We’re Not Ready To Resume – BUK Students

Many students of Bayero University Kano (BUK) may not resume school on January 18, the date announced by the institution’s management for the resumption of all academic activities.

Just a day after the announcement, following the end of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)’s nine-month strike, many of such students have expressed their unreadiness to resume, giving various reasons.

“I have just obtained admission for my Masters degree in communication studies at the Faculty of Communication,” Al’ameen Usman Abubakar, a postgraduate student, complained, saying, “I was not expecting the resumption of the post graduate will be so early.”

Abubakar said: “The management proposed all registrations should be done on or before January 18,” adding, “however, currently I have paid for the acknowledgement and admission acceptance fee but the school fees registration is not yet ready.”

He appealed to the institution’s management to extend the registration period to February to enable many students register and resume studies properly according to their wherewithal.

Aminu Muhammad, a fresh postgraduate student at the Department of Sociology, gave his own reasons.

“It was only last week that I was given the opportunity to access the portal for my registration, which is still on progress,” he said, continuing, “I have paid for the acknowledgement, but my admission is yet to be provided,” Muhammad said.

He complained that it would be too tight for him to pay the acceptance fee and complete the registration before the stipulated January 18.

“For the postgraduate students, the resumption date is unexpected,” he observed, explaining, “I thought it will be February.”

Kamaluddeen Muhammad, a 300-level student of Petrochemical Engineering, lamented: “I am so scared seeing lectures will commence and will be given to us only for five weeks.

“Currently I have misplaced most of my reading materials,” admitting that “It will be hard for me to catch up now, although I am happy to resume studies”.

Hasiya Abubakar, a student of Biochemistry, said “the resumption was unexpected, despite the fact that students have been so tired staying at home.”

She observed that the long ‘holiday’ given to students by COVID-19 and the ASUU strike had demoralized most students and stunted their zeal to study.

“During the long holiday, I dropped my studies and focussed on some home business,” Hasiya disclosed.

“It will be so difficult for me to leave my business and concentrate on studies again, most especially as the revised calendar is showing five weeks lectures.”

Sadiya Faruq Mainasara, a level 100 student of Physiotherapy, said “It will be a tough time for me to recover, but my determination and the zeal for studies will reawaken me.”

Abdullahi Yahaya a 400-level student of the Faculty of Art and Arabic Studies, said being a 400-level student, he had enough cause to fear the rigorous academic activities awaiting him.

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic and ASUU strike, studies were moving fine and my end-of-year project was about to be approved,” Yahaya said.

“So my fear now is on my ability to complete my project due to the fact that I have forgotten my proposed topic and also I have misplaced my reading materials essential and for the project,” he confessed.