With Christmas celebrations concluded and the New Year already ushered in, the university campus remains wrapped in an unusual calm. What was once a lively environment filled with student chatter, footsteps, and late-night conversations has transformed into a near-silent space. Hostels that buzzed with excitement weeks ago now sit largely empty, their corridors echoing softly with each passing sound. Common rooms remain deserted, and lecture halls stand unused as most students continue to enjoy the holiday break away from campus.
For the few students who stayed behind to welcome the New Year on campus, the emptiness has been both striking and reflective.
Daniel Okoro, a second-year student, described the sudden change in atmosphere: ‘It is strange walking through the hostel now. Just before Christmas, everywhere was noisy and full of laughter. Now it feels completely different, almost like the campus is sleeping as the New Year begins.’
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Chinyere Eze, a final-year student from the Faculty of Social Sciences, said the silence made her more aware of the campus’s usual energy. She said, “Seeing the campus this quiet makes me appreciate how alive it is during academic sessions. The empty lounges and silent floors remind me that students bring real life to this place.”
As the New Year arrived, celebrations for those on campus were simple and quiet.
Aisha Bello, who stayed back to complete academic work, shared how she welcomed the New Year: She said ‘I spent New Year’s Eve indoors, praying and reflecting on the year ahead. It was peaceful but also a bit lonely. Every sound feels louder at night, and you can really feel how empty the campus is.’
Another student, Samuel Adeyemi, a third-year student who could not travel home, described a modest celebration:
‘There was no big celebration for me. I called my family, said a few prayers, and slept early. It was calm, but I missed the joy of celebrating with loved ones.’
For some students, however, the quiet campus has offered a productive start to the year.
Tunde Adesanya explained how the calm has helped him focus: ‘Starting the New Year here has helped me concentrate on my studies. There are no distractions at all. Still, I miss the usual hostel life and can’t wait for everyone to return.’
Despite the stillness, the campus has become a space for reflection, goal-setting, and preparation for the next phase of the academic calendar. Empty corridors, silent hostels, and unoccupied lecture halls present a rare picture of university life paused in time. As the New Year unfolds and students gradually return, the campus stands ready to once again echo with conversations, movement, and the vibrant energy that defines daily academic life.