A Cry for Shelter: Yakubu Gowon University’s Vision and Urgent Need

In the heart of Nigeria’s capital, the students of Yakubu Gowon University have been alight with joy, a jubilation rooted not only in the arrival of our dynamic Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Patricia Manko Lar, but in the radiant vision she holds for our institution. Her gaze, like the psalm of Deborah in Judges 5:2, sees us as a people rising willingly: “Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.” Through her motherly eyes, we are not merely students but a vibrant community of promise, a microcosm of Nigeria’s unity, poised to soar to global heights. Yet, as I write, this joy is tempered by an urgent shadow cast over our campus—a dilapidated school bus terminal that threatens to drench our spirits as the rainy season descends.

Today, my heart sank as I left the university for home. The sky was restless, clouds knitting together with intent. By the time I reached Soka, the breeze whispered a clear warning: rain was imminent. At Lugbe, the heavens opened, and heavy drops pounded the earth. My mind turned to tears, not for myself, but for the countless students I knew would be stranded at our crumbling shuttle ground, soaked and shivering as they waited for buses to the mini-campus. The terminal, a patchwork of neglect, offers no shelter, no dignity. With the rainy season now upon us, this is no longer a mere inconvenience—it’s a crisis demanding immediate action.

Yet, even in my dismay, I found solace, much like the children of Israel who drew strength from Deborah’s presence. We, too, have a Deborah in Prof. Patricia Manko Lar. Her motherly love, evident in every warm gesture and visionary word, assures me she will not turn a blind eye to our plight. I feel it in my bones: her heart will heed our urgent appeal for proper bus terminals at strategic locations across the campus. This is not a luxury but a necessity. With students flooding back for industrial training and exams, today’s downpour underscored the urgency. We cannot wait for the next rain to act.

Our hope is bolstered by the arrival of Architect Amdii-Zaguru, the new Director of the Transport Unit. A former SUG president at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and a proven champion of student welfare, he carries a legacy of leadership. I urge every student to lift him in prayer, that divine wisdom guides him to prioritize this pressing need. His expertise and heart for students make him a vital ally in transforming our shuttle grounds into safe, functional havens.

Through Prof. Lar’s eyes, I see a Yakubu Gowon University destined for greatness—a place where unity, excellence, and innovation converge to rival the world’s finest institutions. But greatness begins with care for the smallest details, like ensuring students can board a bus without being drenched. This is my clarion call to partners, philanthropists, and lovers of education: join us. Collaborate with our student body to fund and construct these bus terminals swiftly. Your investment will not only shield us from the rain but also cement a legacy of care for Nigeria’s future leaders.

To Prof. Patricia Lar, Architect Amdii-Zaguru, and every student standing firm in this season, I say: let us rise like Deborah’s people, offering ourselves willingly to build a university that shines, rain or shine. The world is watching, and with your support, we will not falter.