The struggle for admission into the University came to end on the 4th of October 2015 after 3yrs of relentless efforts through WAEC, JAMB and Post-UTME. My joy knew no bounds as the news of my Provisional Admission into Bayero University Kano greeted me that evening; so much so that those present were left in amusement as to whether I was getting mad or something. Indeed it was a day to be remembered as it mothered two remarkable incidents; the first been the first day of a good friend of mine into the Seminary as I escorted to the park that morning, and then secondly the good tidings of my provisional admission. A day I felt fulfilled as I saw my dream of becoming an Engineer from childhood becoming a reality. My expectations were really high and I couldn’t imagine anything less!
As it is often said; ‘one thing leads to another!’, the news was indeed an end to the struggle for admission but then it was the beginning of another page of life experience – the struggle through the process of becoming an Engineer. My early days on Campus were filled with thick and thin moments that almost marred me rather than making me; the most significant of which forms this piece.
The journey began on a Thursday in the early days of February 2016, after the short term strike embarked on by ASUU at the beginning of that session. I was given a total sum of ₦10,000 which was estimated to be sufficient for my transport fee alongside my luggage. And then a question was put forward to me: “I hope your account is active?” to which I quickly responded with a smile; ‘Yes!’ with the hope that everything is going to be settled before I get to Kano. And then the next thing I held was: “I will send every other thing to your account”. It will interest you to note here that I left home that day without a Spoon, plate nor any other utensil or container; because I was told I would buy all that when I get to Kano. After much stress with my luggage from one park to the other as there was no Bus from my hometown straight to Kano, I arrived the second day which was Saturday evening.
That same day marked the beginning all that I was to pass through as my brother’s friend who was to accommodate me pending when I secure a place in the hostel or at least in the neighbourhood of the New-site told me through a phone call that he had an emergency and was out of the town but would return hopefully after a week, thereby commending me to his friend who happened to reside at the Old-site staff quarters then (though he was not a staff). The young man came and met me opposite the Old-site main gateshortly after I called, as he was already informed by his friend. We proceeded home from there; he gave me a warm welcome alongside his younger brother (His brother was a final year from another institution; he only came to pay him a visit). ‘Wow! BUK here I come’; I said to myself, feeling like a graduate as we arrived home. Meanwhile I was left with a sum of ₦2,000 or so, from my transport fee, with the probability of close to 1 that I was going to receive my alert before the next morning.
The next morning which was a Sunday; the young man asked me to pay for the soup ingredients to be used that afternoon as we walked through the market, of which I gladly did, since he was accommodating me. We returned home; he prepared the meal, we all ate and took to our rest. My heart began to beat as I had not received any alert and was only having a little cash left. Later that evening he asked me to lend him some money; with the promise to repay me as soon as he receives his salary for the previous month. That I also did gladly with the hope that after all money will be in my account soon. The day had not ended when I was also informed that there was no soap in the bathroom with the expectation that I should make provision for one, still from my little money I did that. That night lasted longer than usual for me, as all my attention was on getting to school the next morning to find out what was happening.
Though the night lasted, it was finally morning. I hastened to New-site without caring about breakfast as my spirit was already in the Faculty of Engineering. Just before I left the house, the young man told me he was to go to his office but unfortunately had nothing on him, so I should lend him some money if at all I still have some cash with me. This was with a promise to repay me from his awaiting salary (which he never did), to which I still complied; all with the conviction of my account been credited soon. I began to find answers to what was really happening, but there was no one to give them to me. After hastening to New-site as though I was holding the keys to the school gate, I met with few of the friends I made during Post-UTME and Screening exercises, and then we proceeded to where the timetable was pasted since they already knew the place. I must confess that I was fortunate not to get missing on Campus because I had companions who already spied everywhere and had information about all the places I needed to go to. Since activities had not commenced seriously, we had a single lecture that day. And so we used the rest of the day touring around. I never cared about food or water since I was not even having enough cash for all that; not even an exercise book I bought. Even my timetable was copied in a small jotter I brought from home. I went home that day, just to discover that part of what I brought from home was prepared earlier (without my consent) and not a little portion of it was left for me. I was like wow! This is serious; is this how they do here? But who will I ask; I had to look for what to help myself.
I came to school the following day, I even attended lectures without a single note book, and I never bought anything so that my little cash could sustain me at least on the part of transport fee for the week, since my alert was delaying. On getting home that day, the same incidence repeated itself, and that was how it persisted till I left the house. If am around we will cook and eat together but if am absent no one cares. I dared not ask a question because they were all older than me, even though they were young men. Neither had I the courage of reporting to my brother’s friend. And that was how almost half of the food stuffs I brought from home were consumed within two weeks. Towards the end of the week, his attitude towards me changed, it seemed from all indications that I became a burden to him, even though I was not told my offence. To worsen the matter I cooked in his absence using his gas, and since it was my first time of using gas, I thought I closed it, unknown to me that I left it opened and all the gas evaporated. By this time he started asking me when am leaving, not as an inquiry but as a signal of been fed up with me as I could read from the look on his face and the tune with which he asked. Meanwhile, he knew very well that I had no one to go to since his friend had not returned.
