Recurring Strike Has Caused, Is Causing More Harm Than Good To Nigeria Students — An Open Message to the involved Parties -By Solihu Abdulmumin

We’re still on the issue of resolving the difference between “I’m”, “I am”, and “Am” among Nigeria students, yet, the problem keeps escalating. While some of them would say it’s just a shortened format and social media’s way of sending messages, they are (in the real sense) oblivious of those errors. Who to blame?

Imagine a student who resumed academic activities, determined, passionate, goal-driven, but end up stopping on his/her way because of a disagreement between two parties. Is there any assurance that such a student will embrace the study with the same mindset after spending an indefinite period at home?

Amidst the economic situation of the country, academic activities are put on halt, what should be the faith of our so-called “Future Leaders”? Education is the key to success, of course, that’s before the padlock was changed by those in power. Better still, it might still be the key elsewhere, but not in the giant of Africa — A giant that never was!

After a series of meetings, all we get as feedback is just an extension in time to decide whether or not to continue the strike (ASUU) or deliberate on what should be done (FG). All of these dramas couldn’t affect the accreditation of new courses and the establishment of new tertiary institutions in this same country. Indeed, there was a country!

That aside, the most baffling of all these scenarios is the rate at which undergraduates are diving into various ventures so as to be financially stable since academic stability can no longer be attained. With the observable trends, schooling in this country will later take the position of a side hustle. Check out various boot camps and training and see the number of undergraduates whose leaders have failed, getting themselves engaged in one skill or the other.

These skill acquisitions would have been a piece of great news if and only if schools will be closed forever. But, how will you convince me to attend a night class when I know staying overnight to do an online task will earn me some cash. When students hear any rumor about the possibility of ASUU calling off the strike, you start seeing comments like: “God forbid, me wey just got a job”, “They shouldn’t oo, I just start work today”, and so on. Once again, who will convince these students that school is not a scam and that education is the key to success?

The bottom line is that, if things continue like this, students are and would be on the receiving end of it all. Many lives have been lost, emotional damage due to stress, accidents while going to and fro constantly, to mention but a few. If at this stage of the country’s economic situation, all our leaders care about is the coming elections, then they have failed as a REPRESENTATIVE.

Solihu Abdulmumin
University of Ilorin
+2349129720863
abdulmuminsolihu@gmail.com