By Babatunde Emmanuel

Following IndyPress’ report on the persistent waterlogging along Channel Road, opposite the Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall gate, IndyPress can confirm that members of the Man O’War UI have cleared the blocked drainage in the area as part of a community service exercise.

Speaking with IndyPress, Patriot Joshua Olúwaṣeun Agboola, the Deputy Coordinator-in-Chief of Man O’ War UI, said the exercise was a voluntary initiative undertaken as part of the organisation’s commitment to community service, with no contribution from the university management or external individuals.

“First, I would say that the fact that we are Patriots and members of the Man O’ War Nigeria, University of Ibadan Unit was what prompted us to take up the cleaning.”

“As Man O’ War members, we value community service and volunteerism. They are part of what we were taught and encouraged to practise, especially when there is a need within our community.”

“Our motto, ‘Build the Man, Build the Community,’ also speaks to this. We believe that building responsible individuals should translate into making positive contributions and creating an impact in the community around us,” he explained.

He added that the condition of the drainage presented an opportunity for the members to put those values into practice.

“So, when we saw the condition of the drainage and realised that something needed to be done, we saw it as an opportunity to put those values into practice. We simply decided to do what we could to help.”

“For us, it was about seeing a need, taking responsibility, and making a positive impact in our community,” he added.

Agboola also encouraged members of the university community to take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean.

“If I take care of what is mine and you take care of what is yours, who will take care of what is ours?”

“Beyond the drainage cleaning, I believe there is a bigger lesson for all of us. We all have a role to play in keeping our university environment better. While there are offices and personnel responsible for sanitation and other aspects of our surroundings, we also have a responsibility to do our part.”

“It starts with our attitude towards the environment around us. Being mindful of where we dispose of waste, avoiding actions that could damage or block drainage, reporting problems when we notice them, and lending a hand when we can may seem like little things, but they make a difference,” he said.

“This is also one of the things we encourage as members of Man O’ War: good citizenship and a sense of responsibility towards the community we belong to. We should understand that our actions, no matter how small, can affect the people and environment around us.

“Let us take ownership and do our part in building a better university community. If we all play our little part, the difference can be much bigger than we imagine,” he added.

Agboola further described Man’O’War as a student-led, uniformed voluntary organisation, similar to other student organisations on campus.

“The difference is that we operate in a paramilitary way, which gives us our distinct structure and discipline.”

“However, we are still a student organisation, made up of students and run within the university, so we’re always approachable, and the welfare of students is also our priority,” he added.