On January 7, Rema broke the news of admission to the “University of First Choice” in Nigeria, the University of Lagos (UNILAG). He wrote of getting admission into the Creative Arts department, in Rema’s words: “What if I told y’all I got an admission into Unilag? Lol Mom said I still need to get a degree sigh, oh well see you guys in class!” but just over a month later, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the body in which all Federal and some state-owned universities lecturers pledge to went on strike, invariably halting all forms of academic activities due to unpaid fees due them by the Nigerian Federal Government (FG).
Yesterday (18 April) Rema went on his twitter page to plead with ASUU, asking them to call off the the now two-month-and-counting strike, lamenting not attending even one class since the suspension of academic activities affected him and the incoming 2021/2022 set directly. “ASUU, since dem give me admission I neva start school o, e don do nau!” Rema cries out loud.
ASUU, since dem give me admission I neva start school o, e don do nau! 😖
— REMA (@heisrema) April 18, 2022
Before Unilag could reply, Bowen University—a private university sleekly shot their shot at Rema, telling him ASUU will not be a hindrance to his academics if he chose to switch to their school. It is common knowledge that the ongoing ASUU strike does not affect any private university as they are not being governed by the Federal Government so to speak.
ASUU can’t delay you if you’re enrolled in Bowen University https://t.co/IFAZ5QOnHa
— Bowen University (@bowenuniversity) April 18, 2022
Rema would go further to acknowledge Bowen University’s open invite, teasing UNILAG: “I’m blushing” in response to the Bowen University but UNILAG did well to reply this time around, protecting their own. Skillfully giving him a reason to wait on them, they annotated and modified the lyrics to “Jo” from his debut album “Rave & Roses”, assuring he has been chosen by the prestigious institution and therefore need not change his mind. Ending the lyrical modification, they plead, “Rema no dey vex for us o“.
🎶 Hmm… Rema dear, UNILAG has chosen you o,
Hmm… so don’t let anybody come dey change your mind o…Rema no dey vex for us o 🎶#UNILAGNigeria #RaveAndRoses #Jo https://t.co/QbP2xPl1gi pic.twitter.com/HYF8W56wXF
— University of Lagos (@UnilagNigeria) April 19, 2022
Rema seems not to be having it as he states he is already contemplating switching universities from Federal to private if the strike does not end soon. Stating “the youths are not happy” as one of the primary reasons.
Awww Unilag end the strike or I will go ooo, we want to go back to school pls the youths are not happy! 😔💔🇳🇬 https://t.co/sSCVdSwRWu
— REMA (@heisrema) April 19, 2022