continues its present functionality, it will soon become a base for the student politicians alone instead of all the students.
The apathy surrounding the student arcade must be squashed. Students must use it properly to create an appropriate balance, as the arcade belongs to all lasuites, and it’s not reserved for certain people.
Remember, we are LASU, we are Proud and We are Great.
1 Comments
Quite Impressive I must say, it's extremely pitiable to admit the write-up is apparently true. But I believe if at all anything is meant to be done it's in the hand of the students. perhaps if our interest in the arcade is more intentional and proportional to the reason the arcade was establish in the first place I know for a fact that we can strike a balance as regard the arcade utilization by the student politicians and the students who are not involved in school politics.
ReplyDeleteWhat Do You say