The College of Health Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, came to a standstill on November 17, as students embarked on a peaceful protest to demand the reduction of their school fees and air their displeasure over poor learning environment from the school authorities.
The students had so many times engaged the school management in negotiations, but their demands were not met. However, the students decided to show their grievance by protesting the exorbitant fees they pay.
The students said they were made to pay huge amounts ranging from N90, 000 to N100, 000, yet they take lectures under a mango tree, while also adding that they have no adequate hostels, libraries, lecture rooms, social amenities for students such as electricity and water, and so on.
Led by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) National Deputy Senate President, Olusegun Famuyibo, and the National Association of Nigerian Students/Joint Campus Committee, Ekiti State axis Chairman, Bankole Adetunji, the students blocked the road leading to the institution.
Addressing the students, Famuyibo said his office has started the agitation for a better welfare of Nigerian students.
“It is not that we are blackmailing any individual, institution or company as the case may be. I say here categorically that our mode of agitation does not in any way blackmail anybody; but as much as we can, we will insist on the better welfare of all Nigerian students, both in and outside the country, upon which the strength of our noble association NANS rests.
“We shall not at any point in time negotiate our stand and we shall always stand by justice at any point in time,” he said, adding that they will continue to unite, mobilise and protest until the management meets up with the students’ demands.
While also addressing the students, Adetunji said education had been taken away from the poor by the rich.
“This fee is anti-poor and unaffordable by the students and our parents. It contradicts the vision of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and is calculated to price education out of the reach of the children of the civil servants.”
Adetunji also urged the newly elected governor, Dr Peter Ayodele Fayose, to reduce the fees and help build more classrooms.
The Students’ Union president of the institution, Adewuyi Ifeoluwa, appealed to the government for adequate funding of the school, describing the protest as the first in the history of the school.
The presence of the Provost of the institution, Pastor Tunde Ojo, during the protest did not stop the students, as he was denied the opportunity to address them.
All efforts to speak with the provost, Pastor Bayo Ojo, proved abortive.
Temitope Tajudeen Yakubu