Afrigather 
2022 was a tough yr for college students in public tertiary establishments in Nigeria. They’ve been confronted with fairly plenty of points, starting from the ASUU strike, unhealthy electrical energy provide, enhance in the price of foodstuffs and Liquefied Petroleum Gasoline (LGP), amongst others.
Recall that public establishments had been shut for 8 months final yr after the Tutorial Workers Union of Universities launched into a nationwide strike to press house its calls for for improved funding for universities, a evaluation of salaries for lecturers, amongst different points. College students had been compelled to remain of their homes, with their companies crushed and the tutorial yr prolonged.
These points have negatively impacted college students, they usually hope that 2023 comes with a distinct and constructive environment.
College students hope for a greater 2023
Mohammed Taoheed, a pupil of Usmanu Danfodiyyo College, Sokoto State, stated for college students to outlive in 2023, meals objects, value of things, and value of primary facilities be diminished and made obtainable.
“Because the hike within the gasoline value started, most drivers elevated the charges to pay to board their buses. It doesn’t assist somebody like me, however I’m not the one one, who lives within the Southwest however needed to journey to my faculty in Sokoto State. Think about quite a lot of poor college students couldn’t come to high school on time, this impacts their tutorial pursuits. Dangerous electrical energy provide additionally affected my teachers. In 2023, the insufficient availability of those poses a menace to survival as a pupil within the nation.” he stated.
A change within the nation’s management would make 2023 higher, Muhammed Bello Buhari, from Ahmadu Bello College, Zaria, stated whereas additionally urging the federal government to make sure that plans are put in place for college students within the coming yr to keep away from them dropping out of college.
“It’s unhappy that whereas there’s an erratic energy provide regardless of the failed privatization course of, the one different technique of particular person era of energy, petrol, is just not obtainable. The double disaster has tremendously affected the prices of manufacturing, consequently rising the prices of virtually every part at a time when our forex is at its ebb.
“As a pupil, it has affected many people in some ways as a result of the conventional value we purchased earlier than has now elevated with some additional expenses due to the hike within the value of gasoline. And that is coming after we’re nonetheless reeling from the pains of the ASUU strike and now there’s a hike in gasoline costs and nearly the price of every part. For sure, electrical energy can also be thought-about not solely a serious determinant of financial growth however a catalyst for college students’ welfare and tutorial efficiency.” he stated
Oyolola Olamide from Adekunle Ajasin College Akungba (AAUA) needs the federal government to prioritize electrical energy in 2023.
“The petrol value, unhealthy electrical energy provide, ASUU, and enhance in transport fares, all these are what affected me and lots of different college students. I hope they will discover a means to ensure that each faculty has a very good electrical energy provide, that is without doubt one of the main wants of scholars, if our devices usually are not working, we are able to’t be taught successfully,” he stated.
Seyi Lasisi, a pupil at Olabisi Onabanjo College, opined that not a lot is more likely to change for Nigerian college students within the coming yr. He expressed fears over the potential for strikes by Tutorial unions, increments in home rents, and tuition charges.
“College students are Nigerians and what this implies is that no matter economical or social points that face Nigerians will certainly have an effect on college students. However, as college students, we face the brunt extra. As a result of fairly plenty of us rely upon our dad and mom for survival. There have been actually days of starvation strikes and truancy as a result of there isn’t any cash to pay for transport fares. Subsequent yr is just some days away and the election is quick approaching. To be sincere, I don’t share within the sentiment and hope that subsequent yr will usher in one thing completely different for Nigerian college students. The potential of strike abounds, increment of college charges and increment of home rents by landlords are a number of the potential expectations for subsequent yr.” Seyi stated.
Polytechnic college students have additionally had a share in all of this. Ajisafe Ibukun from Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic needs this authorities to focus extra on monetary and entrepreneurial assist for college students, which is able to assist them be taught successfully with out monetary difficulties.“We had so many college students who’ve monetary troubles, the federal government ought to focus extra on offering extra monetary schemes for college students that will assist studying and assist them examine with ease. Pupil entrepreneurs have to be supported too, college students’ welfare is necessary and must be made a precedence.” Ajisafe stated.
