DIRECTIONLESS- MY PROFESSION
Feature Story
Directionless- It is a blurred life, there's no new day at all, just hours passing by. Unpredictable. Unstable. Uncertain. Unreliable.
Have you ever felt useless? I mean utterly and completely unproductive. This is one of the many feelings I have had over this past 8 months. Idleness they say is the devil's work tool-- but there is a level of idleness you would get to that even Satan himself would be reluctant to use you.
My name is Opemipo, I am a 400 level student at the University of Ilorin. But for the strike I probably will be done with my degree by now. The strike started immediately we were done with our first semester examinations, two weeks later the Covid-19 lockdown started; by the way Unilorin is a first time ASUU member in about 20 years, so this is my first strike action in the university. We did not for one think that it would turn out like this. My project supervisor even refused to answer us until the strike ends, so most of us haven't even finished chapter 1 which would make things a lot tougher when schools eventually resumes.
When I saw the directionless post I could relate immediately because it's my reality. I have tried to keep myself busy over the past months by attending online courses and workshops, I also registered for an online degree, ventured into a new business even, but it doesn't seem to fill the vacuum of purpose in me. I have done all this with little or no commitment thinking that the strike would be called off soon. I feel helpless and I don't know if venting here would help, but I was relieved to see that I wasn't the only one going through this quandary.
Educational sector for me in Nigeria lacks fecundity: every thing there lacks proper deliberation and planning, that's why the nation is slowly falling apart. It shouldn't be a by-thought for the Federal government to properly fund the educational sector, it should be the apex of our priorities. The benefits of a properly funded Education industry are multifarious and almost unquantifiable. If we really want to see Nigeria develop, a substantiality of the amount of our national budget must be allocated with appropriate supervision of funds so that monies meant for development won't be siphoned. We can look up to a future were we become the go-to country for quality education in the World; yes the world, it's possible the Chinese are doing it.
I ardently believe that the salvation of Nigeria would come from a new educated class of Nigerians that bear a conscientious ambition to move Nigeria out of the quagmire we find our self. Admissions to university must be based solely on merit and not on the number of palms you rub. Lecturers must stop harassing students for grades as this is prevalent in many of our school both public and private. There must be severe consequences for such actions as that limits our ability of averseness towards other forms of impunity being done in our schools today. That being said, if given the opportunity again to choose between a federal and private school I would choose the latter, despite the extravagant fees they pay at least a degree is guaranteed. Like Andy McIntyre said "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance".
To every one lacking a sense of direction, just hold on and hold out. For this storm would soon calm, and when it does we should be ready to hold our destiny in our own hands. Every investment in knowledge would give rewards, either positive or negative returns.
Contributor: Opemipo (UniIllorin)
Published and Edited by Directionless
"Directionless- It is a blurred life, there's no new day at all, just hours passing by. Unpredictable. Unstable. Uncertain. Unreliable."
These lines got me hooked as it describes how I've felt these past weeks. But I'm done. Like I'm done waiting for the outcome of the FG and ASUU meetings. I'm done wondering when next they will meet and end this nightmare. I've had enough heart breaks. I'm moving on. Whenever they are ready to end this, we'll continue.
Beautiful piece.