Reality of Being a Nigerian Student.

 

This year in my school, students were busy gathering reading materials in preparation for their examination. Some students went back home to gather enough goodies back to school to sustain them throughout the examination period.

 Most students already began night classes and some stayed back in their hostels to read, everyone started to be very busy.

But unexpectedly,news came on the 14th of February that the members of ASUU are embarking on a month's strike by reason of their withheld allowances by the federal government. Every preparation came to a hault, expectations were turned down, and students were to return home for a whole month. 

After I received the information that ASUU were going on a strike, instead of jubilating and being excited about it as my room mates were, I mourned silently. I didn't like the idea of going back home knowing what I was going home to face as the first and only daughter of the family. The other year 2020,that corona year, I had a lot of unforgettable and painful experience at home,most times I cried in my closet praying discreetly for a change, praying that ASUU should change their mind. I wasn't being maltreated at home, neither was I being underfed it was just that I had different and stressful responsibilities to carry out all alone since I've got only male siblings. Lazy men who will only help after pleading and promising to give a repay for the things they will also benefit from

I returned home from school on the 26th of February this year. I packed a few stuffs from my room and took keke to Itam park in uyo. 

A man was there, slightly old with folds of wrinkles on his face. He looked at me carefully and started walking towards my direction.

"Oh abi na ASUU do you this one?" 

I moved my eyes over his face and forced a smile "na mumu dey worry them" I responded firmly.

"Me too l don taste am before e go better,where you dey go?" His eyes were red, he's been smoking maybe.

"Ikot Ekpene Sir."

The man led me into the park and I boarded a taxi going to Ikot Ekpene. 

As I entered the taxi, I found a young man in there reading one of Achebe's books; THE TROUBLE WITH NIGERIA. I sat right behind him grinning "you are reading about this fucked up country?"

The man smiled "I just love to remind myself of history so I know I can correct some things when I'm there as a leader."

"Hmmm." I remained silent and rather choosed to watch the hawkers moving up and down the park creating awareness about their goods, some were shouting while others simply clapped.

The taxi was already on the road and the driver played a cool music as we drove.

 Just when I was closer to my destination,one of Lucky Dube's song began to play ... they won't build no school anymore all they'll build will be prison prison.

I stared at the faces of the passengers which were mostly students and became extremely amused "it's the song for me." I said as I alighted from the taxi.