Lecturer resorts to hawking potatoes to survive in Uyo

A Nigerian lecturer Christiana Chundung, has opened up on how she ventured into the sale of potatoes in a bid to make ends meet.

The woman who was employed a year ago said she began plying the trade due to the lingering strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

She is a lecturer in the department of development communication, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Independent newspaper, Christiana declared her intention to continue selling potatoes for the next five years if that would be her sacrifice for the nation’s educational system to function effectively.

She was spotted at Akpan Andem market, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State showcasing her goods on Thursday.

According to the academician, she joined her parents at the farm few months into the strike thinking that she would return to her lecturing job as soon as possible, but she was disappointed.

Christiana said she feels depressed by the number of students who call daily for updates and expressed eagerness to return to school.

Her words; “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”.

She however reiterated her earlier vow that “If it means selling potatoes for the next five years for Nigerian students to have a better academic environment and for lecturers to be well motivated to put in their best in moulding the future generation, then I would gladly do so”.