The ASUU strike spanning almost 7 months has impacted university students, mostly in federal institutions in different ways. Here, in the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, all preclinical and most clinical classes are experiencing delays in their academic pursuit as postings have been put on hold. Even the final year class, who were supposed to be June doctors are now in Limbo.
Hence, the UIMSA Clinical Press conducted an interview to see how some members of the final year 2K17 class have been coping following their prolonged stay, delayed exams, and the uncertainty of when they will get their degrees due to this ASUU strike.
AREMU PETER
Interviewer: Please introduce yourself
Response: I am Aremu Peter Seyi, a member of the MBBS 2k17 class, meant to graduate this year. I am a photographer and a reproductive health enthusiast.
Interview: How do you feel about the uncertainty surrounding your final exams due to the ASUU strike?
Response: Well, I feel unmotivated and sometimes frustrated because I know the progress some of my colleagues and even juniors have made compared to where I find myself right now. I really admire people who have the motivation to read properly when there is no certain date for what they are preparing for. The uncertainty has hampered my reading. I want to read but I don’t have enough resolve to read. The strike is also letting a lot of us focus on extracurricular activities; for example, I have been trying to focus on my photography. In summary, as for preparing for the exams, I won’t say it is going well. While there is a lot to do, it is difficult to focus.
Interviewer: Share with us your daily routine since the postponement of the exam.
Response: Averagely, my daily routine has been; I wake up, I try to quickly fix myself breakfast as they take light by 8 AM, then take tutorials, I watch movies, I take a break, work on my photography, continue with my movies, and hopefully sleep off.
Interviewer: What are your expectations towards the strike being called off?
Response: I hope latest by August the strike will be called off and many of us will be able to conclude our academics in this environment and proceed to the next phase. At the same time, it will be sad if ASUU doesn’t get anything significant out of this strike.
Interviewer: To what extent has the strike affected your plans generally?
Response: On a range of 0 to 10, I will say 6, I was hoping after the conclusion of the exams I will be married (smiles…. on a lighter note). I was hoping to get started with my internship but the strike is affecting that as the center I want to apply to is currently not accepting. But truthfully this strike will have some major effects in the long run as some of these programs and internships are time bound. The House job which we could have started has been delayed for more than a year now.
Interviewer: Thank you. Any last words for us?
Response: I am not dying yet (smiles) but las las we go de alright.
Interviewer: Thank you very much.
OMITOYIN OLUWAFERANMI
Interviewer: Thank you for agreeing to this interview sir. I’d like to ask you a few questions concerning the delay in your finals. Please introduce yourself.
Response: I’m Omitoyin Oluwaferanmi.
Interviewer: We’d like to know you better than that. What do you do, what are your likes and dislikes, your passions, etc?
Response: I’m Oluwaferanmi Omitoyin, a policitician and a business man. I own a clothing brand named SoftWears that focuses on making custom made suits. I am passionate about people and ensuring they are well cared for and empowered, primarily through the gospel and then ancillary means. I don’t like time wasting.
Interviewer: Interesting. I take it you’re a very driven person. As such, I have to wonder, how do you feel about the uncertainty surrounding your final exams due to the strike?
Response: I am purpose driven, you’re right. I truly empathize with students generally affected by the strike action and I hope that the situation is resolved so the people can resume. However personally, I have no hindrances whatsoever. I am currently engaged in capacities beyond the four walls of school, hence, I am well occupied in the line of purpose.
Interviewer: Alright sir, can you elaborate on your current engagements, if you don’t mind?
Response: I could share a few. I’m currently working on a team to organise a two-day conference called Heart Enlargement Speciale which would be holding on the 16th and 17th of September this year at the International Conference Centre.
I am also working as the Youth Vice President of an international organisation to coordinate a conference in Denmark in late September.
In addition, I regularly attend to the much needed demands of my business and other endeavors I’m involved in.
Interviewer: Wow! You truly are keeping very busy in this period. Would you say these engagements keep you occupied daily? What’s your day to day schedule like?
Response: Yes, they do keep me occupied daily and I make conscious efforts to ensure I utilize my time as judiciously as possible. I ensure I rest appropriately.
Typically I wake up early in the morning pray and join Hour of Greatness on mixlr, then I prefer writing out my proposed tasks for the day. Writing things down makes it more real to me. This way I’m able to achieve quite a number of things set out. I have impromptu meetings every now and then but typically I work into the early hours of the morning. But I always ensure to get some rest and some food.
Interviewer: Well done sir, I like that you include self-care into your rigorous regimen. I can tell you aren’t hindered by the strike, but could you nevertheless enlighten me on your expectations about the strike being called off?
