ASUU Strike: University Lecturer Hawks Potatoes To Survive

A lecturer in the Department of Development Communication, in the recently created Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo, Christiana Chundung Pam has started the sales of Potatoes for survival.

The Assistant Lecturer employed a year ago said she would continue her new business for the next five years if that would be her sacrifice for the nation’s educational system to function effectively.

The Lecturer showcasing her potatoes at Akpan Andem market, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Thursday, Pam said she took up the trade as last resort to sustain her existence.

Miss Pam who sells both in the market and around town, explained that she had a few months into the strike joined her retiree parents in farm work, with the hope to resume work as soon as possible.

She got disappointed as the strike continues, even after the harvest of the said crops, and with bills, including house rent at her station, pilling up.

“I decided to join the potatoes selling business to have something for myself to keep me going. I had just started working for just a year and did not save enough to even pay my way back to Jos, having waited for some months for the strike to be called off.

“So to go back, I had to borrow from someone as I could no longer cope with daily survival and payment of bills. I also had to borrow to renew my rent for another six months for fear of losing my accommodation. That renewal will be expiring in October, so I had to find something to do to be able to renew it”. Pam said