Deep Thought

 Re: Muhammad Hassan Sale- The Demise of an Academic, One Death Too Many By Prof. M. K. Othman   2010 was a year I was traumatized by the death and tragedy of my former students and colleagues when I was burdened with the task of identifying their bodies - Engr Joseph Mohammed and his classmate, who were involved in fatal road accidents in Enugu when we went for the NIAE Conference, tagged, “Enugu 2010”. I visited several private and public mortuaries in Enugu, which involved examining the bodies of the deceased, some of which looked horribly disfigured, while others appeared as if they were sleeping. We eventually identified the two victims. It was the most horrific experience of my life, which made me spend many sleepless nights until I performed the Hajj operation of that year, one month after the tragedy. That experience was different from that of Tuesday, 10th February, 2026, when Muhammad Hassan Sale slumped and died tragically, leaving his nursing wife, two children, ai...

 Re: Nigeria, Greatness and the Missing Link By Prof. M. K. Othman   A quick break – time to share feedback from my valued readers and see the issues discussed in this column from all angles. This week and in the coming weeks, I will present opinions and observations on three critical issues – the potential for Nigerian greatness, the death of the academics, and the ABU 45th Convocation - which were thoroughly presented in this column. These issues and several others presented in my column can be accessed via my blog - https://deepthoughtwithmkothman.blogspot.com/2026/02/nigeria-greatness-and-missing-link-ii.html?m=1 Happy reading   Thank you so much, Sir, for this blissful article. Nigeria's resources are indeed a blessing. What is missing is effective management and infrastructure by our leaders to transform them into tangible benefits for Nigerian citizens. May Almighty Allah continue to bless your pen. May Almighty Allah guide our leaders to effective resource managem...

 45th ABU Convocation: Okonjo-Iweala’s Unpalatable Message to Africa By Prof. MK Othman Nigeria stands at a decisive crossroads. With youthful potential, resources, entrepreneurial drive, and intellectual talent, we still struggle with policy inaction, weak institutions, and overreliance on outside approval. I have highlighted how stories of competence and integrity can transform Nigeria's global image. This aligns with university values: seeking truth, engaging in evidence-based dialogue, and nurturing active citizens. Thus, the significance of ABU's 45th Convocation is clear, especially in light of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's candid message to Africa. This year’s ABU Convocation was more than an academic ceremony; it became a forum for critical discourse on national and continental issues. By inviting Okonjo-Iweala for the pre-convocation lecture and awarding her an Honorary Doctor of Science degree, ABU reiterated its dedication to tackling key development issues through e...

 Muhammad Hassan Sale: The Demise of an Academic—One Death Too Many By  Prof. M. K. Othman On Tuesday, 10th February, 2026, as I stepped out of my official car at the university clinic, the crowd’s solemn eyes were fixed on me, rife with unspoken questions. Why did the cold hand of death snatch away Muhammad Hassan Sale, a Lecturer II, a gentleman, and a promising, hard-working academic in the Agronomy Department? What will become of his nursing wife and their two little children? Just two hours earlier, Sale and his wife had left their home together; she was hurrying to the hospital for postnatal immunization, while he rushed to catch a university bus headed over 60 kilometers away for the day's work, unaware of the tragedy that awaited his family. Inside the bus, he was comfortably seated, but soon he began gasping for air. The driver diverted to the university clinic for immediate medical attention. As is customary, the university Director of Health Services called to infor...