Abdulrasheed Akere reports,
As the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) strike action has refused to end, students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) have crossed to private universities, polytechnics, and colleges. Their switch of allegiance means that they would not return to the institution even after the strike.
Khadijat Opeyemi Abalu, a sophomore Biochemistry student at UDUS, revealed that she gained admission to study Nursing at the Oyo State College of Nursing and Midwifery.
Speaking about how she secured the admission within five months of ASUU strike, Abalu noted that, "the possibility of the admission is because I've since been striving to get this course with many trials even while in school [UDUS]."
"Though I never thought of a College of Nursing because after my semester exams cum the one month warning strike, I stayed back at school to prepare for this year's JAMB since that has been my usual in the journey of struggling to be a medical personnel. I just woke up with a disturbed mind one fateful morning, thinking about how things are going in the country as there's no hope of the strike coming to an end soon. Considering that I am a 200 level student and looking at how strike has become a norm in every session, I realised that my plans to process another admission into a federal university will be a very long journey.
"I sought my brother and friend's advice about trying the College of Nursing examinations since the programme is strike free. Therefore, I planned to obtain 3 College of Nursing forms, but fortunately the first attempt was also the last.
"As for me, the strike is a blessing in disguise as I was able to gain admission into the field I have been striving for. Despite having moved on, I never stop thinking about this incessant, unremitting and unceasing strike that is eating up the future of brilliant youths. It's saddening and heartbreaking to spend seven years on a course of four years when there's still a lot of things ahead," she lamented.
Shuaib Khalid, popularly known as Klassic, a 300 level student of Education Economics in UDUS also gained admission into Al-hikmah university, a private university located in Kwara State.
Like Khalid, Kasim Mus'ab, a Biochemistry freshman at UDUS, gained admission into the Department of Biotechnology at the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA). PEN Press gathered about his selection through UDUS INFO – a WhatsApp TV that shares information about UDUS.
The Whatsapp TV had shared a list of newly admitted NDA cadets with the caption;
"Congratulations to a Danfodite UG 1 Biochemistry student on your admission into Nigeria Defense Academy. Bye bye to ASUU strike."
Yahyah Jamiu, an Economics freshman, explained that there is a low probability of him returning to UDUS because he is considering a switch to either Al-Hikmah University in Kwara State or Kwara State University.
"If the strike continues to linger, Northern universities will lose many students. As a matter of fact, a friend of mine in Mathematics department at UDUS has gained admission into thePolytechnic of Ede, Osun state," Jamiu worried.
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The reporter, Abdulrasheed Akere is a 200 level student at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
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