By Abdullahi Adekola
Five days into Ramadan 1447AH, Fountain University, Osogbo, feels different.
The usual campus buzz has softened into a quieter, more purposeful rhythm. Students move between lecture halls and reading rooms with tasbeeh beads in hand. Suhoor alarms echo through hostels before dawn. There is a shared understanding that this month demands extra patience and quietly rewards it.
For many departments, examinations are ongoing. Yet, students say the fast is not breaking them; rather, it is strengthening them in ways they did not expect.
Students reflected on how Ramadan is reshaping their routines, sharpening their focus, and softening their hearts during one of the most demanding periods of the academic year.
Marwa Ayodokun, a Criminology student, described the physical toll with characteristic honesty while emphasizing divine ease.
“Alhamdulillah, I’ve been coping well so far. It hasn’t been too bad,” he said. “The only thing I’ve noticed is that after each exam, my body temperature rises slightly. I’m guessing it’s because I’ve been seriously tasking my brain without replenishing it with food or water,” he added with a laugh. “But overall, Allah has been making it easy.”
Beyond the physical strain, he highlighted deeper personal growth.
“The exams have really taken a toll on me. I don’t joke with sleep normally I usually sleep around 9 or 10 p.m. But now I’m sleeping just two to three hours and I’m still functioning well, Alhamdulillah. It’s also helping me work on lowering my gaze. I’ve really improved compared to before.”
For him, Ramadan is not only about endurance but refinement discipline in academics and character alike.
A female student from the College of Management and Social Sciences, who asked to remain anonymous, shared a similar experience, though she emphasized the emotional balance Ramadan has brought her.
“Honestly, the first few days were tough because of the heat and the long lectures,” she admitted. “But after suhoor and iftar, I feel this strange calm. My concentration during night reading is actually sharper than before Ramadan. I don’t get as distracted by small things.”
She added that the spiritual dimension of the month has deepened her outlook.
“I’ve been making more dua especially for success in my papers and for my family back home. It feels like my heart is lighter, even when my body is tired.”
For Romlah Raji, a 300-level Law student whose examinations ended before Ramadan began, the month has offered a different kind of opportunity.
“One thing that made it even better is that we had no lectures, and I was able to finish my exams before Ramadan started. So I’m really able to focus on worship and personal growth,” she explained. “I’ve drafted a timetable I can actually follow because there are no academic distractions.”
Yet, her experience on campus has not been without challenges.
“Trying to stay energized during the day while fasting and cooking for iftar has been difficult,” she said. “Cooking for iftar can be stressful, especially in school. I haven’t gone home, so I’m still on campus and we have water issues.”
According to her, the lack of water in hostel kitchens has made simple routines exhausting.
“There’s no water in the kitchen. I have to carry water, and before I can fetch any, I have to wait for others to finish. The overpopulation in the kitchen makes it unbearable. It becomes such a toxic place to be. So yes, one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is preparing iftar.”
Her experience reflects a broader reality: spiritual elevation often exists alongside practical campus struggles.
Across hostels and lecture halls, Ramadan at Fountain University is not merely about survival, it is about elevation.
Fatigue is becoming fortitude. Distraction is turning into devotion. Exam stress is transforming into an opportunity for spiritual refinement.
As the blessed days continue, students are not only fasting from food and drink; they are nurturing discipline, patience, and a renewed closeness to Allah one intentional act at a time.
Ramadan Mubarak to every member of the Fountain University family. May Allah make the remainder of the month easy, accepted, and filled with barakah.