by Solanke Abiola

 

Just when he has his sights on graduation, another strike action surfaces which destabilises him, he is embittered about the system and begins to lose his patience. The cause of the strike action, he is told is due to the perennial reason of Government not funding

The average Nigerian student is frustrated about the whole Nigeria situation. He is bitter that the country has made him undergo so much stress and pains, in return for a future that appears gloomy and hazy. Having spent several years from cradle to adulthood, he is angry that his future is not guaranteed despite the several trainings that he has received.  He is disillusioned that the country has very little to offer him after giving more than enough to the system.

In the primary school, we were painted with the scenario of a bright life awaiting those who could take their academics seriously. The sky was blue and life looked like a den of roses. I remember the song we used to sing then to remind us that good life awaits one who took his academics seriously. Bata re a dun ko ko ka, to ba kawe re, bata re a dun ko ko ka meaning You will wear shoes with pride if you can read your books. We were given story books to read about people who succeeded because they were persistent and took their studies seriously. With such enthusiasm, we looked forward to advancing into the secondary school and then comes the Common entrance examination into the secondary school. When you get your letter of posting to the secondary school, you raced back home to break the news to your mum or dad.

The joyous mood is activated and people rejoice that our son is going to the secondary school. For those going to Federal Government Colleges or schools outside of their residential areas, after a few words of advice and charge from relations, the luggage are loaded and off he is sent to acquire further education. At this point, he is faced with a future of uncertainty bearing in mind the various things he has heard about life in the secondary school, the bullying of seniors, regular reading (which he is not used to), having to live away from home, separation from his friends and family and having to make new friends. With this mind-set, he arrives at the secondary school for further studies.

Going through the thrills and grills of the school, he feels away from home, lacks the affection of relations and is faced with a hostile environment. In the midst of all this, he is reminded of the Secondary school certificate examinations which he has to scale through. Through thick and thin, he scales the secondary school hurdles and is faced with the hurdle of the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board exam (JAMB). After attempting the exams for about three years, he becomes frustrated and dejected. Depression becomes to set in on seeing his colleagues come home during the holidays from their respective higher institutions. At the fifth trial luck finally shines on him, he gets admitted into the higher institution and another life begins for him.

He meets new people, friends who begin to shape his life. He becomes exposed to the social life as an undergraduate. In the midst of all these happenings, the family reminds him that he is the hope for sustenance, they remind him that papa’s farm had to be sold for him to pay his school fees. Not counting the various properties sold and contributions from friends and family. Putting all this in mind, he remains steadfast and committed to his academic pursuit. He dreams of a bright future where he will live in posh apartments in big cities, fly round the world and enjoy the luxuries of life. As he faces challenges and difficulties along the course of studying, he has the consolation that the suffering  is but for a short time. He has to cope with the problematic accommodation arrangement in our tertiary institutions. He is faced with transportation problem and an ever increasing cost of tuition. In the midst of all this, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) proceeds on an industrial action that paralyses academic activities in the ivory towers. His hope of graduating before he attains his 25th year birthday is shattered. His hope of securing a job as a fresh, young graduate with age on his side is being dashed gradually. After few months at home being idle, the strike action is called off and he resumes his academic pursuit.

Just when he has his sights on graduation, another strike action surfaces which destabilises him, he is embittered about the system and begins to lose his patience. The cause of the strike action, he is told is due to the perennial reason of government not funding

Education properly which has always been the case adduced to previous strike actions. After few months of rigmarole, the strike action is suspended and school resumes. At long last, he graduates from the higher institution and he joins the ever-swelling labour market. Another frustration! The family soon begins to look up to him to secure a job as soon as possible so as to take care of his aging parents and also support the education of his siblings. Being a part of the 1.8 million graduates who enter the labour market every year, he begins the intensive competition for the limited jobs available and just when he thinks he has secured one, he is shocked to discover that a prominent politician has secured the same job he is applying for on behalf of his son/daughter! At this point, he begins to review his Life, years spent in acquiring Education and the current state he has found himself. The thoughts of the numerous candles burnt begin to flash his mind leaving him dejected and demoralised. Then he thinks, its not worth the sacrifice.

The Nigerian undergraduate goes through a lot in the quest to obtain qualitative Education. Apart from having to learn under in-conducive environment, he is also confronted with sky-rocketing school fees especially if he is unfortunate to attend a State Government Institution. He is confronted with incessant strike actions which not only disrupts the academic calendar but also affects the training of such an under-graduate. Lots of Nigerian graduates flood the labour market in search of non-existent jobs with many resorting to all sorts of means just to keep body and soul together. Unfortunately, the Nigerian Government has not helped the unemployed graduate as not too long ago, a bill which sought for the Government to pay stipends to unemployed graduates was thrown out of the Senate. The Nigerian undergraduate goes through lots of physical stress, emotional and psychological trauma all in a bid to obtain higher certifications to qualify him for better employment opportunities but end up settling for less!

The Nigerian state must wake up to its responsibilities regarding the way issues that affects our Tertiary institutions are addressed. Industrial action reverses whatsoever gains we make during un-interrupted calendars and as such everything humanly possible must be done to prevent our staff unions from embarking on strikes. Agreements reached with Staff Unions should be religiously implemented as this is not only honourable but ensures that the Government is trusted with any agreement it makes with them. Paying of stipends to unemployed graduates by the Government should be revisited as this will help in helping them find their footing pending when they secure gainful employment. The labour market is saturated and we need to do more than we are doing currently to decongest it. The news that our Economy is the largest in Africa even ahead of South Africa is cheering but Nigerians are eagerly expecting that the economic growth will metamorphose into development with increased job creation for the teeming masses. The country should begin to take job creation as a priority and take measures
to address growing unemployment.

Our institutions also have a responsibility to produce graduates who will be employers of labour and not add to the already over-saturated labour market.

————————–

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.