FAQS ABOUT THE ABUJA CAMPUS

Q: What can I pack to the Nigerian Law School Abuja campus?

A: . Everything basically. I beg you….everything is expensive in Abuja…even brooms (don’t carry brooms in your box o, the airport will just send you back). But, really, please feel free to carry everything you need: Iron, Cloth pegs, Hangers; Lots of provisions and Garri, as much as you like; Ties and tie-pins (for the males), everything except food stuff. You are not allowed to cook in law school. Your electric kettle is allowed in Abuja campus so you can bring it along because you’ll need it for the early morning cold in the harmattan. Bring your lamps and torchlight too. Basically, the only things prohibited in Abuja campus are knives and cooking materials…and drugs. Don’t be caught with those. Every other reasonable thing is pretty much allowed. Be sure to carry sweater o. Bring your Regulation wear(white shirt/camisole, blazer and skirt/trousers), church clothes and few play clothes…you may not get to wear more than 10 sets the whole year. Don’t forget to go to School with at least, 5 files and a rim of A4 sheets for drafting.

Q: How do I get to School?

A: Well, truly, this really depends on the size of your pocket. Some people took flights for all the trips we made to school and home, others took bus trips all through. There really is no problem with taking a bus trip to Abuja, it’s about 15 hours (12 if you leave by 6am and your driver moves fast). I took flights where necessary, and bus trips where i felt like enjoying the experience. You can use ‘God is Good Motors’ if you are looking for a relatively-good transport company (they are not world-class, but compared to others, they do just fine).

Q: What exactly can I wear?

A: NA WHITE AND BLACK O!!! For some campuses, it’s every single day but for Abuja campus, you are allowed to choose between native wears or white and black again on Fridays (they were very selective about colored corporate wear). Abuja also allows dark navy blue suits and trousers for guys. Ladies were also allowed to wear black gowns but the marshals hated body-con dresses and gowns with long zips at the back. Our very own Baba Bukky will send you back. Just make sure it’s an office gown and you’re fine. No sleeveless tops if you don’t have a blazer and once you wear a blazer in, you can’t remove it because he still goes round while class is going on to send people out.  Your skirts should be modest too, again let go of the overly tight body con skirts. You don’t need long sleeves or three quarter sleeves for girls, short sleeves are allowed. White tops( yes no need for button up collar shirt, even black tops were allowed) too on formal skirts. Boys were not allowed to wear short sleeves however and were always mandated to be their ties.

Q: What should I not wear?

A: Anything that makes you look like you have landed! Please keep it simple in Law School…nobody cares how much you have in your account, just dress the way they require for these 11 months abeg. Also, coloured ties and coloured socks are not allowed for the males. It is strictly plain black (ties and socks) in Abuja. For the Muslim ladies, please don’t wear coloured hijabs (just plain black, preferably black).

Remember, Suede shoes are not allowed in Abuja Campus.

For the ladies, Abuja’s Head of academics and some of the lecturers hate long hair and long nails. If your hair is long and you do not pack it up, you may get a query. So please keep it simple. Black or brown hair only, is allowed. So know what weaves to buy. Your wigs will save you a lot in law school because the dinners require you to be on your natural hair whether packed or plaited so you can change styles quickly.

Also, only transparent bags are allowed into the classes in Abuja! So get yours at a cheap price before you come although they are also available on campus. If you don’t want to get one, get ready to hold your books into class or drop your bags outside till the end of the lecture. This is both for the male and female. For females, you can hold a very small sling bag and hold your books in your hand instead of transparent bag.

Outside the class, you can wear anything. Nobody really cares about that, we were pretty much going around in B slips (bathroom slippers), no time.

Q: How is the Hostel/ Accommodation?

