Examination fever was still gripping the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, but some students seemed insulated from it. Students reading for exam suddenly left their studies to organise a ‘naming ceremony’ for a baby that was born in Moremi Hall’s toilet penulitmate Wednesday by Oyinlola Rotimi Diana, a 300-Level Agricultural Extension and Rural Development student.
Some students gathered themselves and moved from one classroom to another to call more students to join them in ‘christening’ of the baby.
The ‘naming ceremony’ started in Awo Café in the Awolowo Hall. From there, the students moved to one hall to another.
Oyinlola was delivered of the baby boy in the toilet while she was going for an exam. She was accused of attempting to flush the baby.
Denying the claim, she said: “Why would I flush or kill my baby after going through pains of carrying it for nine months. I am not heartless and I thank God for my life and for the safe delivery. I know God has the best for me and my baby.”
For days, the incident was the topic of discussion among students, who were waiting for the day they would hold the naming ceremony.
Naming the baby, students from Awolowo, Angola and Mozambique halls, in a procession, wore funny attires including cassock and Muslim turban. They gathered at the entrance of the Moremi Hall, singing all sorts of religious songs, which preceded the ‘naming’ rite.
On hearing the sound of drums, occupants of the hall trooped out to see what was going on. Anchoring the ceremony, a student, who was selected among the Awolowo Hall boys, called on dignitaries such as pastor, Imam and Oluwo, who all prayed for the child.
Also recognised was a ‘professor’, who called himself the baby’s uncle. A student, who mimicked Prof Bamitale Omole, the Vice-Chancellor, declared the ceremony opened.
Paroxysm of laughter greeted each prayer offered by the clerics. In his sermon before the naming, the ‘Islamic cleric’, who called himself Alfa, took his time to ‘advise’ other occupants of Moremi Hall not to go to toilet in exam period. He urged them to be more “cautious” in dealing with “emotional struggle” on campus.
Alfa, who recited some verses, concluded his exhortation, enjoining the parents of the baby to take care of him and avoid the re-occurrence of turning the hall’s toilet to labour room.
Singing from the ‘Awo hymn book’, the ‘Awo choir’ sang praise songs to usher in the cleric that would perform the onerous task of calling out the names of the baby. This time, the ‘father’ and ‘mother’ of the baby were seen having a conversation and writing on the sheet of paper. This elicited laughter from the onlookers.
“In the name of Almighty God, we give our baby the following names, Moremibiyi, (Moremi gave birth to this), Morounmobo ni university (I came back with a gift from the university), Awobola (Awolowo gave birth to wealth), Esi idanwo leyi (this is the result of examination) and Special Elective.
The students gave the baby matriculation number MOR/2013/001, saying the baby was the first student to be admitted in the session.
At the end of the ceremony, refreshment was served and donations were made for the baby. Popcorn wrapped in light nylon was distributed to the ‘well wishers’ and onlookers, who were dazed by the delivery of the drama.
The ‘naming ceremony’ also featured comedy, dancing and music rendition by Awo boys.
Esther Awoyemi, an occupant of Moremi Hall, described the display as entertaining, calling it a free comedy show.
In an interview, one of the ‘choristers’ who did not mentioned his name, said the reason behind the display was “not to ridicule the mother or child in anyway”, but to “educate, entertain and propagate the spirit of Aro (joke), which the Awolowo Hall is known for.”
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