The Academic Staff Union of Universities embarked on strike on the 14th of February 2022, due to the failure of the government to fulfill its agreement, ASUU is on strike as a strategy for the government to implement the funding agreement of 2012, 2013, and MOA of 2017. Well enough of the history and why ASUU strike, my focus in this article is the victims of this saga, the great Nigerian students.
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Greatest of the greatest Nigerian student!!!, it is no longer news that our destinies and fate is being toyed with by our government and ASUU. A poignant African proverb says "when two elephants fight, the grass gets trampled, when two powerful forces go to war it is their people who gets hurt. Students of Nigerian Institutions have been at home now for more than three(3) months, our academics has been on halt. how cruel!
As bad and disheartening the strike is, it has its advantages and disadvantages on the students and businesses that depend on students to thrive.
BENEFITS OF ASUU STRIKE
You might be wondering how can a strike that is set to destabilize the university and education system of the country be of benefit? yes, some students have utilized this period to learn some new skills, to boost their career, which they might had not have enough time to do while in school, for Instance I started learning programming, and also had more time to build my Hive contents, well thanks to ASUU I have this opportunity, a lot of other students to are also delving into the same skill, and other online courses.
The decision to a learn a skill is not one ASUU or the government will decide for any student out there, rather its a choice we have to make for ourselves, make good use of this time while it lasts.
what will I gain sitting at home for more than three(3) months? I ask my self, take hold of this opportunity and upgrade your skills,
"There is an opportunity in every difficulty, a rain after every storm, a light in every darkness"
DISADVANTAGES OF ASUU STRIKE
Well at this point before I go any further I believe you all can mention a few downsides yourself, but as a student I will speak as a victim of this hazardous saga. There is noting good about this strike, it has now become a national annual holiday in our institutions, and if care is not taken youths will lose interest in education.
- DECLINE IN IQ
One of the negative effects of the long-strike is the decline in the Intelligent quotient of the students.
You don't expect a student who is supposed to be in an environment of learning and academic activities washing dishes and running errands at home to improve in IQ, The time of break in academic activities will cause a drop in such a student IQ, Especially when he is doing nothing to keep the mind busy. A lot of students can't study at home, tell me how is such student going to respond by the time we resume, when his brain is no longer active. I will not be a Dullard!
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- IDLENESS- A DEADLY TOOL
As the saying goes "An idle mind is the devils workshop", a lot of idle students at home due to the strike and their idleness have indulged in cybercrimes as their interest in education gradually declines, they tend to look for other quick means of survival, young girls are left with no option than to be given out for marriage while some are impregnated for marriage sake, all this because of the idleness ASUU strike has caused.
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- TIME WAISTING
This is personal for me, and every affected student, imagine doing a four years course and end up spending six years, five years course and spending seven years, this is all time waiting, and career delaying. The normal duration for a session is 9 months, some will spend 2 years at a particular level, Some finalists have just one month left to go and now they have spent more than three months at home, Isn't this frustrating?
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- CLOSURE OF STUDENT DEPENDENT BUSINESSES
Due to this strike a lot of businesses have been forced to shutdown, some petty traders and food sellers who depend on students to patronize them for a means of livelihood have been forced to shutdown and look for other means of survival. Some student Entrepreneurs have also been forced to stop business due to absence to customers, This is terrible, is there no way our lecturers can air their groanings except strike?. I feel sad for all business owners on campuses. May we all survive this trying times .
CLOSING NOTE
Greatest Nigerian students! There is nothing great in being a Nigerian student anymore, but all hope is not lost, My fellow students and affected Nigerians our lives is in our hands not in the hand of ASUU or the federal government, paddle your life the way you want it to be, there are other ways of attaining a degree and living a desired life, apply for scholarships, learn a new skills, a lot can be achieved in the storm,
- Here are some skills I would like to recommend for you to learn;
Digital skills are a revolutionary of the world today
- Freelancing
- Affiliate Marketing
- Copywriting
- Programming
- Digital Marketing
- Graphics Design
- Web Development
Until Next time
Stay Woke✌️
