Edited By: Honesty Victor
Written By: Abdulazeez Rofiat
It all began when I wrote my SSCE in 2025. And I attempted JAMB the same year, with mass communication as my course of study. I chose Ahmadu Bello University as my first choice initially, but then on a fateful evening my dad arrived from his work and told me about Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, which he described as the most peaceful university in Nigeria. From his words, I admire the school. Then he said to me, “I prefer you study there, my daughter!”
In my own research about the school, I found out that it’s the best school that suits me, and that made me feel comfortable. Without wasting time I found my way to the Jamb office for my change of institution. God is so good. By November 2025, I was offered admission, and I was very excited. I informed my parents and my siblings, who congratulated me and were happy about it. At some point before I got the admission, something around September, when students of other schools had already resumed, I almost lost hope and thought I might not gain admission in 2025. So, receiving the admission was a great joy. I quickly paid my acceptance fee.
On November 29, I was ready to travel to Sokoto. I went to the motor park at exactly 6:30 a.m. in the morning with my parents, and we started the journey at 9:00 a.m. The journey was a little bit stressful but also fun because many people were excited about entering the university. I arrived in Sokoto on November 30. I did my confirmation on the 2nd of December and started attending lectures on Monday, which is the 6th of December.
On the first day, the lecturer welcomed all of us and gave us an orientation. He told us that we were now students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, the second-generation university in Nigeria. He advised us about “Iqra,” which means “read,” and said it is the motto of the school. All that came to my mind was that, Insha Allah, I, Rofiat Abdulazeez, want my CGPA to be excellent from my 100 level, and I hope to graduate with a first class.
Thinking about my journey from Kwara State to UDUS, it was truly long and a bit stressful. I reminded myself of the reason I came to school, not just to get a certificate but to acquire knowledge. Other things are not my concern.
In December, the weather in Sokoto was quite okay, but towards the end of the month, the harmattan period made the weather unfriendly. My skin became a little dry, but by mid-January, I had already adjusted, and everything seemed normal. I met new people from different tribes: Hausa, Yoruba, Nupe, and many others. I experienced new things and different cultures. Having lectures from morning till 4:00 p.m. was stressful at first, but I got used to it.
One particular afternoon, when I returned from school to the hostel, I opened my locker to cook, only to discover that my foodstuff had been stolen. I cried a little. After that, I called my mom and explained everything to her. She later sent me some money. Many things happened in the hostel. I would lock my locker, but I would still see it opened and my food stolen. My roommate also complained that her food had been stolen. I became confused. How could someone unlock it, take the items, and lock it again? We were eight in one room.
Despite that, the school hostel was lively and fun. I lived with some finalists who guided me in many aspects of school life. However, the issue of missing food did not stop. Sometimes, clothes spread on the line would also disappear. The hostel had electricity in the morning, and it was switched off by 5:00 p.m. daily. Water was supplied about three to four times a day.
In Sokoto, I also got to know foods like denkeli and awara. Sometimes, after lectures, I was too tired to cook, so I would just buy it. The first time I tasted it, it was very delicious.
On the 11th of January, I relocated to a private hostel called Benji. When I first arrived, I saw that people used to dump refuse beside my room. I decided to stop that. I cleaned the place and wrote a small note, asking them to stop. Thankfully, they stopped. However, there were many mosquitoes, so I had to wear socks and use a mosquito net every night while going to bed.
I also started attending night classes, where I met some of my coursemates. We study together, and it helps me. Today, I can proudly say that I am a Danfodite. At first, it was my father’s choice, but now it has become my dream.
