I came across a call to rename Unilorin as Sheikh Alimi University, and I felt it was time we had an honest conversation about this trend. Lately, we’ve seen similar moves…University of Abuja becoming Yakubu Gowon University, the University of Maiduguri renamed Muhammadu Buhari University… what exactly is going on?
Continue reading “Why Renaming Universities Is a Bad Idea”Author: siddiqoye
Niger Area? Why Our Teachers Got It Wrong…
I had two favourite teachers in primary school. One was Mr. Olalekan, my literature teacher. He was my class teacher and the person who prepared me for my first public speech—“It is a popular saying that…” I was only nine.
The other was Mr. Adejumo, my social studies teacher. He instilled in me a deep curiosity for history…, and here we are today! However, Mr. Adejumo also taught me something wrong, and I am pretty sure your social studies teachers did too.
Continue reading “Niger Area? Why Our Teachers Got It Wrong…”Buhari and the Echoes of Change
It was Tuesday, 31st April 2015. We were in the classroom, and the course was “Islamic Penal Code” by Prof. Y. O. Imam. But then, we were only there physically; our minds were somewhere else. Our eyes and hands were under the desk, refreshing the news every second.
It was the final day of GEJ vs. GMB. Delta State had been counted, and Lagos was gone! Jega had silenced Orubebe, and we were all waiting for the K-sisters, especially the eldest one, Kano!
Continue reading “Buhari and the Echoes of Change”Colonisation: Where Etymology meets Politics
When translating between English and Turkish, one of the words I find a bit problematic is “colonisation” (English) and “sömürgecilik” (Turkish). The reputation of the concept in the two languages and its cultural and historical reflection give the feeling that they do not really mean the same thing. This is it…
Continue reading “Colonisation: Where Etymology meets Politics”About Furqanhub Book Club- Phase 1
The Furqanhub Book Club is a year-long programme that mentors participants in reading books and sharing ideas on various topics for free.
The maiden version comprises a group of ten males between the ages of 14 and 18, and the first book to be read is “The Sirah of the Prophet,” specifically “The Sealed Nectar” by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri. Other books will cover various social sciences and self-development.
Continue reading “About Furqanhub Book Club- Phase 1”Got Israeled? No, maybe zionized?
The image below is a page from Urban Dictionary, a popular crowd-sourced e-dictionary of English. The actions of the state called “Israel” have led some people to consider the phrase “Got Israeled” to represent an act of stealing, misappropriation, or usurpation.
Now, we only miss calls
I was travelling with my brother one day, and we noticed we had missed a turn after about an hour. Thanks to Google, we found our way through some farmsteads. My brother, wowed by the situation, was like, “We are lucky to be living in this era; it is just the best era so far.” He went on to praise the communication system, but to me, this is a no-no….🤔
Continue reading “Now, we only miss calls”On Boycott and Brands….
Let me share with you a story from my childhood. I was around 8 years old when I heard that the bakeries in my hometown of Ogbomosho were deeply upset. The reason? Bakers from the neighbouring town of Oyo had flooded our market with their bread. The Oyo bakers produced higher quality, succulent, and flavourful loaves. Even as a child, I decided to support our local Ogbomosho bakers, even though many people preferred the Oyo bread. My mom, sweet as ever, bought me my own loaf of Ogbomosho bread separately. Yet, when I tried to evangelise Ogbomosho’s loaves, I was met with the question, “Why can’t they make theirs as good as Oyo’s?”
Continue reading “On Boycott and Brands….”The Marshmallow of Allah: Patiently Waiting…
As my friend offered me a pack of marshmallows, inviting me to choose some, I decided to pick two. With a smile on my face, I savoured the sugary milky foam as I remember the Stanford marshmallow experiment, a renowned study in social psychology dating back to 1972. This experiment delves into the concept of delayed gratification, particularly in young children.
During the experiment, children aged 4 to 6 years were given a choice: they could either eat a treat (a marshmallow or something else) immediately, or they could wait patiently for 15-20 minutes to receive a second treat. The purpose was to observe their ability to delay gratification. Surprisingly, around one-third of the children were able to resist temptation, display self-control, and wait, while the rest chose the immediate reward.
Continue reading “The Marshmallow of Allah: Patiently Waiting…”Perfectly Imperfect: we can all be beautiful
I looked in the mirror and saw my face. Oh, mine! The struggles of studies have taken away the radiance from my face, and it doesn’t look as good as it did a few years ago. Youthfulness is fading, and perhaps all I expect now is grey hair. Not lost in this quick sheepy thought, I said my mirror zikir, “اللهُمَّ كما حسَّنْتَ خلْقِي فحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي” (O Allah, just as You have beautified my appearance, beautify my character).
I once again realized the power of this dua! It is a dua with some positive psychological effects, and I have always prescribed it to people who have complained about their “not-too-good-lookingness.” It makes one appreciate what they have and not whine about what they don’t have control over.
Continue reading “Perfectly Imperfect: we can all be beautiful”
Ifeoluwa Siddiq Oyelami 