By ‘Sola Fagorusi
When students of the University of Lagos, College of Medicine, Idi Araba woke up on the 17th of November, 2014, their new media life was in faultless shape. Before the day was over, that changed. A circular signed by Professor F.B Akinsola, the director of students’ Affairs of the institution did. In 52 terse words, Akinsola informed students that the use of earphones have been banned in the university with effect from Monday 24th November, 2014. In clear words, the ban was meant to be effective only in the College and premises https://youthhubafrica.org/wp-admin/post-new.phpof the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
With reference number CM/SA/D.17/VOL.III, the circular was speciously re-echoing the thoughts of the administrators of the university after they had perhaps sat to deliberate. The notice ended with a caveat – “while students are free to use earphones in the hostel, the College Authority will confiscate any earphone being used by students from the above date”. A number of social media enthusiasts used the circular as display pictures last week furthering attracting conversations around the decision.
There are currently about 12 million smartphone users in Nigeria. The figure is rising and young people form the biggest patronage for these gadgets given the complexity of most smart phones and the required skills needed to navigate the phones. Equally increasing is the use of earphones and headphones by this generation. With ears plugged for a good numbers of hours, young people listen to music, recordings and make calls using them. The LUTH circular says nothing about headphones though. It is safe to assume the university management would also not tolerate its use. Both devices are distinct. Headphones have small speakers and rest on the head while running across both ears. Earphones contrarily are tiny speakers designed to fit into the ears. Both are designed for sounds and have capacity to isolate noises around the user so they can enjoy what they have chosen to listen while providing the perfect personal sound system. These devices also have the advantage of allowing one listen to one’s choice of sound without disturbing others and it likewise allows for concentration and serves as a hands-free device while driving.
LUTH’s decision may have been greatly influenced by a particular lecturer. After speaking with a number of students, it was clear that the
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology had hitherto been a one-man advocate of non-use of earphones on the campus for a while. Yours sincerely spoke with a student who witnessed him chastise a friend for using earphones. He reportedly did it with a mix of warning and concern for the well-being of the student while complaining about the strength of hearing declining among young people and that the students should instead listen with one ear and not two to prevent being deaf in both ears.
The apprehension of the university is in well-intentioned order given the threat of the next adult generation being deaf. The World Health Organisation puts the figure of deaf people and those with hearing challenge in the world at 275 million. This number is different from those experiencing tinnitus or momentary deafness. Asides the hazard that accompanies with the use of earphones and headphones, there also exists noise pollution from religious places, parties, clubs and factories with heavy machinery. Research already points to the noise level from earphones at their maximum level being similar to that of a jet. The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency has been busy in the state policing noise pollution coming from religious places. The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act of 2007 remains the only law in Nigeria addressing issues of noise pollution. Predictably, the Act is silent about earphones and headphones. Its concern is for the public and not the individual.
The unit of measurement of sound is decibels. The human ear is discomforted by any sound above 85 decibels. Earphones like the ones LUTH plans to discourage can offer between 100 and 120 decibels when used optimally; capable of landing one a visit with an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist.
This writer spoke with three students on this new instruction passed down to students of LUTH. They all felt it was needless. One of the students explained that not all those with earphones on are listening to music solely. She mentioned that she uses it is to listen to audio lectures in preparation for the United States Medical Licence Examination and also audio messages. Explaining that there may be need to join the school in a legal suit while lamenting that if such is not happening in John Hopkins University (a lead global medical institution) then why LUTH. Another explained why it should be the school’s least concern given several other concerns the school presently has. The Tafawa Balewa Hall of LUTH is known to have some students at the back of the large auditorium using their earphones when the public address system is not in use. They seem to find something to keep them busy if they cannot hear the lecturer’s voice. Another also complained that ultimately the school may have to ban phones and maybe even cars since the latter can also cause accident!
The university seems to be keen on saving students from hearing impairment but it may need to adjust its strategy. That circular hints that while it is fine to discontinue use in public spaces, the indiscriminate use can be continued in private spaces. Using of earphones is already a habit for this i-pod generation. It is trendy and earphones are cheap and readily available. The strategy of LUTH will have come out finer if it was built in a Behaviour Change Communication methodology. BCC will allow students buy into the idea and own the initiative therefore see the benefit in regulating their use of earphones without the university seeking to appoint earphone policemen! Billboards, posters and commemoration of 3rd of March (International Ear Care Day) annually are some of the activities that have capacity to bear results than the present top-down model the institution has adopted; especially as the institution did not consult the students body before issuing the contentious circular.
The unease of the management at LUTH is one a number of people will relate to. It can be discomforting seeing young people with earphones plugged to their ears and yet crossing highways. There are also cases of them having these devices on while conversing with friends and even adults with the latter finding it disrespectful. With a non-violence disobedience protest already being underway by students on the day the plan is to come into effect, the university needs to find a balance with this new regulation of hers.
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‘Sola Fagorusi is a social entrepreneur and a prized freelance writer with a bias for youth and rural development. He started off as a youth staff with Action Health Incorporated in 2001. The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife alumnus currently manages the programmes of OneLife Initiative, Nigeria. ‘Sola is a DESPLAY Africa (Africa’s foremost and most consistent annual youth democracy academy) fellow and has been on its faculty since 2011. Keenly interested in governance and pan-Africanism, he volunteers as online editor of YouthHub Africa; a cyber-community for young Africans involved in social change. He believes in the efficacy of oratory and writing as tools to drive developmental engagements. As a freelance writer, he spares time to pen thoughts on contemporary societal issues and is a weekly columnist with Nigeria’s most read daily ? Punch Newspaper. His training and capacity cuts across democracy and governance, leadership, micro-enterprise, ICT4D, SRH, value chains, development communication and policy issues. He tweets @SolaFagro and blogs at www.kadunaboy.com
