Strike aftermath: Life returns as varsities resume

Although the six-month strike embarked upon by
the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU,
was called off on December 16, 2013, academic
activities have only just begun in earnest in
universities across the country.
The strike was called off just in time for the
Christmas holidays and stakeholders in the sector
took advantage of the situation to enjoy the
festivities. After spending nearly seven months
away from the academic environment courtesy of
the strike and the holidays, many students have
returned to school with mixed feelings.
A master’s student at the University of Lagos who
did not want her name in print told Vanguard
Learning: “I can barely remember the course titles
that I am offering this semester or even my
matriculation number. And from the feedback I am
getting from my colleagues, we would most likely
begin examinations in February as soon as the
undergraduate students are done. Meanwhile, there
are some classes that haven’t held in this semester
even before the strike. There aren’t even available
lecturers for about three courses in my
department.”
Excited to be back in school, an undergraduate
student of the University of Ibadan who simply gave
her name as Bisi, said “I thank God the strike is
over and we are back to school. Though serious
lectures are yet to start, but I have fully prepared
my mind for studying, studying and more studying
because that’s the only way to make up for all the
lost time.”
Daniel Igiekhumhe, a student at the University of
Benin also speaking to Vanguard Learning, said:
“The strike began just when we were about to start
writing our examinations in July. So we are
expecting that we will be welcomed by examinations
soon. But for now, things are a bit slow around here,
people are trickling in, but we all know that
examinations are around the corner. Even then, it
feels good to be back to school after such a long
time.”
Stanley Ekpa, a 200 level student of Law at Obafemi
Awolowo University, should be in this third year by
now had the six-month strike not stalled his
academic career. He said: “If the system was
stable, I and my classmates would be in the first
semester of 300 level by now. But we thank God
that at least, we are back to school. Work here
started in earnest on Monday, and we are not likely
to write examinations until early May.”