Students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto have been thrown into mourning following the demise of a university lecturer, Mallam Zakariyau Sambo Sodiq, of the History and International Studies department.
The lecturer, who was involved in a ghastly accident in Niger State, on his way to Ilorin, Kwara State for the holiday, died on January 1st, 2024.
Reacting to his lecturer’s sudden death, Ariyo Fawas, a 300-level student of History and International Studies, was in shock to receive the news. He recalled how he quickly called the bearer of the message to his departmental group, who happened to be a neighbour to the deceased, for confirmation.
“It was on the 1st of January that our Mallam Sambo had an accident and couldn’t survive it. My body system was down immediately I heard about it and I don’t know how I ended up shedding tears. I couldn’t sleep and was expecting someone to call me that Mallam later woke up, unfortunately, no one did,” Ariyo mourned.
“Mallam Sambo is a mentor, father who takes care of us in the department. Even when there’s no light in the hostel, we do charge our gadgets in his office. I pray to Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and prepare a nice abode for him in Aljanat Fridaus,” Ariyo expressed bitterly.
Another student, a final-year student of the Computer Science, Abdulkareem Jamiu, expressed displeasure over the awful accident which claimed Mallam Sambo’s life. Jamiu, who said the deceased is his relative, spoke in length about his kindness and generosity.
“His death is a great loss to the family. His kind is rare because he is a good and nice man. I can remember his relentless efforts when I was seeking admission into the university in 2019. He carried me from Ilorin to Sokoto when I was in the 200-level. May Allah reward him with paradise,” Jamiu explained.
Soliu Shukurat Ishowo, a 400-level student of History and International Studies also mourned the lecturer’s death. This native Yoruba from Ilorin, the hometown of Mallam Sambo said the lecturer was the reason why almost 80 percent of her level became a student of History.
“The fact that Mallam Sambo is a Yoruba, he always makes us feel at home in the department. If any of us had an issue, he would help the person to solve it generously. The bitter truth is that all of us in the department will feel his absence,” said Ishowo.
She also narrated how the lecturer summoned her and other students and advised them to take their project very seriously. “He told us that students used to fail projects ooo, don’t let that happen to you. We didn’t know that was his last advice to us,” Ishowo added.
Another History student, Abdulrahman Rahmat, qualified Mallam Sambo as a role model and not just as a lecturer. “He encouraged many of us in the final year to choose project topics from our localities.”
The Students’ Union of the university under the leadership of Comrade Abdullahi Sanusi, the chairman of the caretaker committee, sent a condolence message to the general public.
The message reads in part, “Our heart goes out to the family, Department of History, and the entire Students Community of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto at large for the excruciating pain that the late MALAM ZAKARIYAU SAMBO has occasioned.”
“MALAM SAMBO, was an easy-going, humble, generous, and taking responsibility to serve Humanity. His unquantified service to Humanity will continue to linger in the memory of his students, colleagues, Friends, neighbor, family, and society. We’re sending our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family and close friends. We pray for the soul of the departed lecturer to rest in perfect peace, forgive all his trespasses, and grant him Jaanatul Firdausi.”
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