The Academic Staff Union of Universities popularly known as ASUU is the union of all academic staff in public universities across the nation. However, with the enviable exception of private universities and few public universities such as the Lagos State University (LASU), Anambra State University (ANSU) – now called Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), and in the recent past, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) who re-joined the union during the height of COVID-19 in 2020.
Fun fact: LASU pulled out of the union in 2020 while UNILORIN joined in 2020. Also, not all schools under the union currently, are taking part in the ongoing nationwide strike. For example, Delta State University – who joined in the first 2-week strike and then pulled out of the strike – is currently running active academic activities.
Despite the union’s aim to collectively improve the public tertiary education system in the country, it has continuously faced structural, institutional and financial obstacles, largely from the government. these setbacks have often manifested in several ways but mostly resulting to strike actions by union. Over decades, the occurrence of these industrial actions have lasted from days to months, with the ongoing national strike, which has started since February 14, 2022.
Exactly 5 months since the beginning of this current strike, our Medical Mirror (MM) correspondent – Isaac Ekundayo – conducted a vox populi among UNILORIN medical students. As this is their first experience with such “long break” in their academic session due to the union’s industrial action. In these short interviews, they share their views on the ASUU strike, opinions on their school joining the union at this time and how all of these has affected their medical aspirations.
-
O. E., 500L Medical Student
MM: Hi. How are you doing?
Hello. I’m doing great.
MM: Take us through your thought process when choosing Medicine and Unilorin.
I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was a boy. I know it sounds cliché, but I had an earlier experience that just sealed medicine for me. I tried to explore other career paths, but I never wanted anything else as much as I wanted medicine. My dad chose Unilorin but I wanted to go to UI, Ibadan as it was adjudged the best school at the time.
MM: What was your reaction when Unilorin joined ASUU?
Well, I felt bothered. There was this, “why is it in my time, can’t they do it after I’ve graduated” feeling.
MM: How do you feel about being affected by this strike?
It’s terrible! No student should have to be put through this. Before Unilorin joined, we only heard about strikes, and we never suffered the consequences but sadly, they are now a part of ASUU again.
-
O. F., 500L Medical Student
MM: Hi. How are you doing?
I’m okay. I’m holding up.
MM: Take us through your thought process when choosing Medicine and Unilorin.
Choosing Medicine, right now, I’m not sure what I was thinking or if there was even a thought process at all, as I just found myself here. I wasn’t even forced by my parents or anything. I just know I’ve always wanted to be a doctor. I found out Unilorin existed shortly after my JSS3 exams and then the icing on the cake, was a Federal university that doesn’t go on strike and that was the major reason I chose the school.
MM: What was your reaction when Unilorin joined ASUU?
What???!!! Didn’t think too much of it until the 2020 strike happened though.
MM: How do you feel about being affected by this strike?
Terrible doesn’t describe it. It sucks. I hate it so much. I hate it more that it’s beyond my control. It’s too late to go back and start over in a private university or something but I’m not moving forward either. Again, it sucks and I want out.
-
H. F., 600L Medical Student
MM: Hi. How are you doing?
Hello, I’m doing great
MM: Take us through your thought process when choosing Medicine and Unilorin.
It was like a do-or-die affair, I had always chosen another school before choosing Unilorin, so it was pure joy when I was giving medicine after applying to Unilorin.
MM: What was your reaction when Unilorin joined ASUU?
I was devasted, wishing they had waited for me to graduate before making that decision…lol, but that would sound selfish right?
MM: How do you feel about being affected by this strike?
Just the constant extension of my stay in school. I was supposed to have graduated 2 years ago, but it is what it is. Anyways, I keep looking for the light in the dark tunnel, so we keep pushing.
-
U. P., 600L Medical Student
MM: Hi. How are you doing?
Hello, I’m fine, thank God.
MM: Take us through your thought process when choosing Medicine and Unilorin.
