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, ailing parents, friends, and colleagues.

Unlike in 2010, when I was being directed on what to do, in 2026, I was in the driving seat, with all eyes on me, expecting me to announce the next line of action.

My complete submission to the will of Allah became my strength and salvation as I found the courage to steadfastly pray for Sale and other departed colleagues, as well as urging everyone to bear the irreversible loss of our young colleague. The tragedy prompted me to post the piece titled above, which received many comments and expressions of sympathy. Below are some of the comments for the reading pleasure of my esteemed readers. Happy reading.

Good morning, Prof. Othman Sallam, Alaikum. How is your family? How is Ibadah? May Allah accept it. As usual, I appreciate your writing and the sincere concern in your words. May Allah forgive the shortcomings of the departed and grant them Al-Jannah Al-Firdaus. You should write about our attitude toward medical checkups. Should the management make checkups mandatory for staff? Should they be provided free of charge? Can management consider creating medical history records for all staff? Can our sickbay and clinic be required to visit faculties and conduct comprehensive tests in the comfort of our offices? Every manager who does this shows that they value their staff’s lives and the services they provide. Once again, thank you, sir, for your educational piece—brilliant and insightful. But the university must require yearly mandatory physical and blood tests for everyone in academics. This early detection method saves lives and prevents late, sudden diagnoses. Highly recommend FUDMA look into it.May the soul of the departed Rest in Peace.
Prof. O.A. Ajayi

Professor, there is nothing more to research, especially when one’s time is up. All the pressure of work you listed is part of life’s schedule. All we need to do is prioritize by first imbibing the culture of Allah, then following the schedule of work and family responsibilities. We do not know who is next—whether younger or older. It must be experienced once it is time. May Allah forgive all his shortcomings, grant him Jannatul Firdausi, and give the family and all his associates the strength to bear this irreparable loss.
Engr Hassan Bawa

May the Almighty Allah forgive the shortcomings of Muhammed Hassan Sale, who was a victim of sudden death within the Academic Community of the Federal University Dutsin Ma (FUDMA). Sudden death is a notable phenomenon that claims lives within Nigerian universities. A wellness clinic has been introduced as a solution; it is part of the adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ and could help reduce the risk of early death. I recall that years ago, when the University of Calabar was experiencing a high rate of sudden deaths, wellness programs were implemented as a resolution. Currently, Ahmadu Bello University has begun implementing such programs. What exactly is a wellness clinic program?

A wellness clinic is a healthcare facility that focuses mainly on preventing illness and promoting overall health, rather than treating diseases only after they occur. It provides services that help people maintain physical, mental, and social well-being. It helps people stay healthy through prevention, lifestyle guidance, screening for early diagnosis, and health education.

In Public Health, wellness clinics support the concepts of health promotion and disease prevention, which are core principles of the World Health Organization’s primary health care. At ease, the Wellness program can be integrated with University Health Services and other relevant departments.

Key Features of a Wellness Clinic

1. Preventive Care
o Routine health check-ups
o Screening tests (blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, etc.)
2. Health Promotion
o Nutrition and diet counseling
o Exercise and lifestyle advice
o Stress management
3. Early Detection of Diseases
o Screening for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cancers.
4. Counseling Services
o Mental health counseling
o Reproductive health counseling
o Substance abuse counseling
5. Immunization and Health Education
o Vaccinations
o Health talks on disease prevention
Examples of Services in a Wellness Clinic

• Weight management programs
• Smoking cessation programs
• Family planning counseling
• Routine laboratory tests
• Health risk assessments
Dr. S. K. Musa, Former Director ABU Zaria/Former President National Association of Doctors in University Health Services

May Allah have mercy on Muhammad Hassan Sale and grant his family strength. This is a wake-up call for all academics, emphasizing the need to prioritize their well-being and advocate for improved working conditions.
Aisha Dahiru

We worked together with Muhammad Sale at the university during the 2017/2018 academic session. He was a good man. I pray ALLAH forgive him, pardon his shortcomings, save him from the punishment of the grave, and grant him Jannah. Allahumo Aamin.
Jamiu Munir Wahab

It is truly a disturbing reality—the high rate at which our professional colleagues pass away. In my view, in addition to stress, economic hardship—especially among staff at tertiary institutions—may also be a factor. Imagine today is March 5th, and the staff of these institutions still haven’t received their February salaries. May Allah SWT forgive their souls for any shortcomings and grant them Jannah.
Dr Aminu Yakubu