It has been a few years since students in Nigerians had to deal
with long-term strikes; and just at the moment we thought the era of students
having to stay an extra 2 to 3 years in school due to unnecessary strikes by
championed by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was over, they
strike again.
It
certainly felt like Deja Vu when the National President Of The Union, Dr. Biodun
Ogunyemi, announced this on Monday at a meeting of the National
Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU in Abuja that there would be an indefinite
strike and that during the strike, there will be no teaching, no examination
and no attendance of statutory meetings of any kind in any of the union's
branches across the country.
There is
some value in ASUU going on strike. They hope that issues such as payment of
fractions/ non-payment of salaries, as well as Earned Academic Allowances
(EAA); refusal to release the operational license of NUPEMCO; and the
non-implementation of the provisions of the 2014 Pension Reform Act with
respect to retired professors and their salaries, will be sorted.
It is easy
for affected students to get into a lazy mode, where they sit around doing
nothing or just meshing the entire time into one long continual nap
fest...wasting valuable time and making no positive strides in their life all
through the period of the strike.
If you are
one of the affected students and you are wondering how you could possibly make
this "indefinite" time worth your while, you may want to consider a handy
list of helpful suggestions.
Start a
Business
There is no age too young for becoming an entrepreneur. Use this period at home
to start a small business. You could either sell products or render a service.
The good thing is that you do not necessarily need a large capital to get
yourself started. You also have the social media as a very important
promotional tool.
You could start a home cleaning service or food delivery
service...there are so many options.
Managing a business gives you a lot of opportunities to gain a lot
of experience with will be beneficial when you eventually conclude your
studies.
Enroll for
a professional certification course
The university might be closed but there are other avenues for learning. You
can enroll in short courses online or for professional classes that will grant
you certain qualifications that may become relevant in future. Even if you do
not have the money to pay for these courses, you can go for free ones on
portals like Coursera or Edx.
You don't necessarily have to get a certificate; the idea is to acquire new
knowledge that will be relevant to your career goals or aspirations.
Get a job
While you are at home, you might as well make a little money. Get a job as an
intern or assistant in an office or company. You can even get a job as a paid
apprentice at a salon or creative studio. Even more, you may decide to go for
something freelance like writing or blogging.
The beauty of the internet is that you can get connected to so
many job opportunities without necessarily breaking a sweat. The money made may
not be the kind that will set you up for life, but it may be enough for extra
chills...and then again, working would be fun and educational. You learn the
value of time and money and attain the essence of work ethic and work culture.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to give back to the society or just do some good
with your time. You can volunteer at NGOs or religious organizations, where the
aim is to help others and better the society.
You could also get involved in a number of empowerment programs
tailored for young people where certain skillsets you possess may be needed.
There is a measure of accomplishment and sense of fufilment that
comes with serving humanity. It also exposes you to great opportunities like
training, travel e.t.c.
Travel
There is never a bad time to travel. As a student, you may not have a lot of
resources available for long leisurely trips, but you can visit another state
within the country or just other cities within your state. Travelling can be
fun and educational at the same time for students.
It is also a great way for students to learn more about the world
around you and open yourself to alternative cultures tradition and lifestyles.
You could travel to other African cities or continents if you can afford it or
you have a sponsor as well. The important thing though, is that you keep your
ear on the ground while on your travels, so you are well informed when the
strike is called off.
Attend
seminars and personal development events
The period at home maybe offer a great opportunity to improve on your social
skills. Attend conferences and seminars as well as events. It does not have to
be professional or vocational seminars or events. It could be events that offer
opportunities to explore your hobbies or just enjoy yourself. Also, it offers
opportunities for networking and exposes you to new connections. It could be
book readings, slam poetry competitions, meetups, concerts e.t.c
Learn a new skill
You finally have the time to learn a new skill. It could be photography, jewelry making, learning to play an instrument like the saxophone or guitar, baking, writing and producing music or playing a sport like football, tennis or volleyball. Take the time to learn it and get really good at it. Not only does it give you an edge and provide opportunities for a side hustle, it will help build your self-confidence and give you value for time invested. If you care about learning a new skill then you can register for a Digital Marketing Training coming up in Lagos on September 16th and 17th. Registere here > Digital Marketing Training Class 5.0 (#DMTClassNG)
The truth is that being on an "indefinite" strike sucks;
however, being positive about how you spin it, could make the time really worth
your while. Can you think of other ways students can engage themselves pending
when ASUU calls off the strike?
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