Photo Credit: Vanguard The National University Commission (NUC) has directed all Federal Government owned universities in Nigeria to close activities on February 22nd, 2023. In the same directive, the institutions can decide to resume the classrooms anytime from March 22, 2023.
According to the directive, the decision was taken to allow the over 3.8 million registered voters, accounting for 40.8 per cent of students, to participate in the elections.
The reason for the university closure might be objective, the period of the holiday could be considered not well-thought-out as it may pose more threat to the peaceful experience in the country, despite the recent hike in economic hardships.
An idle hand is known to be the devil's workshop, meaning the large population of students in the country may worsen the situation, in the country if they are kept out of schools.
Going by experience in the country, students partake more in protests that have posed challenges to the existence of the country when they are out of school, more than when they are busy with their studies in the classrooms.
Looking at the emerging protests because of the hardships imposed on the citizens by the new naira policies and fuel scarcity, the situation would worsen if students are made available for those who would want to play politics with the protests.
Since elections will take place in two weeks, it could be reasonable for the concerned authorities to declare holidays for the students in each of the election weeks, to keep the 3.8 million students safe and busy with their academic pursuits rather than giving them unnecessary opportunities to take part in protesters that may endanger their future and frustrate the peace of the nation.
Category: Forum
Tag: Nucuniversity students
Written by Ejiro Hassan (ejiro)
Published 2/10/2023 8:12:31 AM