Education
STRIKE: ALL STAKEHOLDERS MUST SUPPORT ASUU TO REVITALISE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM—ASHIRU
STRIKE: ALL STAKEHOLDERS MUST SUPPORT ASUU TO REVITALISE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM—ASHIRU
By: Michael Mike
Dr Dele Ashiru, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch has canvassed for support of all stakeholders in the educational sector to support the union in its agitation for the revitalisation of public universities in Nigeria.
Ashiru made the plea during a virtual lecture on ‘” No Dull Moment in Islam” Platform on the topic ” Putting an end to the perennial ASUU strike: The Role of the Academia, Government, Parents and Students”, saying ASUU alone has been under attack by the state and the general public.
Ashiru traced the decadence in educational institutions in Nigeria to the incursion of the military into politics in such a way that it has changed the original aims and standard of university education in Nigeria.
The Union leader also recalled that the introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) during General Ibrahim Babangida regime in 1986 worsened the living standard of both staff and students as well as the parents.
” Nigerian Universities rather than being citadels of learning became citadels of violence, corruption, neglect, and mal-administration and the system brew various crimes”, he said.
The university Don said that contrary to the pervasive belief about ASUU as a strike- loving organisation, the struggles of ASUU has been geared towards the revitalisation and sustenance of public education in Nigeria.
He explained that it was the ASUU agitation as a trade union of intellectuals that led to the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement and 2012 ASUU ” Needs Assessment of Nigeria Universities “.
Ashiru added that it was ASUU struggles that led to the creation of Education Trust Fund now TETFUND established as an intervention for the provision of physical infrastructure in the public universities.
He submitted that underfunding of University education in Nigeria is a deliberate state strategy for the imposition of the ruling elite hegemony for the purpose of social and political domination.
He opined that to solve all the problems, all stakeholders, students, government and parents must support ASUU in the agitation for restructuring the educational system to make it more functional, liberating and empowering.
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Ashiru also reiterated his position on increase in funding, accountability and transparency as well as war on unethical practises and struggle for total system change.
Earlier, the National Coordinator of the “No Dull Moment in Islam” an online Platform, Prof. AbdulRasak Kilani said the lecture was part of its own contribution to resolve the impasse between the Federal Government and the University lecturers aimed at finding lasting solution to the crisis as the students and the educational sector are suffering.
Highlights of the three- hour lecture include comments from some participants on the platform on repercussions of the ASUU strike on some state Universities on solidarity strike but when resolved would not benefit them in any way.
ASUU, as an association, was equally advised to carry everyone along in their agitation such as other unions within the university environment, so as to be fair to all concerned.
Also, there were lamentations of Nigeria losing its best brains of lecturers and students to foreign universities once there is any prolonged strike, pleading with the two parties to come back to the negotiating table in the interest of the poor masses who could not afford the high school fees of the private universities in Nigeria.
There were concerns and suggestions to the government to equally look into the situation of things in other critical sectors like Health, agriculture, security, judiciary, Media and civil service so as not to degenerate to another strikes that will hurt the country system.
STRIKE: ALL STAKEHOLDERS MUST SUPPORT ASUU TO REVITALISE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM—ASHIRU
UNIMAID Student Drowns in Gwange River, Another Rescued
By: Zagazola Makama
A tragic drowning incident has claimed the life of a University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) student, while another was rescued after they went swimming at the Gwange River Bank in Maiduguri.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on March 14, 2025, around 7:00 p.m., when two UNIMAID students, identified as Abafras Abdiel from the Department of Forestry and Silas Sule from the Department of Geology, went to the Gwange River Bank behind ECWA Church for a swim.
While diving, both students drowned in the river, prompting an emergency response. A combined rescue team, including the police, divers, and fire service personnel, was immediately mobilized to the scene.
The rescue team managed to retrieve both victims and rushed them to the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri. While Abafras Abdiel was admitted for treatment, Silas Sule was unfortunately certified dead by doctors. His body has since been deposited at the hospital for autopsy and further investigations.
The authorities have urged students and residents to exercise caution when engaging in activities near water bodies, especially during the dry season, when river currents can be unpredictable.
UNIMAID Student Drowns in Gwange River, Another Rescued
Federal University Gusau: A 300-level student died in a bandit’s den in Zamfara
By: Our Reporter
This is truly heartbreaking. Zarah Abubakar Shehu, a 21-year-old 300-level student at Federal University Gusau, was abducted along with her two siblings by bandits in the early hours of Sunday, November 3, 2024, from their home in the Damba area of Gusau, Zamfara State.
The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of ₦35 million for their release. After much struggle, the family managed to gather ₦10 million, which the kidnappers agreed to accept. However, even after receiving the money, they still refused to release Zarah. Instead, they demanded four motorcycles (Boza) and four cartons of engine oil.
Zarah and her siblings spent four months in captivity. When all the items were finally gathered, the kidnappers’ leader was informed. He then called his men to check on the captives. To everyone’s horror, his men responded that only two children remained; one of them, Zarah, had passed away and had already been buried two days earlier.
Zarah was the only daughter of her mother, making her loss even more devastating. Her passing is not just a tragedy for her family but a heartbreaking reflection of the ongoing insecurity in Zamfara State and the pain that countless families endure.
Federal University Gusau: A 300-level student died in a bandit’s den in Zamfara
Gunmen Kidnap Four Students in Katsina State
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected armed bandits have abducted four students from Paris Quarters, behind the Federal University, Dutsinma, in Katsina State, security sources told Zagazola Makama on Sunday.
The attack occurred at about 2:20 a.m. on Sunday, when the assailants, reportedly in large numbers, quietly invaded the area and whisked away four individuals.
The victims have been identified as Wali Kayode (25), Fahad Muhammad (20), Emmanuel (surname unknown), and another yet-to-be-identified person.
Security operatives were mobilized to the scene immediately after receiving a distress call but the bandits had fled.
Security sources said that Efforts are ongoing to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victims safely.
Gunmen Kidnap Four Students in Katsina State
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