Choosing Medicine was more of God’s divine plan for me than coincidence and Choosing Unilorin was because of the short distance from home and the fact that their calendar was quite fast.
MM: What was your reaction when Unilorin joined ASUU?
At first, I thought it was just a lie. I was like, “why will a whole Unilorin join ASUU?” That’s not possible. When the whole truth dawned on me, I was sad but hopeful at the same time that it won’t be that bad.
MM: How do you feel about being affected by this strike?
I won’t lie. It has affected me a lot. The first strike (2020) was quite not noticeable because of the Coronavirus break, and when school resumed, I was happy that latest December 2022, I would be out of medical school. Not until a 1-month break became 2 months and has since continued. It took the help of my mother and her words of encouragement through this strike to regain my sanity. Now the whole idea of finishing 2022 will only take a miracle for it to happen after staying 7 years for a 6 years course.
-
A. R., 500L Medical Student
MM: Hi. How are you doing?
Hey there! I’m doing okay. I’m fine, I guess.
MM: Take us through your thought process when choosing Medicine and Unilorin.
Okay, I’ve always wanted to do Medicine right from when I was in primary school but when I got to SS2, I briefly entertained the thought of being a Marine Engineer and the thought was very strong at that time. I had to speak with my parents about it and they encouraged me to follow my dreams but gradually as I thought more about it, I realized that I do love medicine more than engineering and that was how I finally decided on medicine. So, when it was time to fill the jamb form, I only had one school in mind, OAU, until the night before I went to the jamb office.
That night, I watched a movie and it was based on a history of cultism in OAU, damn! I was really scared. So, I googled “which federal university in Nigeria had the lowest cultism rate”, and at that time found Unilorin top on the list. Before then, I had never heard of Unilorin before. My secondary school seniors have always been in either UI or OAU or Uniben. That’s what we all gunned for. I read all I could find on Unilorin that night and also got to know about their stable academic calendar streak, as they don’t go on strike, mehnn I was super excited, it was like double blessings in one. The next day I was at the jamb office inputting Unilorin, excited about the prospects that await me.
MM: What was your reaction when Unilorin joined ASUU?
I scoffed at it. I didn’t get the implication initially; my mind didn’t process it that it’s going to be a full-force kind of membership. In my mind, I was like, no way Unilorin would want to break that 30+ years of the stable academic calendar just like that. But now my eyes don clear.
MM: How do you feel about being affected by this strike?
For most of the strike, I’ve been indifferent actually. Especially because entering the strike I already had things planned out and as long I was making progress with those plans, I still have that feeling of doing something worthwhile with my life. But then lately it’s been getting to me because it’s Medicine I chose! Nothing else! The strike disrupted things and has been making me consider a lot of things. In all, I just hope it ends soon.
-
M. A., 600L Medical Student
MM: Hi. How are you doing?
Hey there! I’m doing okay.
MM: Take us through your thought process when choosing Medicine and Unilorin.
So, I chose Unilorin as a backup plan while I was doing my A-levels. I didn’t commit to it, but when I was notified of admission before I was done with my A-Levels exams (and it was for medicine), I decided to take it. Medicine has always been a dream for me since I was in secondary school.
MM: What was your reaction when Unilorin joined ASUU?
When Unilorin joined ASUU, I was only mildly worried, because, I figured I’ll be done before any strike that would affect me would occur. How wrong I was.
MM: How do you feel about being affected by this strike?
I feel helpless being affected by the strike. It’s a whole new level of hopelessness especially since this is the second long strike in two years. It’s exhausting especially since I’m still not used to having struck, and I’m already spending more time than I anticipated in school.
-
A. P., 500L Medical Student
MM: Hi. How are you doing?
I am doing great; I’m trying to make the best out of the holiday.
MM: Take us through your thought process when choosing Medicine and Unilorin.
I chose medicine because it was the default while growing up, I saw it as the only option available. Reflecting back, when I was in primary school, my aunt’s suitor got me a gift; a doctor’s toy set for children – that had a first aid box, stethoscope, and injections. I think, subconsciously it made me think that was what I wanted. Going into secondary school, I was very interested in science courses. It just felt like it was just medicine, it felt like it was the next right thing to do.
