Nigerian Students: Mixed Reactions Trail Tentative Resumption Date

Nigerian students have expressed mixed reactions to this prescription. Some students believe it is possible to resume in the next month, while others disagree with this, stating that it is not possible because of financial difficulties in the country as a result of the pandemic.

Gemapera Joseph, a 200-level student of Political Science in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), said that it is possible to resume in the next month if the government puts down modalities to enable it.

“I doubt if the federal government and parents will comply with the instruction made by Afe Babalola. [Due] to the reality on [the] ground, our government is not ready to invest much in [the] educational sector.”

However, he stated that with his experience as a student of a tertiary institution, our tertiary institutions in the country lack well-equipped facilities and medical personnel to treat students who could be infected with COVID-19.

Rabiu Surajo Ahmad, a 300-level student of Economics told this reporter that, it is possible to resume as stipulated, but he doubted whether or not the government and parents can comply with the recommendation made by Afe Babalola.

Hargbohollar Habeeb Opeyemi, a 100- Level student of the English Language also believes it is possible for the students to resume if they can comply with the prescription made by Afe Babalola.

Abdulganeey Abdulrahman, a 200-Level student of Islamic studies told this reporter that it is not possible for the students to resume in the next one month based on financial difficulties in the country.

“Within the period of four weeks, I don’t think students can resume because of the financial crisis. Majority of the students have their parent in the middle class when talking about livelihood and economic self-reliance,” he said.

He further stated that the government and the parents will surely comply if it is for the progress of the students and the country at large.

“Our schools have what it takes to monitor the students if they resume within the said period,” he explained.

Arowolo Adam, a 100-level student of Medical Laboratory Science, UDUS also said it is not possible to resume within one month and based his argument on the fact that Nigeria is battling with financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which would make it difficult for the government to provide all the necessary equipment needed in our tertiary institutions to curtail the spread.

“So, it is almost impossible for any public institution to resume if it is based on the Babalola’s prescription for the resumption of schools in four weeks. I don’t think that each institution has the capacity to provide all that Babalola prescribed,” he said.