The skeletal remains of the classrooms stood under the relentless sun. Afternoon heat shimmered off the exposed earth.
John Mikel Alu, his face etched with concern, gestured toward vacant spaces where roofs once perched and said: “This was what was left after the night of the May 23rd rainfall.”
Alu, the 46-year-old proprietor of Basic College Foundation, Nasarawa State, recounted the devastation to EcoPivot, his voice heavy with the weight of the storm’s fury.
Rain on that fateful night wreaked havoc not just on the school but on the homes and farms nestled within the heart of Ruttu, a palm-fringed community in the Doma area of north central Nigeria.
The storm’s violence left scars on the landscape and on the children’s hearts, their dreams of learning almost snatched away by the wind’s cruel hand.
Among them was Salihu Sadiyat, the school’s head girl, whose voice carried the sorrow and resilience of her peers.
She stood before her classmates, her eyes reflecting their pains and said, “Brother, the rainfall destroyed our school and left us with nothing but tears.”
Sadiyat said they still take classes, but education doesn’t feel the same in an overpacked rented room.
Unchecked Deforestation
Ruttu always teetered on the brink of ruin with every downpour. Research conducted by John Justice in 2019 painted a grim picture – Doma area was locked in a relentless dance with heavy, devastating rainfall.
The deluge of May claimed a life, John Ari, the Vice Chairman of Doma local government, confirmed solemnly to reporters. Over 150 homes were reduced to splintered memories, leaving families to grapple with the wreckage.
Gaping Wound
Climate expert Shak Steven pointed to the gaping wound left by deforestation. The windbreaks, he said, once a natural shield against nature’s fury, were no more – victims of unchecked logging. He sees only a long-term solution.
“If we are able to begin massive planting of trees right now, we’ll cut back environmental degradation in 7 years and achieve environmental preservation in the next 10 years, “ he said.
Nasarawa state has become a battleground in the war against climate change. In September 2020, a tempest of unprecedented ferocity ravaged it. The state’s emergency management agency (known shortly as NASEMA) confirmed that torrential rain left a trail of destruction.
At least 12 people died, and over 200 homes were reduced to rubble, rendering thousands homeless. Trees were uprooted, electricity poles toppled, plunging many communities into darkness.
The relentless assault continued. April 2021 saw another series of windstorms, and 2022 witnessed gale-force winds that transformed swathes of land into churning seas.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Mansur Matazu laid bare the harsh reality – billions of naira in agricultural produce had been lost over the past four years in Nigeria. Homes and infrastructure lay in ruins.
Teacher with Social Spirit
Basic Foundation College, established in 2019 by Alu’s predecessor, Jacob Victor, was borne from a desire to offer children a haven of quality education closer to home, an alternative to the government school located far away.
The five thousand naira school fees (less than $4) proved an insurmountable hurdle for many, particularly orphans and self-funded students.
The weight of financial constraints eventually forced Jacob to relinquish the reins. Alu, a teacher at the school at the time, recognizing the transformative value of education at the heart of it, stepped forward and bought it.
“The difference between our students and those from the government school was undeniable. Ours were demonstrably better in terms of knowledge,” he declared, “I took all my savings, stopped the completion of my house, and put it into buying and running the school. I did not make these decisions to make money, but because I wanted the future of Ruttu children to be great.”
Even in the face of financial hardship, Alu displayed unwavering compassion: “Till today, if a student pays only N3000 in their school fees, I will sympathize with them and leave the rest.“
Alu’s commitment extended beyond his social spirit. He secured government approval for the Basic Education Certificate Examination, BECE, a national examination conducted for students in junior secondary schools in Nigeria. He completed the construction of three additional classrooms. He also hired unemployed locals, after recognizing their potential to enrich the school’s value.
“Teaching wasn’t my first choice,” he confided, “but it was the only opportunity I had. Now, I want to make sure these students have a chance at a different path.”
Rebuilding the Dream
The storm’s fury may have left Alu’s dream on the brink, but he is unfazed. After the incident, he rented some rooms to ensure his students’ education remained uninterrupted. But the yearning for their familiar classrooms lingered in their eyes.
Driven by an unyielding determination, Alu procured cement from a generous community member and set about personally moulding bricks for the reconstruction.
“My father, before he died,” Alu revealed, his voice thick with emotion, “told me not to sell the school. Selling is not an option. This school serves an important purpose in Ruttu. How can I be certain a new owner would share my vision for the kids?“