“I should have graduated in 2020, but ASUU had other plans.
Nigerian students share their pain and frustration.
- Creation of ASUU, Impacts & Strikes
- Real Stories from Nigerian Students
- “I spent two years because of ASUU strike” – Samad wrote on X.
- “My Dreams Paused, My Motivation Died” – Ibrahim’s Story
- I Lost My Admission Abroad” – Chiamaka’s Story
- My Parents Paid Rent for a House I Couldn’t Stay In” – Blessing’s Story
- We Graduated But Still Waiting for NYSC” – Tunde’s Story
- The Bigger Picture
- What Students Are Asking For
- Nigerian government Vs ASUU Demand
Many Nigerian university students have spent more time in school than their programs require.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have turned four year courses into a journey that last six to seven years. These years are filled with wasted time, shattered dreams and frustration.
Watching your fellow course mates graduate from private universities while you still have two more years to finish is heartbreaking.
The story of ASUU for many students isn’t just about missed lectures; it’s about mental exhaustion, lost opportunities and shattered dreams.
Nigerian students are not really happy with ASUU strikes. Playing politics with students dreams should not be in any individual or government agenda. Help Nigerian students build a better future.
Creation of ASUU, Impacts & Strikes
The Academic Staff Union of Universities was created solely to fight for public universities and better conditions for lecturers.
The truth remains that its intentions maybe noble but the constant strikes have done more harm than good to students it was supposed to protect. Nigerian students feel helpless, forgotten and anxious.
Real Stories from Nigerian Students
“I spent two years because of ASUU strike” – Samad wrote on X.
“Asuu is the worst thing to happen to students and I don’t wish it on anybody for no reason.
I spent two years extra in the university because of Asuu strike it’s a disgrace”.
“My Dreams Paused, My Motivation Died” – Ibrahim’s Story
“I started my course in 2017. By now, I should be working or doing my NYSC. But ASUU strikes added over two extra years. I felt stuck. Depression hit me hard because my mates in private universities had moved on with their lives while I was still at home doing nothing.”
I Lost My Admission Abroad” – Chiamaka’s Story
“In 2020, I got an admission offer from a Canadian university for my master’s degree. They needed my transcript before the deadline. But ASUU went on strike, and my university was shut down for eight months. I begged, called, even wrote letters, but there was no staff on campus to process it. I eventually lost the opportunity. I cried for weeks.”
Chiamaka’s story was exactly what Nigerian students were facing each time government and ASUU indefinite strikes show. Opportunities slip away from students simply because universities are closed.
My Parents Paid Rent for a House I Couldn’t Stay In” – Blessing’s Story
“During one of the long strikes, my parents had already paid for my off-campus hostel in Enugu. For eight months, I stayed at home while the room was empty. The money wasted could have paid part of my school fees”.
ASUU strikes creates financial burden for both students and parents. Every strike means wasted rent, wasted time, and wasted effort.
We Graduated But Still Waiting for NYSC” – Tunde’s Story
“After the 2022 strike, our exams were rushed. Then results delayed. Now, it’s been months since we graduated, and our NYSC mobilization list is still pending. Every delay from ASUU affects our next step in life.”
Tunde’s story exposes the long-term chain effect of strikes. Delayed graduation, late NYSC posting, and unemployment.
Bisu wrote,
“ASUU has destroyed the educational future of our Youths through its selfish induced strike more than any entity in our history. I know a young man that spent 7 years for a basic degree l, through no fault of his. And these lecturers flood private Universities to teach and earn”.
M.u.s.t.y F.X replied,
“Aswear to God you are right and we are supposed to start our second semester exams next month and guess what we don’t even know when we are finishing the semester again this is totally not fair a full year in just a session haba”.
Kemkem (Hajia) wrote on X,
ASUU has been going on strike since before some of our parents even graduated.
44 years later, same method, same results: none.
If an organization has been striking for over four decades with no visible change, while elongating students’ years in school, isn’t it time to try something new?
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result isn’t activism, it’s insanity.
Dear Dr. @NiyiSunmonu, may the Almighty bless you and all members of @conuanigeria — lecturers who believe in dialogue, not disruption. 🙏
HM @DrTunjiAlausa may the Almighty be your guiding light .
The Bigger Picture
ASUU strike isn’t an individual decision. It’s national. Nigerian public universities loses progress every time schools closed. Students lose focus, some may even turn to crime or create jobs to survival.
ASUU strike is an endemic silent destruction that eat deep into the nation youth and future workforce.
What Students Are Asking For
Nigerian Students are not against lecturers or the union’s demands. They just want educational stability. They want a system where their future isn’t held hostage by endless negotiations. Their voices heard, their years respected, and their education uninterrupted.
Nigerian government Vs ASUU Demand
Conclusion,
ASUU strikes have destroyed more than academic calendar. They’ve destroyed dreams, wasted time and shattered hopes.
Read more: Essential Study Abroad Checklist for Nigerian Students: What to Do Before Traveling Overseas
Every student has a story of loss, delay, or disappointment caused by these strikes. But the hope remains that someday, the Nigerian education system will put its students first.
We don’t want sympathy; we want a future that’s not postponed every semester.
Frequently Asked Questions.
ASUU usually goes on strike to demand better funding for universities, improved salaries, and working conditions for lecturers. However, while the fight is for better education, students often suffer the most during these strikes.
ASUU strikes cause major disruptions in the academic calendar. Students face delays in graduation, missed career opportunities, wasted rent and fees, emotional stress, and sometimes even a complete loss of motivation to continue school.
Many students take temporary jobs, learn skills, or start online businesses to stay productive. However, others struggle with boredom and anxiety because of uncertainty about when the strike will end.
Open dialogue between the Federal Government and ASUU, consistent funding for education, and legal frameworks for resolving disputes quickly could help prevent future strikes.
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