As the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have refused to end the 60-day-old strike, students in public Nigerian universities have taken matters into their hands by engaging in various activities to keep themselves busy.
Though most of the students that spoke with Vanguard Learning prefer studying for their forth-coming examinations, others have delved into catering, book editing, music, web designing and modelling, among others.
Blessing Agagaraga is a 400 level student of Education Administration and Policy Studies (nursery and primary education), Delta State University, and has been assisting her father in his business café.
“The idle mind is the devil’s workshop, and since I don’t want to be the devil’s workshop, I started assisting my father in his business café. I also bake and do small chops which I do whenever there are orders.”
File photo: ...Students receiving practical instructions at Innoson car plant
File photo: …Students receiving practical instructions at Innoson car plant
For Samuel Bright, a 400 level student of the Department of English and Literary Studies, Lagos State University, LASU, the strike has brought his latent talent to the fore. “I have started a new business – book editing and presently working on one. The strike made me to develop this dormant talent. This is my strike-timony!”
Uche Oragui, a year two engineering student of the University of Lagos and Ayodeji Ayeni, a 400 level medical student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, have decided to focus on their studies by reading and researching.
While Oragui is on campus reading because of the peace and quiet on campus, Ayeni, on the other hand, is at home conducting researches and attending seminars to broaden his knowledge in medicine and other fields.
For Dami Saromi, a 400 level petrochemical student of Tai Solarin University of Education, the break from school doesn’t mean break from studying as he said he is studying for his examinations and to also be abreast of happenings in his field of study.
A budding artiste and student of University of Abuja, who simply gave his name as Dami, said he has devoted his free time to improving his music by investing in some studio time and attending music classes.
Olayinka Taiwo is a final year student of LASU who says she doesn’t have to wait for ASUU to call off the strike before she makes meaningful use of her time.
According to her, “I have always been interested in web designing and decided to use this strike period to undertake a training programme that would broaden my knowledge so as to prepare me for the work world.”
Realizing that the strike may last longer than he thought, a final year student of the University of Lagos, Obiaraije Elvis, said; “I keep myself busy with my project essay and I’m also learning how to play the piano. I am appealing to the striking lecturers and the Federal Government to please think of what they are doing to Nigerian students with the prolonged strike.
Yusuf Busari, a final year student of English and Literary Studies LASU, said “waiting for ASUU and government to reach an agreement might be waiting for Godot, I decided to make good use of my time by becoming an on-air-personality with City FM 105.1 by hosting a jazz music show every Sunday.
For Daniela, a final year Theatre Arts student of University of Ibadan, catering and events planning have kept her occupied and also boosted her finances.
The ongoing strike, which commenced on July 1, 2013, was as a result of an agreement government reneged on. Despite the Federal Government agreeing to release N100 billion for development of facilities in the 61 universities and N30 billion to pay the earned allowances for the striking lecturers, the wait still continues as ASUU insists there is no going back till the initial agreement is implemented.
