By Emily Ofide
Pictures, they say, speak volumes. Standing in front of Abuja Students’ Hostel of the University of Jos is a statue of a student in a matriculation gown, standing atop a pile of books holding two flags and a chain in one hand. A cursory look at the picture gets you thinking about so many things. Some think it looks like an image in a shrine; others think it is a symbol of struggle; yet a particular group thinks it signifies unity. Nevertheless, many agree that this statue means a lot.
The statue was a project of the Student Union Government (SUG) in the 2011/12 academic session with Mr. Dashuwar Nantok as President. He said in an interview that every part of the statue symbolizes different things. According to him, “The student in his matriculation gown shows that he is a bona fide student; he is in motion- which means as students we are also involved in the struggle for a better society and a better environment to study.
“He is standing on a pile of books- which means this struggle is based on knowledge and the knowledge is the foundation upon which we must base our ideology/philosophy.
It also signifies that you cannot be part of this struggle if you are not part of this citadel of knowledge – University of Jos. The blue flag is the university’s flag while the white flag is the union’s flag. He is holding the flag showing his pride in the university and the union. The broken chains in his hand signify the Liberation or victory at the end of the struggle”.
Nantok further explained that the location of the statue is symbolic “because Abuja Hostel is the Center of the Struggle – Aluta. While the bold inscription Aluta Continua, Victory Acerta means the struggle continues, victory is certain.” He added that the purpose of erecting the statue was to reawaken hope and trust in the union.
“At the time I came into office, there was general loss of hope and trust in the union. students were no longer interested in the activities of the union. I wanted to put something in their faces to constantly remind them that the union is back and that we cannot afford to give up hope in the union because the struggle must continue. It was my way of saying, wake up! The union is alive; it is ours and we must push the struggle ahead”, he said.
He urged students of the University of Jos never to give up on the union even when things are not going the way they should because according to him, the struggle for a better society, and an environment conducive enough for learning must continue.
However, some other students differed with Nantok on the suitability of the project in the face of more pressing needs. A 400 level student of History and International Studies said of the statue: “The statue reminds me of unity. But it would have been preferable if the money allocated to erecting the statue had been used for something better, such as improving the standard of living of students which should be of prime importance to the SUG. There are more pressing issues affecting the lives of students than erecting a mere statue”.
Another student, Faith Billy of Sociology Department, gave a humorous angle saying the statue looked ugly and of no relevance the first time she saw it.
Opinion might be divided on the relevance of the statue but it remains a point of attraction in the students’ hostel.
