By: Muhammed Akindele
In a twist of fate on the auspicious afternoon of December 9, 2023, Abdulsamad Mayowa, a cherished photographer at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, found himself plummeting from jubilation to victimhood during the induction ceremony of medical students at the university’s auditorium.
For him, the vibrant atmosphere filled with festive spirit, came to an abrupt halt amidst the revelry.
Since snapping pictures, Mayowa had never experienced such ill fortune, which etched a regrettable memory in his otherwise smooth journey of snapping pictures.
“ I intended to do what I am fond of. I didn’t expect the bad encounter because that was not my first day of taking shots of an event,” shared Mayowa.
Mayowa’s Travail
A 200-level Computer science student, Mayowa, recounted the unfortunate incident that cast a temporary shadow over his life.
Venturing inside to capture the moment of the graduands when misfortune struck, his phone slipped from his grasp amidst the crowd.
The seemingly straightforward task of retrieving his phone evolved into a bewildering ordeal. It vanished into thin air—leaving Mayowa in disbelief.
” I could not find my phone instantly when it fell down inside the auditorium as I was about to snap the graduands of MBBS inducted.
“As I entered the auditorium, I removed my phone from my pocket to start snapping, but unfortunately, in the process, it fell down. In the blink of an eye, before I turned back and picked up my phone, I couldn’t find it anymore. I asked someone to help me call the phone, and it rang twice, but after that, the person switched off the phone.
Beyond Communication Device
Phone theft on the hallowed soil of Danfodiyo is not uncommon. Among the sad cases experienced is the recent incident of a stolen bag at the Prometric center during the exam, which contained not only seven phones but also some other vital credentials.
As the class representative of his department, Mayowa suffered the loss of crucial information readily at his disposal.
Compounded by the ongoing exam period, the absence of his phone deprived him of access to PDFs—hindering his ability to study effectively.
“There are a lot of things. We were in the exam period; that’s what even pained me the most. As the class representative, I was unable to send any information to the group. And the most painful part of it is all the precious pictures I have snapped,” he lamented.
Resilient Spirit
Despite the aftermath of this travail, Mayowa’s passion for photography remained undeterred. The setback forced him to borrow a phone—ensuring he could continue capturing moments that define his university essence to change Mayowa’s mind about his passion for photography, but it didn’t let him down.
To satisfy himself about what he enjoys doing the most, he borrowed a phone to still snap pictures.
“ It affected me. And to tell the truth, I still borrowed a phone to take some pictures. I really enjoy doing it because some people have personally told me that they sought admission to UDUS because of the beautiful pictures they always see,” he affirmed, showcasing his resilience in the face of adversity.