By Fathiu Jimoh
As Abdulqodir Yusuf, a 300-level student at Benji hostel, grappled with the unbearable darkness of his hostel, solar power emerged as an unlikely saviour, rescuing him from the persistent blackout.
Abdulqodir, who has experienced first-hand struggles, stress and oppressive conditions living at Benji hostel, stated that the persistent blackout has become a recurring problem he has been struggling to cope with, especially given at the daunting challenges facing.
According to him, challenges such as unstable light and scarcity of water has not only caused discomfort but also exposed them to extreme suffering, effectively compromising with his studies time, which become quite impossible for him to read in the night hours.
“Now, using solar is more like electricity because it does many things for me. The light is stable and reliable,”Abdulqodir briefly explained and then continued, “anytime I need light, it is always available without depending on NEPA anymore.
“At least with solar power, I have peace of mind charging my phone and my torchlight. In fact, I no longer see the need for a torchlight because the solar provides enough light for everything I want to do.”
Explaining further, he said that even though the school management had initially restrained students from collecting rooms at Benji hostel as a result of lectricity issues, the installation of solar power among students later reduced the light problem.
He said, “While solar power has really helped us with constant light, the issue of water supply still remains the serious challenges we’re battling with.”
Meanwhile, despite the solar installation at some of the Benji hostel marked a significant development that ease students struggle with light, most students keep complaining that they’re still suffering to get clean water.
According to them, it becomes a regular, yet frustrating rountine trekking to far distance in order to fetch water. Often times, they usually have to go to the Management Science or Bakasi hostel or other far places within the school just to get water.
Similarly, Aisha Muhammad Jamiu, a 200-level Business Administration student at 80k hostel, also shared her thoughts on the value of installing solar power in her room amid the suffocating blackout.
For Aisha, it’s not longer about light because with solar power, she found solution to the unstable electricity power supply.
She said, “I am very much satisfied with solar. I have been using it for over a month now, and it has brought me happiness. Anytime I return to my room, I am confident that I will have light, and that is okay for me. I don’t really mind suffering for water or other challenges. Because am okay with solar.”
However, Aisha lamented that she has fed up giving out money to iron her clothes and washing it all days become stressful. She said, had it been they’re enjoying constant electricity at 80k hostel, she won’t bother taking out her clothes to laundry because she has washing machine.
In her words, “I always have issues with electrical when it’s time for ironing my clothes and in time of using my washing machine, because I have both electricity iron and washing machine s a student in order to reduce that stress in washing the clothes, but my solar doesn’t have the capacity to supply power to the washing machine.”
“My Studies is Affected” —Newly admitted student cried out power blackout
Sadiq Ibrahim, a 100-level newly admitted student of Sociology Department, described how the lack of electricity affected his studies within a month he resumed to school. He recounted the distressing part where he felt frustrated when he couldn’t even read in the darkness until he finally bought solar power.
“Before getting the solar, reading at night was very difficult. I missed assignments and felt frustrated. It has always been a problem for me to do anyting during the night time, including reading and ooking, because I don’t even have a torch light that I can used,” he recounted his ordeal.
But after the installation of solar power in his hostel, Sadiq said his struggle for light has been eased, except the difficulties in getting water. “With solar power, at least I do always have light in my room but you see the issue of water remains the only problem,” he lamented.
More Wails
For Zainab Lawal, a 400-level Public Administration student, she has coping with the light situation because she was already forced to adapt it either way.
“Living inatBenji hostel taught me endurance. Solar light saved me from darkness, but fetching water daily from far places is exhausting, especially after lectures, it gave
me a lot of stress and problems. And if not we have solar power now, it couldn’t have worse all the time.”