UI Students Launch Survival Fund For Petty Traders After Long-Strike Hinders Business on Campus.
One of the major aftermaths of the long-standing face-off between the striking Academic Union of Universities, ASUU and the Federal Government is the hindrance it has caused for business owners on campus majority of whose only source of livelihood is the petty trading that they do and the major stakeholders that ensure that business is profitable are the students who have been out of class for more than 5 months.
Out of concern, some well-meaning students decided to pull funds together to support these petty traders. In a tweet made by @leaderav1, an alumnus of the Faculty of Agriculture who proposed the idea, he said “This tweet is for Faculty of Agric & Vet. Med. University of Ibadan, Students and Alumni. I am sure an average person here will know ‘Mama BB Elewa’ in Animal Sc.
I spoke with her a few days ago, and it was obvious she has been home for 5 months now, because of the ASUU strike and the food business seems like her major dependence.
I had thought to send her something but I know many people here will feel the same way. Mama was a lifesaver while we were on campus. We can do something
@Dejman09 @LagosNas @_B_energy @Ayan_Eledumare
Let’s Kip tagging”
The tweet which went viral is believed to have gathered some level of support from fellow UItes and other well meaning individuals.
The effect of this ASUU is unquantifiable as it goes just beyond students being out of the classroom. Shops loaded with goods have been shut for months across different locations in the university, campus transporters have had to battle with an increase in fuel prices and relatively non-existence of commuters within the campus, and students have had to pay out of their pockets for health care services due to the inability to access the health insurance scheme made available by NHIS due to the ongoing NASU strike. Everyone is affected either directly or indirectly by the downing of tools of the concerned individuals.
Remember, ASUU had initially declared a 1-month warning strike on 14th February 2022 but has continually extended the industrial action to actively press home their demands.