At the end of the first week my little cash was exhausted, I could no longer to go to school again. That was how I became a home-boy, always checking my phone to see if the alert dropped without my notice. My eyes grew weary of crying, as my hand got tired of dialling numbers. At a point I asked myself if this was the admission I celebrated or another. It got to a point I couldn’t help myself as all i could do was to cry all day long. I regretted gaining admission! Two weeks lasted longer than two years. I felt like going back to home tell them am no longer interested, if that is what it’s meant to be a student. But where will I even get the transport fee. It was no until towards the end of the second week (Weekend to be precise), when I received a call from good friend of mine who inquired about my condition and I explained everything to her, and then she offered to help me with some amount, with the agreement that I would pay her back as soon as the money I was expecting comes in. That was how I was able to get some utensils and also had some cash on me.
Lo! and behold, that same Sunday my brothers friend returned from his one week journey that lasted for two weeks. I parked to his place (which was close to New-site then) that Sunday evening. I felt relieved, as though all my issues were resolved. From there my lectures continued the following day, as I also got myself some lecture notebooks. Then the search of a permanent place to stay for the session began, since I was not going to reside with him forever. And so even my attendance to lecture was just to fulfil righteousness as my attention was carried away and my eyes kept searching for the most friendly faces in the class so I could contact them after the lecture to know if they stay in the hostels, thereby asking them for a chance to squat me as buying of bed space then was an alien behaviour then.
Unfortunate almost all those I contacted were coming from their homes; the few that happened to be in the hostels were not ready for such; at least not to a total stranger. I tried the side of my friends whom I met during Post-UTME and screening but to no avail. Nevertheless, my search continued until towards the end of the third week when I came in contact with a good Nigerian who offered to give me his bed space in exchange for nothing and remain a squatter in another room. Wow! Could this be real? I asked myself. But isn’t this what I have been looking for? I accepted and then we agreed on my parking in on Monday as he would do the signing of the space within the weekend. That was how the issue of accommodation too was resolved. I parked in on Monday (fourth week, which already seemed like 4yrs to me) and the new life began. It was a single room with two occupants already. My roommates were another calibre of humans from another planet. Residing with them was more like residing with a Lion, in which you are always afraid of your next action so that you don’t get him provoked. Nevertheless, with the help of my previous experience, I also scared through throughout my stay with them, even though it wasn’t easy. Towards the end of that week, the long awaited alert finally came in! Like a bird that escaped a hunter’s trap I felt relieved, joy returned to my heart again, I was able to pay back the money I borrowed earlier; got myself lecture notes and some of the other things I needed for my studies. Even at that I slept on a mat throughout that year!
All the above were but minor issues compared to the nightmare am about to write about! I happened to be among the best students in my class back then in secondary school; even though we had difficulties in getting good physics and mathematics teachers, and then I personally had a deficiency in mathematics. To crown it all, we never offered Further Mathematics as a subject throughout our secondary school days! Unfortunately for me these three subjects formed majority of the courses we offered in level one. Almost everything the lecturers were doing was more like a nightmare, except for a few courses. Especially when you come first to the class and take front seat just to stare at the lecturer as he does his magic and then your mates from the back seats are answering questions in the same class before the lecturer finish asking as though they got expo prior the lecture. It was really tough! I couldn’t believe it and it was happening real. Could it be that I made a wrong choice? But even that I could only ask within me. No one except me understood the hell I was passing through. But amidst all these, I never missed lecture! Always punctual and taking the front seats. Then I recalled all the tough stories I have been feed with about massive failure in BUK even after sleepless nights. I became perplexed; what will be my own case now that I have become dummy among students? But even that I only asked myself.
I was reading, but even that could only be of help like 30% out of 100%. I became afraid as days, weeks and then months were passing by with no one to help my predicament. This could be the highest form of dilemma a student can pass through, since it is the primary reason for coming to school! Facially I was happy; smiling with my mates and taking pictures but deep within me I was dying slowly. I was covered with shame as well as I couldn’t do what my mates were doing. All the goals I set from home together with the high expectations of walking through the University became unrealised dreams right before my eyes.
It was not until when the chemistry and Physics practical began; when we knew those among us who could be of help and we began to cling closer to them and from there the light of the day began to shine on us again. Amongst them, one of them was outstanding! He was friendly, quiet and kind. Finally I got someone who would understand me. I explained to him all that it was and God so kind, he offered to help within the mid-semester break of that semester, since he was not travelling home for the break. The mid-semester came, and to the glory of God it was a huge success. I began to feel among again! With the help of other good friends like him; persistent study and by the grace of God, the semester that lasted longer than a year by experience came to an end and it was all a big testimony. The result was excellent and the hope of pushing forward returned. There was finally light at the end of the tunnel!
The experience within that short period turned out to be a school of its own, from which I learnt many lessons. Out of it I learnt among other lessons how to hold my peace no matter how hostile and violent the people I live with might be. I learnt to make friends with everyone irrespective ethnic group, religion or family background; as it clearly evident from the story that a destiny helper must not necessarily come from one’s family, ethnic or religious group. I also learnt from it to be contented with whatever I have as well as living without the basic needs of a student. From the academic perspective I have learnt persistence as well as the importance of group study; as a course not understood today could be understood later with constant study and with the help of good friends. Finally, I learnt never to give up no matter the situation as there would always be a light at the end of the tunnel; as a result my motto has always been: NEVER GIVE UP!