Primary School Pupils in Osun Stages Protest over ASUU Strike
Some primary school pupils in Osun State on July 25 staged a peaceful protest in front of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), located in Ile-Ife, demanding an end to the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
According to eyewitness accounts and circulating photos, the pupils marched to the main entrance of the university carrying placards with strong messages about their future and the prolonged closure of public universities.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards read:
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“Don’t borrow our future away.”
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“I am the future ASUU, make no mistake about it.”
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“I am the future ASUU, don’t forget.”
The protest attracted attention from motorists, residents and members of the university community who described the action as symbolic and emotional, considering that the protesters were still in primary school.
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Why the protest matters
Although the pupils are not directly affected by the current university strike, the protest reflects growing public frustration over how repeated industrial actions are disrupting Nigeria’s education system and threatening the long-term academic plans of young learners.
Observers say the demonstration shows how deeply the ASUU strike has become a national issue rather than a problem affecting only university students.
The protest sparked several reactions online. One user, identified as kinsroyal, commented emotionally that:
“They’ll grow to meet ASUU on strike 😢.”
The same commenter also made a claim suggesting that ASUU would end the strike only after voter registration activities by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and further alleged that the Federal Government might mandate universities to fix examinations shortly after presidential elections to discourage students from travelling to vote.
It is important to note that these claims remain unverified and were shared as personal opinions on social media. No official statement from ASUU, INEC or the Federal Government has confirmed such an arrangement.
Growing concern over student activism
Some commentators also expressed concern that, if such a protest were carried out by older students, authorities might have labelled it as an “illegal protest”, especially within or around a university environment.
However, many Nigerians praised the pupils for what they described as a bold and symbolic call for government and education stakeholders to protect the future of children across the country.
The protest adds to a long list of public actions calling on the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve their disagreements and bring Nigerian public universities back to normal academic activities.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why did the pupils protest in front of OAU?
The pupils protested to demand an end to the ongoing ASUU strike, which has repeatedly disrupted academic activities in Nigerian public universities and created uncertainty about the future of education in the country.
Who is ASUU?
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is the union that represents lecturers in public universities in Nigeria. It often engages the Federal Government in negotiations over funding, salaries and conditions of service.
Where exactly did the protest take place?
The protest took place at the main entrance of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Are the claims about INEC registration and election exams true?
No official body has confirmed the claims. The statements suggesting that ASUU would end the strike after INEC registration, or that examinations would be scheduled to affect student voting, were shared by a social media user and remain unverified.
What does this protest indicate about the education crisis in Nigeria?
The protest shows that the impact of university strikes is now being felt and discussed even at the primary school level. It reflects widespread public anxiety about the future of education and the long-term consequences of frequent disruptions in Nigeria’s higher education system.
