"It's Like Waiting For Titanic To Return": As ASUU Strike Enters 8th Week, Students Develop Back-Up Plans

As the outcome of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike yet remains unknown, the students, in order to abstain from idleness and wrongdoings, decided to take the matters in their own hands and to make use of their various talents.

The majority of affected students, it was discovered, have turned to fashion and design, music, acting, marketing, modelling, etc., while waiting for the official end of the strike.

Benjamin Umeojiaku, a 500 level Engineering student of the University of Abuja disclosed that he is now able to focus on his fashion label. "Instead of staying idle and allowing the devil to open shop on my hands, I have focused on building my fashion line. It has kept me busy and has also been a source of income," he says.

Damola is a budding performer. The UniAbuja student has been devoting his free time to improving his music by investing in some studio time, performing in concerts and attending music classes.

A final year Theatre Arts student from University of Nasarawa, simply known as Rose, has devoted her time to catering and ushering. She says she made her decision after realizing that waiting for ASUU and the Federal Government come to an understanding would be like "waiting for the Titanic to come into berth."

David Iroanusi and Francis Onunkwo are students of the Faculty of Education, University of Abuja. Both have delved into the entertainment industry through modelling, acting and music. They stated that engaging themselves in the activity has helped them pass the time in a productive and creative manner. They advised fellow students to follow their lead and engage in meaningful activities. They said, "It is obvious that we would probably spend six years on a four year programme, its better we try our hands at other things so that we can always have a back-up plan."

Tobi Johannes is the Editor in chief of LOL! Magazine, a campus editorial in University of Abuja. He has this to say: "It is said that if your ship refuses to come in, you should swim out to it.

"We, Nigerian students are not ready to get ourselves wet swimming to a troubled ship, we'd rather just take a train.

"During the period of this strike, the LOL! Team has been working hard to expand our brand. We have diversified into television through our YouTube channel."

As the strike action enters its eighth week, the students are united in appealing to the government and ASUU to settle their differences and bring about a definite and lasting solution to the incessant strike actions. The strike, which started on the first of July, is a result of non-implementation of some of the resolutions of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement.
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