By Isiaka Qudus
A 200-level student of Biology at University Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), Abdulhamid Abdulsomod woke up on a working day and set his foot on the walkway that leads to the classrooms in order to flip some pages of books. Little did he know that he won't be able to accomplish his objective as the classroom has been locked.
“I went to school that day to make use of a class in the Faculty of Arts because staying in the hostel has got me tired. I felt sad about the conditions of the lecture halls, so I later went back to the hostel,” he recalled.
Usmanu Danfodiyo University, situated in the heartbeat of Sokoto is a second generation university established in September 1975 by the military government. This peaceful university awards certificates based on character and learning and has Iqra — an Arabic word which means read as her motto.
The modus-operandi of the university during the first semester holiday is to leave the classrooms open for the benefit of undergraduates and postgraduates on campus at the time. Meanwhile, the reverse is the case for the ongoing break for the first semester of 2023/2024 academic session.
Not Only Abdulhamid Laments
In his own lamentation over the closure of classrooms, Yusuf Abdulbasit, a final-year student of Plant Science, expressed that he doesn't expect such action from the management because he has many assignments to attend to in which he presumed the classroom will make it convenient for him.
“I don't usually stay in school for the semester break but it's for a purpose this time around. I have to do my IT technical report, seminar presentation and also, research project, which I want to round it off before we resume for the second semester. But, the class I'm supposed to use is being closed and I can't do the assignment conveniently in the hostel,” Abdulbasit bemoaned.
However, Abdulbasit wanted to find solace in the school library but he couldn't, due to the rules guiding the conduct of the library which are inconvenient for him. “Right from my 100-level days, I didn't fancy using the library because there's limitations to what I can do there. Like, playing music to afford sleep, chopping and leaking of sweets and the likes are unacceptable there. These are the factors that retard me away from the library,” Abdulbasit explained.
I think the system has totally changed.
The System Has Totally Changed — Mogaji Says
While reacting to the closure of classrooms, Abdulwahab Mogaji, who is used to being in school during the first semester holiday said he was surprised with the development.
Mogaji asserted, “What I can say is that the way classes are locked up this moment wasn't like that last session. I think the system has totally changed.”
Another concerned student, Abdulsamad, a 100-level student of Pharmacy said with what he heard from his seniors, the lecture halls are supposed to be open during the holiday, but he is bemused with the sudden closure.
"Truth be told, the closure of classrooms is giving me concern, I have already planned how to use my days in this holiday, which is to dedicate it for effective reading before school resumes,” he told me.
Closure of Classrooms is For Students’ Benefit — DSA
The Dean of Student Affairs (DSA) of the university, Professor Umar Aliyu highlighted the reasons for the closure of lecture halls at the moment which is not the norm. “The situation at hand prompted the management to be proactive on the consequences of leaving the lecture halls open.”
“During the holiday, lecture halls used to be opened for the benefit of those students who are still on campus to make efficient utilization of the classes, but we recorded several issues arising from stealing of facilities inside the lecture halls,” he said.
He added, “Different theft cases arise from; stealing of bulbs, ceiling fans, electric wires and other issues like damaging chairs. These are the properties we must safeguard from such negative action we recorded, which we shouldn't ignore without taking proper actions.”
DSA made it known that the closure of lecture halls is for the benefit of the students to have conducive learning lecture halls when school resumes back from the break.
Chief Security Officer Reacts
The Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the university, Col. Abdullahi Gwandu echoed the reasons of the DSA for closing classrooms because of theft. He condemned the persistent stealing within the university community.
CSO said the security division is trying to curb the menace but shortage of staff is one of the challenges of the division. “Instead of placing two to three officers on duties, only one officer will stay on duty and will not be able to monitor the entire campus. We lost some of our staff to retirement, death, resignation, and changing of department,” he explained.
“So, we are still working on recruiting more staff. For security purposes, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Lawal Suleiman Bilbis had provided CCTV cameras to some strategic places on campus. Anyone who makes an attempt to steal within the school will be captured by the cameras,” he added.
Finally, the CSO encouraged students to make use of the school library for reading and other things that are based on academics pending the time that the lecture halls will be reopened