Nigerian lecturer strikes have no bearing on Nexford learners!

Strikes. We’ve all seen and heard of them across all industries and geographies worldwide. They are of course proven ways for aggrieved workers to bring their point across in a public forum as to why they believe that they are being underpaid and undervalued. But as we know all too well, these strikes almost always leave a trail of devastation in their wakes.

This current strike by lecturers in Nigeria is no different.

ASUU started a one-month warning strike on February 14, 2022, and toward the latter part of May it was announced that it would continue for the next 12 weeks. Fortunately for learners at Nexford University, these strikes have hardly even been a ripple in a pond, as being part of a modern 100% online university they are able to enjoy a continuous and uninterrupted learning experience.

Nigerian lecturer strikes are nothing new to learners

The current round of lecturer strikes form part of the ongoing problem that has and continues to derail the quest by Nigerian learners to attain a degree that will ensure better opportunities in the work environment and make them more employable.

Nigerian lecturer strikes have been going on since 1999, bar five years, and have lasted from seven days to 257+ days. Put end to end, that comes to a whopping 49 months of strike action. No small wonder then that Dr Oby Ezekwesili, the former Nigerian Minister for Education, spoke out at the recent Nexford Nigerian graduation ceremony about why the university is the perfect option for current and prospective learners to learn at their own pace, whilst they are working, and with no interruptions from lecturer strikes.

Protests over Nigerian lecturer strikes are now commonplace

Of course, learners across Nigeria have not been taking this ridiculously long teachers’ strike lying down and have taken to picketing against it. It is of course their right to bring the fact that their future is being disrupted and for some going up in smoke to the attention of the media. This is because many may not get the opportunity again to learn at a university due to time and financial constraints.

The protesters, who acted under the aegis of Fund Education Coalition, stormed the main gate of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, clutching placards with various inscriptions such as “End ASUU strike now; Education is not a scam; We stand with ASUU Revitalisation Fund,” among others.

The group had earlier circulated fliers indicating that members would protest in Oyo, Lagos, Edo, and some other states.

When contacted, the Coordinator, South-West Zone of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Stephen Tegbe, said the coalition informed the student body about the plan to embark on the protest.

Strikes are leaving students disillusioned and in university for longer

Thanks to the Nigerian lecturer strikes, a student on a four-year course could end up staying in university for six years or longer. Some don’t even know when they’re going to finish, and there is no end in sight at the moment for a resolution to the current strike.

This strike, combined with the complexities and rigours of JAMB are becoming a very real hindrance to Nigerian learners getting into universities and being able to pursue their life dreams.

The fortunate few students who have attained an undergraduate degree in Nigeria are now going abroad for postgraduate studies, but, with the costs of travel, visas and accommodation associated with this move to further their education rising, this option is becoming a bridge too far for the average Nigerian learner.

The only other alternative is for learners to turn their attention to finding an online university. When asked about the years they missed in school, it’s become embarrassing for students to say that their university in Nigeria was on strike. How will they be looked at? In other parts of the world, when students take time off school, they turn to company internships. Nigerian public universities go on strike, and the students must sit at home doing nothing – and that’s sad.

Nexford University is the passport to uninterrupted Nigerian higher education

If e-commerce, retail, and a raft of other business sectors are going online, surely it would make sense for the education sector to follow suit? This was an option during COVID, but for many universities, the switch to online learning rather than traditional methods of lecturing was fraught with problems and challenges as these old school universities scrambled to adjust their curriculum to the new and future way of learning.

Not so with Nexford University. This modern, bold, and progressive university was created online, and so there was no need for adjustment. Learners could apply and enrol online and learn in this way during the length of their chosen program.

Nexford University is a leader in online learning

Africa’s online learning adoption is increasing rapidly. According to an article published on eLearning Inside narrated how most students and professionals in Nigeria are increasingly training themselves and upskilling through various online learning platforms. Not surprising as the world has evolved so much that online learning is now mainstream for professionals seeking to improve their skills.

As more learners become aware of and familiar with online learning, so the numbers of learners taking advantage is really starting to grow and gain momentum. But where to go? In Nigeria, online universities such as Nexford are finding interest growing in their offering and with that, enrolments.

Not just in Nigeria, but also in 84 other countries around the world, people are taking advantage of Nexford’s affordable pay-as-you-go tuition, ability to start on the first of the month not year, flexible learning schedules, and 24/7 support from Success Advisors and faculty.

The world is going digital, and opportunities are no longer limited by physical borders. A degree should prepare learners for this world, not yesterday’s. It should be fit for purpose, maximize employability, and open up future opportunities. To answer that call, Nexford is committed to helping people across the world realize their academic, professional, and personal goals. Why not you?

If you don’t want strikes to stand in the way of your academic and work future, and you are looking to give yourself a head start with a BBA or MBA, perhaps it is time to join the online learning revolution with an affordable and credible online learning university of the future?