Photo credit: Ibrahim Ndao (makanaki) in 2018
Block A7, Sulaiman Hostel, Ahmadu Bello University | Zaria, 2014
When I was a 400 level student residing in block A7 room 8 (Sulaiman Hostel), I carried out a project for the block when noticed that many things in the Block were no longer in place.
PROBLEM
- The bathroom: The toilets have no shower curtains as those taking bath could easily be seen from outside.
- The Lighting: The entire block has electric light but the bulbs (about 50) were not working which has caused a lot of accidents at night and have impeded a lot more of activities including reading.photo credit: Ibrahim Ndao (makanaki)
CHALLENGES
As a young man driven by selfless efforts in making my community a better place, I first of all contact the block rep, who only care about his studies not the welfare of the block. After observing that, i went to the Hostel administration who only gave me an Electrician to help me do the cost estimate of the damages without providing direct solution to the problem.
After getting the cost I realized we have to do it ourselves since the school was not ready to do t. I break down the cost by the the 52 rooms and share a copy of the project to every rooms. It was not easy as some students thought i want to squander their money while some are naturally fine with the status quo. But I was never deterred, it only took me a lot more time than i was expecting, i didn’t have much time for my studies then. I remembered a day when someone came and bang my door and ran away saying you want to eat our money right?
SOLUTION AND SUCCESS
At last, I was able to realize a reasonable amount of money to begin the project. With the money at hand I traveled to places including the building material market at PZ Zaria where i got some quality shower curtains, rails, electric sockets and bulbs. The damages were fixed and the entire block came to praise me at my room including those who initially thought it will never be possible.
BENEFICIARIES
The 52 rooms housing about 200 students.
AFTERMATH
When the Hall administration notice the effort, the block out 15 other blocks was given the best block in the entire Hall. In addition to that, we were given amnesty for doing the what the school authority suppose done and I was given the opportunity to serve in the Electoral committee to elect the next Excos of the entire hostel which I served Legendarily.