Muhammad Hassan Sale: The demise of an academic, one death too many, by Prof. M. K. Othman
2010 was a year I was traumatised 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 during the NIAE Conference, tagged “Enugu 2010”.
I visited several private and public mortuaries in Enugu, examining the bodies of the deceased—some horribly disfigured, others appearing as though they were merely asleep. We eventually identified the two victims. It remains the most horrific experience of my life, one that left me with many sleepless nights until I performed the Hajj that year, just a month after the tragedy.
That experience was different from what occurred on Tuesday, 10th February, 2026, when Muhammad Hassan Sale slumped and died suddenly, leaving behind 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 found myself in the driving seat, with all eyes on me, expecting direction on the next course of action.
READ ALSO: Nigeria, Greatness and the Missing Link, by Prof. M. K. Othman
My complete submission to the will of Allah became my strength and salvation. It gave me the courage to pray steadfastly for Sale and other departed colleagues, while urging everyone to bear the irreversible loss.
The tragedy prompted me to write the earlier piece referenced above, which drew numerous reactions and expressions of sympathy. Below are some of the comments for the reading pleasure of my esteemed readers.
Happy reading.
Good morning, Prof. Othman. Assalamu Alaikum.
How is your family? How is Ibadah? May Allah accept it. As usual, I appreciate your writing and the sincerity 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 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 they value their staff’s lives and contributions. Once again, thank you, sir, for your insightful piece. The university must require annual physical and blood tests for academic staff. Early detection saves lives and prevents sudden diagnoses. I strongly recommend that FUDMA consider this.
May the soul of the departed rest in peace.
Prof. O. A. Ajayi
Professor, there is nothing more to research when one’s time is up. The pressures of work you mentioned are part of life’s schedule. What matters is prioritising—first by imbibing the culture of Allah, then balancing work and family responsibilities.
We do not know who is next—young or old. Death must come when it is destined. May Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him Jannatul Firdaus, and give his family and associates the strength to bear this loss.
Engr Hassan Bawa
May Almighty Allah forgive the shortcomings of Muhammad Hassan Sale, a victim of sudden death within the academic community of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA).
Sudden death is increasingly common within Nigerian universities. One possible solution is the establishment of wellness clinics, in line with the principle that prevention is better than cure. I recall that when the University of Calabar experienced similar challenges, wellness programmes were introduced. Ahmadu Bello University has also begun implementing such initiatives.
A wellness clinic focuses on preventing illness and promoting overall health rather than merely treating diseases. It supports physical, mental, and social well-being through:
Key Features of a Wellness Clinic
- Preventive Care Routine health check-ups
Screening tests (blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol) - Health Promotion Nutrition and diet counselling
Exercise and lifestyle advice
Stress management - Early Detection of Diseases Screening for hypertension, diabetes, and cancers
- Counselling Services Mental health counselling
Reproductive health counselling
Substance abuse counselling - Immunisation and Health Education Vaccinations
Health awareness programmes
Examples of Services
Weight management programmes
Smoking cessation programmes
Family planning counselling
Routine laboratory tests
Health risk assessments
Wellness programmes can be integrated into university health services and align with public health principles of prevention and promotion.
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 academics to prioritise their well-being and advocate for improved working conditions.
Aisha Dahiru
We worked together with Muhammad Sale during the 2017/2018 academic session. He was a good man. I pray Allah forgives him, pardons his shortcomings, protects him from the punishment of the grave, and grants him Jannah. Ameen.
Jamiu Munir Wahab
It is truly disturbing how frequently professional colleagues pass away. In my view, beyond stress, economic hardship among staff of tertiary institutions may also be a contributing factor.
Imagine that as of March 5, staff are yet to receive their February salaries. May Allah forgive their shortcomings and grant them Jannah.
Dr Aminu Yakubu
Prof. M. K. Othman, MNIAE, MNSE, MASABE
Professor of Soil and Water Engineering
NAERLS, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
+2348065571637
