The Tale of Students in Nigeria Public University -By Esther Chukwukaodinaka

The goal of average Nigerian students is to study at Federal University once they have said farewell to secondary education. Since they’re neither from Aristocratic nor Plutonic families who can afford education worth millions in and out. The fate of many Nigerians is where preferability is not available; availability becomes preferable. They have taken the need as the want.

Many always anticipate this exciting moment to be among the bigs with love and joy whenever they are at the last phase of secondary education. Just like you and I then, ‘I couldn’t wait to morph into a different level where I will meet different people with different backgrounds. A universe where I will be able to showcase myself freely without intimidation from my teachers and mates.

However, Financial issues and how to pass entrance exams honorably the likes of WAEC results and hit the JAMB’s course cut-off mark aggressively are another thing that causes anxiety amidst the joy of leaving secondary school.

The transition we hoped for, has become less exciting for these reasons.

Most are Financially amputated which does halt their academic journey for a year or years. They would stay at home till they were admitted and could afford the tuition fees.

Apart from these psychological traumas caused by being unable to secure admission in time and financial capacity, Industrial action is another evil that bedevils less privileged citizens. Since 2009, it is hardly difficult not to dance to the tunes of the almighty Academic Staff Union of Universities’ strike in every academic calendar. A program of four years ends up becoming a 6-7 years program while that of 5-6years metamorphosed to— ‘one day, I will leave this institution’ due to this effect that always persists like Williams Shakespeare’s text in every secondary school literature syllabus.

When two elephants fight; the grasses suffer. The students in federal universities and other ASUU institutions in this case are the grasses who always suffer innocently.

History has made it known that the ASUU strike has long existed since 1988 during the military regime. It was embarked to obtain fair wages and autonomy. However, it was during the post-military government that industrial action was embellished as an inevitable oblation. They refused to fulfill the demands of ASUU which they, themselves signed. Though ASUU in other ways was not specific enough at the beginning of this issue.

Importantly, as the Federal government and ASUU are battling, it would be necessary and better for them to consider the mental health of students that couldn’t afford the expenses to acquire a degree at a private institution of study or better still, fly abroad, as the lingering industrial action has been resulting in a high number of students falling into depression while others commit suicide

To cap it all, to the affected students, keep your hopes alive, and we should not allow the strike to dictate our lifestyles and spans. Let’s engage ourselves in new skills both online and offline. They are useful in improving our careers. We can also seek scholarships to pursue a degree outside Nigeria.

Esther Chukwukaodinaka is a 400level pharmacy student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State.