Response: Thank you very much ma’am. Well basically it’d be great if the strike is called off however it appears there are many deep seated issues which resulted in this lengthy strike as in previous strikes. Hopefully, the situation is resolved properly in order to avoid another strike in the nearest future.
Interviewer: We all really hope so too. So far has the protracted strike affected your plans in any way and to what extent generally?
Response: Basically, I did not plan to be a student here for so long hence some plans have been affected but wisdom dictated to move on and accomplish as much as possible given the current circumstances.
Interviewer: It’s great that you refuse to be hindered in any way. Would you say you are still preparing for your exams? Are you still studying?
Response: Trying to here and there, lol. But nothing so intense.
Interviewer: I see. You’ve already covered everything, right?
Response: Lmao. Does anyone actually cover everything?
Interviewer: If they ask you to write your exam tomorrow you’re set, yes?
Omitoyin Oluwaferanmi: I’ll rather not. I’ll need to brush up a bit.
Interviewer: How long a notice do you think you’ll be given before your finals? We know ogba can do and undo.
Response: At least a week because we must do pink form clearance.
Interviewer: Alright. I suppose that will give you enough time to brush up.
Response: Hopefully. I’ll be reading up till then though.
Interviewer: I hope so too on your behalf. Finally, do you have any closing words sir?
Response: Life punishes timidity, take giant strides. You are not too young or too old to start doing big things.
Interviewer: Very wise words indeed. Thank you for your time, sir. It’s been a pleasure.
Response: You’re most welcome. Thank you for having me.
CHUKWU FRANCES
Interviewer: Please introduce yourself.
Response: My name is Chukwu Frances, a member of the MBBS 2017 class.
Interviewer: How do you feel about the uncertainty surrounding your final exams due to the strike?
Response: It’s an incredibly difficult thing to be in “limbo”. It’s even worse when you’re can finally see the end of the road and roadblocks prevent you from getting there. Regarding the exams, studying indefinitely is really tough and the uncertainty can be demoralizing.
Interviewer: Can you share your daily routine since the postponement of the Exam with us?
Response: Lol the days have basically coalesced into one long stretch. Days of the week no longer feel different too. Initially I was waking up, studying, sleeping and studying again.
As the exam doesn’t seem to be in view anymore, I wake up, try to get some exercise done to clear my headspace, I join DMG tutorials whenever it’s holding, get some breakfast, attempt to study, sleep/social media, talk to people I love and sleep some more.
Night comes really quickly when you’re practically idle.
Interviewer: What are your expectations about the strike being called off?
Response: I’m hoping it gets called off soon because I’m barely hanging by a thread at this point.
Interviewer: To what extent has the strike affected your plans generally?
Response: It’s almost impossible to plan with a country like ours. I had hoped to be out of here by now but we move. I had a lot of plans post the exam. Unfortunately, you don’t know when it would get called off so it’s difficult to move forward with a major exam looming over your head.
Interviewer: Thank you, any last words?
Response: I’m sending love to my classmates. It’s such a difficult time and it’s difficult to stay afloat. Hang in there💙💙
TOLUWANIMI ADEYANJU
Interviewer: Please introduce yourself.
Response: I’m Toluwanimi Adeyanju, a member of the 2017 set.
Interviewer: How do you feel about the uncertainty surrounding your final exams due to the strike?
Response: It could be disturbing sometimes because we’re currently stuck. However, this is not the first strike we have experienced, so I’m adapting and trying to make the best out of it.
Interviewer: Can you share your daily routine since the postponement of the Exam with us?
Response: I’ve been home for a while now. My day starts with my morning devotion, and then I figure out what to do next. It may be watching a movie, reading a book, working on a design or trying to catch up on other responsibilities. Thankfully, I also receive reminders from my friends to keep studying and to always be ready. On some other days, I have activities that require me to leave the house.
Interviewer: What are your expectations about the strike being called off?
Response: Honestly, I hope it’s called off soon. However, there seems to be no progress between ASUU and the government. I just hope they reach an agreement soon and that all these issues are finally settled.
Interviewer: To what extent has the strike affected your plans generally?
Response: Well, I think the uncertainty prevents me from putting dates to my after-school plans. Also, it has limited how far I can go with certain interests because I’m still a student.
Interviewer: Thank you, any last words?
Response: It may take some time, but we’ll all make it out. Someway, somehow, God makes everything beautiful.
These series of interviews was conducted by Metajuwa-kuda Emmanuel, Opeoluwa Oreoluwa, and Okoye Chisom.