On a quiet Saturday afternoon, Ayuba Mala, a 300-level student of civil engineering, lay on his mat in his cubbyhole, pondering his circumstances. His semester exams were due in two days, and he hadn’t paid his tuition fees.
Since the onset of a new vice-chancellor, the university of Maiduguri has maintained a no-fee-no-exam policy, which has led to several students missing examinations or relinquishing studies altogether. N123,000. How could he raise such a sum in a couple of days? Who would even lend him? The idea of missing any paper troubled Mala deeply, yet no solution was forthcoming.
Around 5 p.m. that Saturday, Male’s phone pinged with a call from a student leader he had known since his freshman year. An anonymous person had offered to pay Mala’s tuition fee of N128,000. Mala stared at his wall, wide-eyed with surprise, struggling to wrap his head around his stroke of good luck and guess who this anonymous person might be.
A day prior, Mala sat at the university’s chapel, sharing his crisis with the student leader. The student leader promised that he would try to reach out to his network if anyone could help. The sudden turn of events seemed miraculous to him.
Even though his benefactor chose to stay anonymous, Mala was excited for the unexpected act of kindness. “This is God’s work, and I’m grateful that He used that person to help my life. It all happened, so fast. After the call, I texted them my bank details, and in a few minutes, I received N130,000. I will never forget this kindness,” Mala conveyed.
With the money in his hand, Mala swiftly paid his tuition fee. Afterwards, he had his examination card printed, to allow him to take the exams. Back in his hometown of Gombe, having concluded his semester exams, Mala reflected on the unexpected act of kindness that had changed his fate and his perception of human nature in a “cold and chaotic world,” as he said.
He disclosed to Prime Progress that he would continue to offer a prayer for blessings upon the person who had extended him such a generous gesture.
Mala’s story, though one of many acts of kindness within the university, stands out as a beacon of hope amid the prevailing crises of increasing inflation and economic turmoil. It serves as a reminder that even in the toughest times, compassion and generosity can light the way forward.
Ayuba Mala, a 300-level civil engineering student at the University of Maiduguri, faced the threat of missing his upcoming semester exams due to unpaid tuition fees amidst the university's strict no-fee-no-exam policy. Just two days before the exams, an anonymous benefactor paid his N128,000 fee following a student leader’s request for help. This timely assistance, believed by Mala to be an act of divine intervention, enabled him to pay his tuition and sit for his exams.
Reflecting on this unexpected kindness, Mala, now back in his hometown of Gombe after completing his exams, expressed his gratitude and vowed to continue praying for the benefactor. His story highlights the profound impact of compassion and generosity in difficult times, offering a beacon of hope amid economic challenges and inflation at the university.
