By Abdulrasaq Kamaldeen
On Sunday, 28th, under the scorching blunt of the sun at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, students from the faculty of management science were seen moving around cleaning and sanitising the dirties littering the faculty vicinity.
The sanitation exercise which had the participation of both students and the executives of the faculty of management science students Association (FAMSSA) is a monthly exercise initiated by the former executives of the Association.
“The main reason for organising this sanitation is just to make our environment clean. It was initiated by the previous executives and we want to continue the initiation. It is a monthly task and it has been done every Sunday that ends the month,” Sidiq Olamilekan, a 400 level and the president of the association revealed to this reporter.
However, the low exhibition of students during the sanitation dejected him even though awareness had been cynical in all the faculty groups, urging students for their full participation in the sanitation.
His words, “I don’t feel good for low turnout, but I think maybe in the next coming one there will be more students. We make a lot of awareness to publicise. We even release our memo to reach them and we see a low turnout.”
Faculty of Management Science is a renowned faculty in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, under which different departments reigned such as Department of Business Administration, Department of Public Administration, Department of Accounting, and more.
Financial Struggles
Olamilekan lamented the financial constraint battling the association which has been a hindrance for the proper execution of the programs in the faculty.
“The association within the faculty we normally face funding problems, there is not much allocation coming from the school to the faculty which is supposed to be, but we do have funding problems and I think that is the major problem we have, that challenges we have”, he said.
Usman Taiwo Rauf, a 300-level student and welfare director II of FAMSSA emphasised on the cruciality of the program and the need to expand the legacy beyond its realm.
He said, “This is a legacy we need to continue to make our faculty clean because they say cleanliness is next to godliness, so I am very happy to be part of this and I hope to continue this till I graduate from this faculty.”
Sodiq Habeebah, a 400-level student of Business Administration and the welfare director I of FAMSSA expressed her downcast due to the morsel turnout of students despite the large population of students in the faculty.
“It is only the executives and two or three UG 1 students, so it is unfortunate. Because our capability is not able to finish all these things. We have more than 700 students, we now see a minimum of 20 students here. It is unfortunate, we use this avenue to call our people next, we call on them, they should try to come out so that we will be able to make our faculty clean at once,” she said.
Also, Bello Kifayat Adenike, a 400 level student of the faculty and the General Secretary of FAMSSA pointed the reason behind the low turnout to be the virtual publication rather than the physical awareness and the day being for christian worship.
“I don’t think there is anything because we broadcast this message, I think students just don’t want to do something like this, but if it is something else like an occasion and sharing things, there will be many more people in the faculty.”
“So, we understand that the Christian students are not around because they went to their church service,” she narrated.
‘You Don’t Need to be Rich to Make Impact’ – HOD Says
Dr. Yakubu Shaba, Head of Department (HOD) and faculty exam officer of Business Administration who partakes in sanitation exercise maintained that contribution in cleanliness does not necessarily require affluent to make an impact in the society.
“Mostly you don’t need to be too rich to make an impact, you know we think mostly being rich will make us make an impact, however, you see it there are some ways you can make an impact. We need to contribute to the faculty with our little deeds by cleaning and keeping the environment very clean.”
He further expressed his excitement over the participation. He stamped the duties of sanitization to be humanitarian service that should not be restricted to students or lecturers or researchers but to everyone.
“I am employed to lecture, research, and also do community service, this is part of the community service but nobody will use this for promotion and I am so happy that I am doing it for the sake of my faculty”, he added.