A powerful rainstorm that struck the Northern School of Business (NOBISCO) in Tamale on Wednesday, March 12, has left over 1000 students displaced after severely damaging the girls’ dormitory.
The storm, which lasted for 30 minutes and was marked by strong winds and minimal rainfall, ripped off parts of the dormitory roof, flooding rooms and destroying students’ belongings. Many lost books, uniforms, and other essentials.
With dormitories already facing overcrowding, the damage has forced students to relocate to unaffected rooms, increasing congestion. Some students have had no choice but to sleep in corridors and open spaces on the school compound.
“The rain started around 4:40 pm, and it was more of windstorm than rain. Our roof blew off, parts of the ceiling collapsed, and our dormitories got flooded,” said Mohammed Adisah Mantenso, Assistant Girls’ Prefect.
Alhassan Rabiatu Badaria, another affected student, described how many students’ books, uniforms, and belongings were destroyed, forcing some to attend classes in improper clothing.
Efforts are underway to provide temporary shelter and relief as school authorities and local agencies assess the extent of the damage and coordinate support.
“Our books are all wet and our uniforms blown away, so today some of us are not able to copy notes in class”
The headmaster of NOBISCO, Mr. Alhassan Issah Dokurugu, revealed that the school is managing the situation temporarily while waiting for a lasting solution.
“We have moved the boys from one of the dormitories to join their males at the other side, while we move the affected girls to their dormitory temporarily,” he said.
He further likened the current congestion at the school to an “ant-hill,” stating that every available space in the dormitories and classrooms is occupied due to the high student population and inadequate infrastructure.
He is urgently appealing to government agencies, philanthropists, and organizations to intervene and help restore the damaged dormitory.
Beyond the dormitories, the school is also grappling with congestion problems in the classrooms. Channel One TV visited one of the packed classrooms and spoke to students about their struggles in coping with the situation.
Abdallah Ibtisan Namzooya, who was seen using a single-occupant table with another student, noted the difficulties in dealing with the situation.
“She writes with her right hand and I write with my left, and because the table is small, we are always at each other’s throats,” she tells channel one news.
With the increasing student population at NOBISCO and limited infrastructure, school authorities are calling on the government, the Ministry of Education, NGOs, and well-meaning individuals to come to their aid.
