`Psychology Annual Conference (PAC) 5.0

Author: Bakare Mariam

Hmmm… PAC 5.0.

We can all agree that this was one of the most lively conferences we’ve ever attended, right? I, without a doubt, agree. And for the sake of those who couldn’t make it, let’s break it all down.

PAC 5.0 marked our department’s fifth annual conference, themed “Human Development: The Role/Impact of Digital Media on Self-Identity.” It was held on the 30th of April at Progressive Hall, near the banking area, and officially kicked off at 10:57 a.m. with an opening prayer by Samuel from the Class of Jungian Omada. This was followed by the national anthem, the Great Ife anthem, and a round of short, fun games to set the mood.

Our president, Fasan Olumide (Amethyst), then stepped up to give her speech, encouraging active listening and plenty of questions during the program. Another game, Put a Finger Down: Rich Kid Edition, kept us entertained as we waited for the keynote speakers to arrive.

The HOD, Prof. Akanni, soon joined us and gave his welcome address. He expressed appreciation to the university principal officers, the faculty dean, and the department’s executives, before highlighting the influence of age on social media use, the opportunities it presents, and its positive and negative impacts. With that, he officially declared the conference open.

At 12:05 p.m., our first keynote speaker, Mr. Chude Jideonwo, arrived. His citation was read by Simileoluwa from the Tribe of Psychs, and once he took the stage, his sense of humor was unmatched. He made jokes without straying from the theme, sharing personal stories, like how peer pressure led him to buy a car at a young age, only for the car to “show him shege.” His message? If you’re constantly comparing yourself to others, you’ll never have peace of mind.

He jokingly called the iPhone “an evil spirit” and warned about the overwhelming pace of technology. He spoke about individuation, stressing the importance of aligning your decisions with where you see yourself in 10 years—not with someone else’s life or expectations. His parting advice: don’t be ‘normal’—normal is just being like everyone else. His speech was nothing short of astounding, and before he left, he was presented an award by Prof. Akanni.

Next, Lawal Tamilore of Psych Insights delivered a spoken word performance about the digital world, and the audience loved it.

By 1:55 p.m., our second keynote speaker, Mrs. Gloria Babarinde ( The GloriaBabs), made her entrance, and immediately passed the vibe check with a little dance. She proudly revealed she’s an alumnus of the university, graduating seven years ago with a first-class degree in English.

Her talk focused on shaping self-identity in a hyper-connected world. She reminded us that not everything on social media is real, so we shouldn’t be pressured by what we see. Instead, we should be the original version of ourselves, not a fake version of someone else. She encouraged filtering our feeds to follow people who have a positive impact, being our own biggest cheerleaders, and seeing “oppression” on social media as motivation to improve.

Before leaving, she assured us that most of what we see online is just “packaging,” so we’re not missing out. She received her award from President Fasan Olumide and danced with us to the legendary Opomulero before heading out for pictures.

Normally, conferences are the perfect excuse for a mid-day nap, but PAC 5.0 proved they can be exciting, inspiring, and full of energy. To whom praise is due: President Fasan Olumide cooked, and Psychife ate… and licked their plates clean. The Catalyst Crew pulled it off again!