By Zakari Hajara Ma
Umar Suleiman Hall, located at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, is a prominent student residence known for its size and history. Originally a male hostel, it was converted to a female hostel in 2017.Umar Suleiman hall is the largest hall in the sub Sahara Africa,which accommodates more than 800 female students. It has raised concerns of unhealthy environmental conditions for female occupants of the hostel making it difficult for them to stay and live comfortably.
A recent visit to the hostel revealed disturbing conditions, including broken toilets, cracked ceilings, a lack of fans in the occupants’ rooms, and an inadequate water supply.
The struggle during the accommodation period is mostly difficult, especially as many female students prefer Queen Amina, Ribadu, or Alex hostels over Suleiman hostel. In fact, several female students would rather pay unreasonable prices for off campus apartments than stay in Suleiman Hostel due to its poor living conditions.
Some female students, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed their frustration. One said, “It feels like the school authorities don’t like us, or we’ve simply been forgotten.” Another stated, “We’ve been complaining about the hostel’s living conditions for years.” A different student added, “We risk our health by living in this hostel, especially as females who are more vulnerable to infections.” Others pointed out, “We pay the same accommodation fees as students in other hostels, so we deserve equal treatment.
Female students residing in the hostel for more than years have expressed their concerns about the living conditions of the hostel. Calling on the school authorities and appropriate stakeholders to help with immediate intervention with the renovation of the hostel.
Women are known to be fragile and as well as zest of life. As such they are not expected to be subjected to a dilapidated housing conditions. We thereby appeal to the appropriate quarters most especially the federal government to consider swift renovation of this hostel as well as other hostels where students living conditions is more or less living in slums.The earlier this is prioritized, the better.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Umar Suleiman Hall is beginning to be a nightmare for many female students in ABU. The condition is getting worse every day.
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