Popular social media activist VeryDarkMan has once again made headlines this time for standing up for Nigerian school children affected by the ongoing teachers’ strike in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. In a bold and creative protest, he gathered a group of young children wearing their school uniforms and staged a mock classroom right outside the gate of the FCT Minister’s residence.
The goal? To draw attention to the long standing teachers' strike that has kept thousands of children out of school in Nigeria’s capital.
In a scene that was both powerful and heartbreaking, VeryDarkMan stood before the children like a school teacher. Holding a chalkboard and calling out letters, he began his lesson:
“T for Tinubu, W for Wike,”
he said clearly and the children, like they would in a normal classroom, repeated after him.
This dramatic display was meant to send a strong message to both the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The message was simple: our children deserve to be in school, not on the streets or in protest.
Why Are the Teachers on Strike?
The teachers’ strike in the FCT has been ongoing, primary school teachers in the FCT have been on strike since the 24th of March, 2025, now for more than 90 days due to several unmet demands. Some of the key reasons include:
- Unpaid salaries and allowances
- Poor working conditions
- Lack of teaching materials and infrastructure in schools
- Delayed promotions and benefits for teachers
These issues have forced teachers to stay away from classrooms, leaving students to suffer the consequences. While the government has made some promises, no lasting solution has been found, and the strike continues.
A Creative Call for Action
VeryDarkMan, known for using his platform to speak against injustice, decided to take a different approach with this protest. Instead of shouting into a microphone or holding up signs, he chose a method that would truly show the real victims of the strike children.
The protest was peaceful but emotional. The sight of children chanting school lessons outside a politician’s gate while their real classrooms remain locked touched many hearts.
Some of the signs seen at the protest included:
- “Bring Us Back to School!”
- “Our Teachers Need Their Pay!”
- “Education is Our Right!”
Reactions from the Public
Many Nigerians have taken to social media to praise VeryDarkMan for his creative and brave protest. Some called him the “voice of the voiceless,” while others urged the government to finally do something about the poor state of public education in the country.
A Twitter user wrote:
“You may not like VeryDarkMan, but you can’t ignore the truth he is shouting. These kids should be learning inside classrooms, not outside Wike’s gate!”
Another said:
“This is what activism looks like peaceful, powerful, and to the point.”
This protest has again brought attention to the crisis in Nigeria’s education sector, especially in the FCT. Parents are frustrated, children are missing out on their future, and teachers are demoralized.
Activists and education advocates are calling on both President Tinubu and Minister Wike to:
- Meet with teacher unions urgently
- Find a lasting solution to the strike
- Pay all outstanding salaries and benefits
Invest in better school infrastructure and teacher welfare
As one protester said,
“If we fail our children today, we fail our nation tomorrow.”
Conclusion
VeryDarkMan’s protest may look small on the surface but its message is loud and clear. He used the voices of the children themselves to remind leaders that education is not a privilege it is a right.
This is not just about a strike. It is about the future of Nigeria.
The time to act is now.
