Despite the ongoing nationwide industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), many students are still in hostels across universities in the country. Universities still having students staying back on compus include the University of Ibadan and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho and some others.
Our correspondent who visited the two campuses reports that it is very hard for anyone visiting Awolowo, Independence and Queen Elizabeth halls of residence in the University of Ibadan (UI) to believe that ASUU is currently on strike.
Other halls are also busy, while business centres are thriving in the University of Ibadan.
A 300-level student of Economics in the university, Tade Olaitan, said going back to his parents’ home during the strike was tantamount to laziness and lack of seriousness.
“If I go back home, then I am lazy and unserious. I am learning tailoring here. Although my parents may not like it, it is the best for me. However, some students are hiding in the hostels to transact some businesses we cannot mention on the pages of newspapers; but it is not all of us.
“I call on the federal government and the ASUU to resolve the ongoing strike for the interest of all,” he said.
Our correspondent who visited Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho reports that many students are on campus despite the ongoing strike.
A student, Lasisi Oluwakemi, said many of them were on campus because of the convocation that was held recently.
“Many students are on campus because of the convocation we had last week. Some parents also prefer to send money to their children in school rather than coming home. Many houses are not better than school for some of the students,” she said.
In the University of Lagos (UNILAG), findings revealed that students were made to vacate the hostels ahead of the 26th edition of the Nigerian University Games (NUGA) hosted by the school from March 16 to 26.
Although some students had remained in their hostels even after ASUU announced the commencement of a strike action on February 14, because of the NUGA games, they were asked to vacate the hostels to provide accommodation for visitors on campus during the competition.
A staff of the university told Daily Trust on Sunday that the students were not allowed to go back to the hostels after the sports competition.
However, some of the students who reside off campus have refused to go home as they have resorted to acquiring skills that can be of help to them in life.
Academic activities are ongoing at the Lagos State University (LASU) as the university did not join the ASUU strike.
An educationist, Falola Sunday, said it was a display of negligence for parents to allow their children remain on various campuses when lecturers are on strike.
“Many parents have failed in their duties. Why must you allow your children to stay where you cannot see them? That is one of the reasons we are having more internet fraudsters than students in our higher institutions. Ladies are now living a couple’s life in school because they know there are no parents to challenge them.
“The only solution is for parents to maintain their stand on taking care of their children. Every parent must ensure that their children and wards are under their watch,” he said
Kano
In Bayero University, Kano (BUK), there are multiple reasons why students hang around. Although students vacated the university’s dormitories following a notice released by the Students’ Affairs Division of the university, many of the students take shelter in the students’ private residences off campus and relatives’ residences in Kano city.
Ebenezer Oloranwa, a 200-level student in the Department of History, said the strike was quite painful, adding that he had remained in his rented room at the Danbare Students’ Residential Area “to engage in one or two economic activities.” He said he found it unnecessary to go back home.
“I am already an off-campus student, so I don’t have to travel. I am from Ogun State, which is far from here, so I decided to stay. I do one or two things here, actually. I use my computer to render services to people, like typing and graphic/web designing. I do it privately and clients reach out to me through phone, email, etc. The environment is very okay; there is no distraction as people are not many. I concentrate on my work,” he said.
For Oloranwa, staying in faraway Kano means being independent. He added that the strike had given him the opportunity to utilise his time to help himself. Although he misses his parents, he argued that “they are not concerned because I am an adult and I am doing something productive here. I am being independent.”
Muhammad Auwal, a level 2 MBBS student, said he usually went to the campus to read whenever he had the chance. He noted that he stayed close to the campus to assist his uncle in a project.
“I am not here because I am waiting for the ASUU to call off the strike. Getting updates on the strike wouldn’t be difficult for me because I have our class WhatsApp platform. I can also call classmates to get that. I am here for a particular project that is entirely different from academic stuff, but I do come to the campus occasionally to read and revise my notes so that I can keep myself busy and updated. I stay off-campus with a relative,” he said.
He acknowledged that although he is away from his town in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano State, his parents are at ease because they know he lives with an uncle.
“There is no pressure from my parents because they already know the circumstance. Since his house is close to the university, I do help him some days, and I visit the campus to read some other days,” he said.
Habib Adam, whose state of origin is Bauchi, said he remained in Kano to pursue some economic activities to make ends meet.
“I had already paid my house rent before the strike; and there are some opportunities here to pursue, that is why I have remained off campus, from where I do a few things in town”, a year four student of the school said.
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