 A: If you are a moderate person, you will be okay with the accommodation in Abuja. However, some of us are not so moderate and so, we prefer the extra-convenient life, or even a lot of privacy. That is okay. There are hostels you can lease just opposite and adjacent The Law School. Law School actually, according to the authorities, mandates every student to be on campus but this wasn’t so. Some of us lived out of Campus without penalty (in our time).

Hostels on Campus are okay- it’s a room for two, the average size bed, wardrobes and a balcony. You get flatmates whom you share your toilet and bathroom with. So, four people share the toilet and bathroom. There are also cleaners to hire and you reach an agreement for payment. You can pay monthly, weekly or daily, depending on both parties. They help fetch water, clean, and maybe wash. You specify what you want. They can also help you get food when you are too tired to go to Mammy. They are necessary. You may not be able to handle chores with law school workload. The average amount to pay a cleaner, in a month is N4,000 per person. So, that is N8,000 per room and N16,000 per flat. The flat shares a cleaner because she cleans the toilet and bathroom. Law School also provides cleaners to clean the room weekly. It’s cheaper to rent your drums at mami.  We didn’t have running water.

Outside campus are three to four other hostels, the Bar 1 guys will be very familiar with them. There is Elim Top Suites, Lovitoz Apartments, Pride apartments. We don’t know the prices for sure but they’re for those with really large pockets. There are also apartments, and flats scattered around if want to rent and stay off campus. Some people even came from home.

Q: What do I need to know about registration on campus? 

Go for this process armed with patience and money. You will understand when you get there. Your patience must get to the hall before you. It pays to have your sunglasses, handkerchief and a cold bottle of water. Don’t wear anything fancy.

To register, get all your documents together and at least, 8 passport photographs of you in white and black, or just Black. This is compulsory but dont worry, if you dont have it, you can snap on campus but of course, at a higher price (N2000 at our time o! for eight copies! Imagine). Also, get your university ID photocopied and all your forms photocopied. At least 3 copies for each document should do. You do not need your LL.B certificate. Do not forget your medical results!

At registration, you need to be smart and fast. I would advise you travel light if you are coming from a distance and don’t have too many documents. If possible, have three different files with all documents complete, and arranged in each. You will meet a lot of people, all manner of people actually, but don’t be rude to any. You never know whom you will just need to explain Civil Litigation later. Lol. Registration at The Law School is actually not technical. I believe you will be just fine.

Also there are 5 printing/photocopy shops on campus, just in case you forgot to print/photocopy some documents.

Q: Where / what can I eat on the campus?

A:  Rose Mama is a very awesome place to eat at. Initially,  there were rumors against the restaurant about it causing typhoid BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE! We don’t know how it had been for other sets but when we were at The Law School, her place was clean, we ate there and we didn’t have typhoid nor malaria. Her food is okay, she fries nice plantains hehe.

The next is Akwa Best, she had very good moinmoin at the start, people said but I never bought moinmoin so I dont know. But I bought plantains from her when I intended eating just plantains because she gives a lot of plantains compared to others. Akwa Best is also a very nice place to eat but I will recommend their swallow.

Next is Goodie Packs, they sell nice spaghetti there and they are quite hospitable.

Then, Mama Aisha, she sells plenty food and gives you more than enough soup for your swallow (for lovers of soup).

Mama Ngozi sells very nice jollof rice although the meat can be quite tiny sometimes (not at all times). 

Finally, Choppers sell very good food but their prices are a little on the high síde.

As an aside, you can get noodles, fried yam, akara, potatoes and the likes also at mammy market. By the female Hostels A and B, Tochukwu sells indomie, sausages, chips and chicken; you may want to try those. When you are tired of law school food and environment, Lovito sells good chips and you may want to try Elim-Top suites for chilling.

There’s also a really good suya guy at maami market but he’s the only one so there’s always a queue. If you go out early in the morning, you’ll meet some Hausa ladies selling akara, masa and pap as well as fried yam and one nice stew.

