Your Opinion Corner / ASUU Strike vs. Vet Students

It is no news that public universities in Nigeria have been on strike for the past 5 months. At the beginning, most vet students were hopeful as they thought they would be getting a break for few weeks to prepare better for the new semester. However, at this point, there seems to be no hope of resumption and it seems like almost everyone is tired of waiting.

For this cause, we conducted a poll and asked veterinary medicine students to tell us what they think about the strike. The results showed that most people sounded very much like “Actually, na their papa time dem dey waste.”

A vet student wrote, “We thank God for the strike. It seems like it’s delaying, though. I am learning a lot of things which school might not provide the opportunity for. It is mentally stressing, but I am coping and doing what I know how to do best – be prudent!” I couldn't agree more with this.

Personally, when the strike started, I was happy because I needed to rest. I am writing my first MB this semester, but around February I was feeling so overwhelmed and scared. All our lecturers were reminding us every minute of just how unprepared we were for the exams, and everybody was freaking out. So when the strike was announced I thought: “Just one month? Oya now, I’ll have more time to read.”

Now we are in the sixth month, and the last time I read school books was in April.

" I don leave school for person wey get am."

Another Vet student said:  “ The strike has been straining on my mental health and ability to keep up with academic activities. Right now, the school system is a means to an end that doesn’t seem fruitful. Other options are available and I’m exploring them too.”

Yes, for me it was hard to adjust to suddenly being at home. I felt so lost. When I had school there was a purpose, there was a goal. But then suddenly I was directionless and just sleeping and waking up and getting sent on every single errand in the world.

I hate that part the most.  Nothing beats living alone for real.

“Me after they ask me to go and buy bread for the fifth time this morning”

At first I was depressed, but I adjusted and I guess everyone did, too. This break is very bad and a huge testament to how much our leaders have failed us. However, I think one thing veterinary medicine students are good at in particular is being resourceful. 

We have all found other jobs to do and our side hustles have turned to main hustles. I am working three jobs and there’s almost no difference from when vet school was stressing me. I love what I do though, I guess that counts for something.

While we might miss the pepper that school showed us, most of us have dived headlong into the jungle that is adulthood and we are surviving. Congratulations to us!

"But let me tell you, being an adult is stressful. I want my monthly allowances back."

We can not deny that the time spent has enabled us to work on achieving our personal goals and gaining practical experience in other fields.

I also have a feeling that whenever school resumes, a lot more people would have the strength to combine their side hustles with school, and I am here for it all.

At the end of the day though, 'make ASUU get sense, cause we don dey old.'

Is it really ASUU though? Or the Federal Government?

“Anyhow. One of them should 'sha' have sense.”

By Josephine Olubode