The Alarming State of the Faculty of Arts New Building

Sakeenah Kareem 

When the new Faculty of Arts building was unveiled, AbdulKabeer Tijani, a 400-level History student, felt a sense of relief and anticipation. He hoped the modern infrastructure would elevate the academic experience for him and his colleagues. However, his optimism was short-lived as he soon discovered glaring issues that plagued the new structure.  

“Despite the fact that this is a new infrastructure and it is supposed to complement what we already have, there are a couple of issues with the building,” AbdulKabeer lamented.  

The Faculty of Arts’ new building, initially seen as a beacon of progress, has become a source of concern and fear among students. Despite being relatively new, the structure is riddled with defects, safety hazards, and poor maintenance. This disturbing reality threatens not only students’ academic pursuits but also their sense of personal safety.  

“The lift is not working and is in shambles, the projector is just for aesthetics, the rails on the stairs are already damaged, and several parts of the building are leaking,” AbdulKabeer explained. “For a new building, this is bad. When you compare this to buildings that have existed for decades, you would realize the quality of this new structure is very poor.”  

AbdulKabeer isn’t alone in his frustration. Nabilah Alabi-Balogun, a 300-level English student, expressed her fears about the building’s safety. “It feels unsafe like the building could fall apart at any moment. There are cracks on virtually every wall, and most of the railings are on the verge of collapsing if they haven’t already,” she said.  

Students’ fears are not unfounded. Sophiat Temidayo, another student, recounted a near-miss incident. “I almost stepped into a hole caused by broken tiles in the building. I feel insecure attending classes in such an environment,” she shared.  

The building’s poor condition has not only created a sense of anxiety but also affected students’ academic experiences. “I feel safer in the old building than in the new one. Even when I attend classes in the new building, I’m in a hurry to leave because I don’t want to imagine the worst,” AbdulKabeer revealed.  

The constant fear of structural failure has made focusing in class nearly impossible for some students. “Sometimes, I can’t fully concentrate in class because I just can’t wait to be out of the building. It’s scary,” Nabilah admitted. Sophiat added, “It is neither safe nor conducive to study in a broken or poorly maintained structure.”  

The emotional and academic toll on the students is undeniable. AbdulKabeer voiced his concerns for the future, warning, “From the look of things, it’s just a matter of time before we start to record accidents as a result of the condition of the infrastructure.”  

To avoid such a grim outcome, students are calling on the faculty executives and university management to take immediate action. Urgent repairs, frequent maintenance, and regular safety inspections are necessary to restore the building to a safe and functional state.  

The Faculty of Arts’ new building was supposed to symbolize progress, but instead, it has become a cautionary tale. If decisive steps are not taken soon, the fears of its students may tragically come to fruition.