UCJ Editorial: 9 months of idling; Lessons learned and progressive way forward

Main gate, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

It all started with a notification on June 13th, 2016, of the indefinite 2015/2016 Harmattan semester break, when we were asked to go home until further notice.

“Why would the school close down a week to the commencement of exams?”, we asked ourselves.

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Weeks later, as if the indefinite semester break was not enough, news of ASUU, LAUTECH, embarking on strike on the 19th of September filled the air.

However, students, as optimistic as ever, continued to have hopes of resuming to academic activities soon -- the soon that did not come until 9 months later.

During the course of the ‘break’ which would later become known as ‘ASUU LAUTECH strike,’ LAUTECH students put up an unprecedented united front to combat the crisis. We employed every weapon we could use.

Many created several accounts in social media and started the #ReopenLAUTECH campaign to attract media attention. Hence, it is important to commend our resilience and optimism.

Even the suspension of the Students’ Union was no obstacle as students took to the street to amplify their voices.

Our height of resilience and optimism would go a long way if we continue to channel them to impact our society positively.

Pertinent, as well, is that students -- or generally, youths -- should begin to question governing and governance in our society. We need to open our ears to understanding our rights as members of a democracy and not as subordinates to a “constituted authority,” or anyone who trades our rights to us as privileges.

Nine months is a long time in a person’s life. The period to bring forth a new life to the world. As students, we must begin to evolve our thinking away from seeing the university as a mere certificate-rendering gathering.

Education is all encompassing, and certification becomes useless without an actual education.

In a society like ours, where our entitlement would not become ours unless we fight for it, students should begin to employ intellectual pathways in their struggles.

The leaders of yesterday would remain the leaders of tomorrow if we don’t begin to take charge now.

Writing: Busari Azeezat, Editor-in-Chief/ Campus News Editor

Editing: Okike Samuel, Science and Technology Editor

Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), LAUTECH.