In a bold and symbolic act of protest, social activist and internet personality, VeryDarkMan, took his campaign for education reform directly to the doorstep of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, by holding an impromptu class for children affected by the ongoing teachers’ strike.
The demonstration, which took place outside the Minister’s official residence in Abuja, saw the activist gather a group of out-of-school children to conduct a public lesson—drawing national attention to the plight of students who have been without formal education for months due to the strike.
“I am not a teacher, but I can’t sit back and watch our children waste away on the streets,” VeryDarkMan said during the live-streamed protest. “If the government won’t act, then we the people must rise.”
The strike, led by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), began earlier this year over unpaid salaries and the federal government’s failure to implement the N70,000 minimum wage for teachers and local government workers. Despite several meetings between stakeholders, the deadlock has persisted, leaving over 200,000 pupils out of school in the FCT alone.
VeryDarkMan’s protest is the latest in a series of grassroots efforts to pressure the government into ending the impasse. His decision to conduct lessons directly in front of Wike’s residence was described by onlookers as “both theatrical and powerful.”
“We’ve held talks, written letters, and marched peacefully,” said Bisi Okonkwo, a parent who joined the protest. “But nothing moves them like public embarrassment.”
Minister Wike has previously blamed local council chairmen for mismanaging allocated funds, asserting that education remains a top priority for his administration. However, critics argue that bureaucratic blame games have only deepened the crisis.
The FCT Administration has yet to issue an official response to Monday’s protest.
Meanwhile, VeryDarkMan promised to return with more children next week if the strike isn’t resolved
About The Author
