Lockdown: Ibadan undergraduates groan over data charges
The undergraduates told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan in separate interviews that almost all Nigerian youths are constantly on their smart phones this period.
They explained further that asides socialising on social media they also visit sites to acquire new skills while at home.
Ms Romoke Akinola, a female undergraduate, said that she is constantly on YouTube this period to learn and empower herself in the act of makeup.
Akinola told NAN that the monthly package she normally subscribed for now last her for just a week.
“I’m making good use of this stay home to be a makeup artist. It will be very useful and serve as another source of income when we are back in school.
“My greatest challenge right now is data. We are home and no allowance and the little savings I have is been gulped by data.
“Network providers should slash their tariffs this period and let’s have it as their own palliative to Nigerians. This will be greatly appreciated by not just the youths.
“Adults also subscribe on their telephones, for sure I know they use Facebook and WhatsApp,” she said.
Mr Wahid Sanni, an undergraduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, also said that he was taking online photography lessons.
Sanni said that he acquired a camera shortly before the emergence of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
“In school every student needs a source of income because the truth is your parents cannot give you all the money you need.
“As a man you need to be empowered because you cannot be dependent on your parents for too long.
“One does not necessarily need to pay an expert to acquire a skill. Internet has made life easy for everyone. All you need is an android telephone and buy data.
“Google and YouTube has been very helpful and have learnt a lot and use people in my household to practice what I learn daily.
“My greatest challenge right now is data, the sites I visit make me run out of daily fast. It won’t be a bad idea if network providers make life a bit easier for us right now but cutting down their data charges.
“Ninety five per cent of Nigerian youths are always constantly on their telephones this period. You wouldn’t want to be struggling for television remote with your parents.
“They will want to catch up with events around the world on television but you as a youth can easily get that on your telephone,” he said.
Ms Gloria Odeh of Ilaro Polytechnic said that she was learning how to tie head gears.
Odeh said that she was tired of paying someone to tie her head gears while attending an event.
“I normally pay nothing less than N1,000 when attending a party. I decided that this must stop as I am home doing nothing. I have the time now to acquire the skill and I am utilising the opportunity.
“I have learnt about 10 styles on YouTube and it’s amazing. After learning daily, I practice with what I learnt on my mother and sisters head.
“I am practically a guru in head gear making. In the process my data has suffered because I have been subscribing every four days.
“We need telecoms to come to our aid and make their data packages more affordable. This period people are spending money and not making money in return.
“It will not be a bad idea if they make a kind of palliative with their data packages,” she said.
Mr Lawrence Bamgbade said that he was using the opportunity to perfect his cooking skills.
Bamgbade said that he loves looking and aspiring to be a chef.
“Cooking makes me forget my sorrows and while in school have not been able to learn more scope on cooking. Have been taking some online cooking courses and watching some video on YouTube and Google.
“I have been able to learn and cook some new delicacies both local and continental. The good thing about learning online is that is almost same as standing right beside the teacher.
“The ingredients are well laid down for you to know and not miss it and the process of making it is so easy but you have to have enough data and a good network to enjoy the training.
“°Data here in Nigeria is not cheap and in the past two weeks have spent so much subscribing. I will not let this discourage me because I am on a mission to empower myself in cooking.
“It will be good though if network providers do something about their data by slashing the charges,” he said. (NAN)
SEY/FNO/MST
Edited by Franca Ofili/Muhammad Suleiman Tola