Then Unilorin, like every other person, I thought it was a straightforward school that didn’t go on strike. It was also cost-effective because I didn’t want to go to a private school. There was this belief then, that the medicine in private schools is not as good as those in government-owned schools. So, among government-owned schools, Unilorin was high up there and hard to get. It felt like it was reserved for the “best of the best” and it offered certainty that others couldn’t offer.
MM: What was your reaction when Unilorin joined ASUU?
When Unilorin joined ASUU, I was sad and disappointed. I felt really bad, I now started asking myself why I didn’t go to UI or OAU or even Unilag. The only reason I came to Unilorin was no longer obtainable, Ilorin wasn’t a place we spoke about at home, it was just the University. There are better options I could have gone for. I was sad, unhappy, and shocked. Why didn’t they wait till I graduate or something like that?
MM: How do you feel about being affected by this strike?
I am not happy. This strike has prolonged my stay, already there was the pandemic and the first strike they had. I am supposed to be graduating this year, I am class of 2022, but as it is, I might be done in maybe 2023 or 2024. This is still one strike, so I don’t even know, plus medicine is not the type of course you will shorten or rush. You must do all the number of weeks in each posting, it’s not something to be happy about. It’s something I don’t like to disturb myself about because I’ve realized that I have no control over it. I just try to take my mind off it and maximize the time I have.
-
A. K., 600L Medical Student
MM: Hi. How are you doing?
I’m doing great, thank you.
MM: Take us through your thought process when choosing Medicine and Unilorin.
Well, I had always wanted medicine so I decided to go for it. Tried twice and eventually got in the third time. Choosing Unilorin was never up for debate. I am an indigene and the session then was fast and reliable.
MM: What was your reaction when Unilorin joined ASUU?
I was really sad. I still am… and disappointed.
MM: How do you feel about being affected by this strike?
I feel bad, to be honest. Knowing that the end is near but not being able to reach that end because my school decided to join ASUU. It’s frustrating!
-
A. E., 600L Medical Student
MM: Hi. How are you doing?
Hello, good evening.
MM: Take us through your thought process when choosing Medicine and Unilorin.
Medicine was a calling for me. My dad always wanted to be a doctor, but he became an orphan at a very early age and as such, that wasn’t going to be possible. Growing up, listening to his story made me see the medical profession as a higher calling, to preserve and save lives. The University of Ilorin, was by divine design. I didn’t even know Unilorin didn’t go on strike when I chose it. But that was a good idea until ASUU happened to us.
MM: What was your reaction when Unilorin joined ASUU?
I hoped that Nigeria will be sane and that we wouldn’t have any delays, even though that was almost an impossible wish.
MM: How do you feel about being affected by this strike?
Right now, I’m disillusioned. I’m struggling to keep focus. Though God is helping me with that and I’ve got some amazing friends with who we pray together, encourage each other, and study together. This too shall pass… In due time, we’ll all be doctors. That’s my mantra. God’s time is the best.
-
T. O., 500L Medical Student
MM: Hi. How are you doing?
I’m very well, thank you.
MM: Take us through your thought process when choosing Medicine and Unilorin.
Well, I’d have to say they were God-breathed options, because there wasn’t any other option, especially on my choice of course study. Another thing that helped my Unilorin decision was them not being a part of ASUU and the other reputation I had heard of the school.
MM: What was your reaction when Unilorin joined ASUU?
I was a bit concerned but hopeful that it wouldn’t disturb my school journey.
MM: How do you feel about being affected by this strike?
Well, I want it to be over as soon as possible because it’s disrupting a lot of things.
Editor’s note:
Name initials were used for confidentiality purpose, however exact levels were retained. This article was collated via interviews, private chats and phone conversations with our correspondent in Unilorin. Photo credit – Bing.
