By The Parchment
Miss Promise Paul Ekpong, a female final year student of the University of Cross River State, UNICROSS has embraced the part of dignity using the current nation wide industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU to distinguish herself.
Miss Promise Ekpong, who is a final year student in the department of Microbiology, University of Cross River State UNICROSS, is an indigene of Ekumtak Mbube, in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, said she decided to seek for employment in a car washing spot and was eventually employed after 2 weeks of rigorous training.
When this reporter approached My CARWASH business outlets, located along the Mary Slessor Avenue, Calabar, it was a beautiful site to behold as Promise was doing what she knows how to do best due to academic shutdown by ASUU. 
Promise while speaking with this reporter said that she enjoys the opportunity to learn about automobile and car washing, stressing that the knowledge gathered can be useful in future as no knowledge is a waste.
When asked about the reactions of her family and friends, she said, “I enjoy my job and proud about it. That is what is important. It is an opportunity for me to learn new skills until everyone return to classes
“When I told my friends that I got a job in a car wash, at first, they were like, what are you going to do there? When I told them I was going to wash cars, they were like, okay, as far as it put food on your table and gives you money to meet your needs, no problem. So they are very ok with it.
“For my family, my dad first complained about the distance due to transportation, but I insisted that it is rather an opportunity and he allow me based on his principles of ensuring that male or female should do equal duty” she said.
Miss Promise further advised young girls that there is no shame in labour, stating that anything that is legitimate and brings food to their table, they should be proud of it.
Also speaking, CEO of My CARWASH, Okosisi Osinachi, said he met Miss Promise Ekpong after he advertised on his social media page for job a opening which she applied online, came for interview was trained for 2 weeks and eventually got employed.
Osinachi explain that Miss Promise is a very hardworking and intelligent young girl which has help him grow his client base as well as motivate other young girls to seek dignity in Labour.
ASUU embarked on strike February 14, 2022, which has crippled students progress and also affected the time for their academic pursuits thereby causing a lot of Nigerian students to seek other survival methods with some engaging in entrepreneurial ventures.
With no end insight to the current industrial action, efforts made by students like Miss Promise, can only be considered as a brave one.