The strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has clocked six months with both lecturers and students of Federal government owned Universities being out of classes.
While some of the students have taken to acquiring some skills to build a future, social commentators are attributing the current upsurge in crime to the social disequilibrium in the country’s educational sector.
Sunday, 14th August 2022 marked exactly six months since lecturers in the Nigerian Federal government owned Universities shut down the class rooms.
For this long period and still counting with little or no hope in sight of a possible resumption, the students have been forced to stay at home or into the streets.
Not succumbing to social pressures, many of these students are utilizing what seems an unfortunate period to harness various skills they have interest for.
Cynthia Elom and Moyosore Olunlade are undergraduate students of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University located in Ebonyi State, while Israel Agashi is studying at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
They are among the hundreds of Nigerian youths forced out of the University environments due to the six months old strike by ASUU.
But, they have taken their misfortune for a fortune, venturing into different skills acquisitions, to make a new living.
Also Read: ASUU Strike : Gov.Umahi calls on Fed Govt and academic union to resolve crisis
Several others are doing well in their new ventures, receiving commendations from the society.
A Professor of Social Sciences, Smart Otu and Dr. Macpherson Uchenna of the Criminology and Security Studies Department at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufuo Alike Ikwo are of the opinion that students should not be deterred by the fight to rescue the education system at the University level but should remain resolute in harnessing their potentials in vocational and allied skills.
To many, the protracted closure of public Universities in Nigeria may be adding to the insecurity being experienced across the country.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi State Command, SP Chris Anyanwu says although there are no available statistics to show that crimes of recent times are connected to students being out of the Universities’ environments, there is an upsurge in criminal activities within the youthful age.
He reiterates the need for youths to engage in meaningful ventures and desist from being tools for devils workshop, such as engaging in Cybercrime.
The six months old ASUU strike has grossly affected the University academic calendar, setting yet back the University education system in a sector that had suffered much setback due to the COVID-19 era.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
