The seemingly unending Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) strike is beginning to take a toll on students, the fact
that students now resort to seeking job opportunities in private and public
sectors as part time workers, contract workers or freelance workers is becoming
a source of worry.
Reports have revealed that the number of students
seeking job opportunity is high since the strike commenced as some students are
employed on grounds of internship.
Students affected by the ongoing strike laments that
they have to engage themselves in activities that would yield them lawful
earnings as they have been idle in their homes with their expectations that the
impasse between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU), is resolved.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
has linked the rising wave of crime in the last two months to the idleness of students,
who are currently bearing the brunt of the impasse between the Federal
Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), following the
strike embarked on by the union.
According to a student of University of Lagos akoka
(UNILAG), olarenwaju sumisola laments that it is lucid that the Nigerian
government is not bothered about the current situation of the country’s
educational sector. She added that the country is only bothered about finding
lasting solution to the problems of its political party leaving students to
bear the brunt. “I do not blame ASUU
because the Nigerian educational sector is not in a good shape and the
university union is trying to put things in place to ensure that our
institutions meet up with international standards. Instead of looking for
methods to resolve the calamity that is presently rocking the educational
sector, our dear president whom I voted for is busy resolving their political
party crisis leaving students hopeless.” She concluded.
Another
student, Adenike Oyenuga, 200l student of Lagos State University (LASU), mass
communication revealed that she is very much tired of sitting at home doing
nothing and she wishes to engage herself in any money yielding activity. “I
just want to engage myself in any money yielding activity because I am tired of
sitting at home doing nothing”. She also described herself as a jobless lady
that is urgently in need of a partime job “An idle man is the devils workshop” she
added.
A 400l student of bells tech otta, adeshola Hussein,
said that he is not in any way affected by the strike because he attends a
private university.” I attend a private university and we are not affected as
our calendar is well followed”.
Mrs omolara a single parent also laments that she is
not pleased seeing her son stay at home. “I am not happy seeing my son at home.
He is in his finals and I just hope and pray that the three months old strike
is suspended or called off.” She said
The present situation of the educational sector can
be reffered to as a no pain no gain condition. Students have been adviced to
engage themselves in positive things that will encourage them while the strike
last.
(1) Hone work related skills: Just as we live in a
certificated hemisphere one need not overlook acquiring skills relating his/her
field of study. This is the time to hone such skills. Research on skills needed
to be a hot cake in your chosen profession. Learn such skills. Employers are in
high demand for skill oriented employees. Skills acquired are a handy tool for
a prospective entrepreneur.
(2) Develop your talents: The natural abilities in
you can be developed this period. Embedded in everyone are talents. These
God-given traits need not lay fallow in you. Discover your talents if you
haven’t and harness it. Who knows, your talents might just set a table before
you when utilised.
(3) Internship: This is the time to gather
experience in your field of study. At no cost, apply to organisations for
internship jobs. This will help develop your skills and understand work
environment. Experience is valuable than money at this stage.
(4) Learn a new language: This is not odd. Learn a
new language instead of harnessing your prowess in social media lingua franca.
A Foreign language advisably. Before the strike is called off, you might become
a professional in this. I am sure your lecturers will be proud of you.
(5) Be an entrepreneur: Rather than hobnobbing on
social networks with tweets and posts, start up a business. You might be the
awaited entrepreneur to mop the streets of unemployed youths. Create genuine
avenues to make wealth. No harm in starting small. Harness your entrepreneurial
abilities. Doing so might just add some wads of naira before school resumes.
(6) Read voraciously: This might sound strange.
Nigerians have no reading culture. Develop such culture while on this
indefinite break. Read educative materials of interest.
BY TIAMIYU HASSAN
No comments:
Post a Comment