One other guy sells toast bread and shawarma in one of the shops and there are usually snacks at our beloved Pine Park right beside the classroom, where we get nice snacks during break. D block is also a nice place with cheaper snacks. There’s also that place behind the auditorium for snacks, especially when there’s so much queue everywhere.

Q: What is the Format/Timing and Setup of Classes? 

A: Now, to the real business, academics at The Law School, Abuja is something to enjoy. Class starts at 9am and runs through 1.30pm or at most, 2pm with a 30minutes break in between. We differ, so I won’t advice you sit at a particular place, but just know who you are, and flow with it. To sit in front, you have to go really early. Trust me, you do not need to take things too seriously at The Law School, it is a place to study and study hard, yes but it is also a place to enjoy. Ensure you enjoy it.

Before going for classes, you can help yourself by going through the day’s work and doing you pre-class assignments. Group meetings and discussions are also good but don’t join a group of people who love to argue, they will waste your time and confuse you. Pre-class activities help your concentration and understanding in class. You don’t need to copy the slides, although jot a few points because most times, the slides are given in hard and soft copies to students. Just listen as much as you can. Law School exams are set up in a way that your understanding and your ability to cram and pour are tested. They also test your ability to apply principles. You must cram some things- they are just inevitable. 

Q: Where can I worship my God? 

A: As for worship, It depends on your faith. There is a mosque on campus and classes close early on Friday for muslim prayers. For Christians, What we look for in fellowship, differ so your choice must be based on your level of hunger and most especially, the direction of The Holy Spirit. However, The RCCG Hall of Mercy is just opposite the Law School and The Law School Chapel holds Catholic and Anglican Services on Sundays. There are other churches outside campus; people go to are Centreport Apostolic Centre, Wuse Zone 5, The Transforming Church, Shinning Light, The Baptizing Church, COZA, HolyHill Church, House on The Rock, Winners Chapel, Chapel of Testimony, Elim Garden, etc., Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in picking one that will develop you spiritually.

CLASFON is an excellent place to be and it holds its meetings twice a week and on Sundays by 3pm. If going to churches that are far away can be a little inconvenient, you could just settle with CLASFON. They have a total package for you lol. But for some of us, we attended CLASFON fellowships and worshiped outside campus and it was worth it. A little here, a little there brings completion when you are led to attend both.

Q: Where are the places to chill and unwind around your campus? 

A: Abuja has many places you can go to simply relax. First of all, you can simply sit under the tree at the back of the library (if you just need some quiet time). You can also go out to simply have fun. You can go to Jabi Lake Mall (Shoprite). Silverbird cinemas, Gurara Water falls. Or, if you are looking for places of interest (without fun), you can go to the Legislative House; Supreme Court (you won’t enter sha) etc.

Q: What do I expect from the Lecturers ? 

A: First of all, please do not think you can amaze Dr Osamolu with anything you know! That man is a highly-experienced lecturer and he basically knows all the sections that should be known in CAMA!!! Also, Dr Olowononi is an amazing teacher, he just knows how to make you laugh during lectures, while keeping you focused on the task at hand (trust me, you’ll need that laughter most times, the stress can be a lot sometimes). Mrs Stanley Idum is simply a very happy woman, watch out for her laughter, she really likes laughing a lot, and she has a motherly nature.

Q: How are the Dinners conducted in the law school?

A: My dear, do not expect this dinner to be first-class style! Please, I beg you, eat something before your dinner (no matter how little). If you are thinking that Law School will totally satisfy your hunger for the day with the dinner, you will be deeply shocked!!! Asides from that, you will learn about how to coordinate yourselves at the Dinners, they will teach you that in Ethics before your First Dinner.

 

Contributors: Bamise Onabanjo (female) oluwabamiseonabanjo@gmail.com ,

Adeyemi Gomes (Male) shiningeustace.eg@gmail.com

  Ayodeji Adimula (Female)  ayoadimula@gmail.com

Feel free to contact them for more information.