Ogun State students schooling in Kwara State have appealed to the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to facilitate the payment of their grants, which have been withheld since the last five years.
The students lamented in Ilorin the injustice being meted out to them by their home state government, nothing that it is denying them their individual right as legitimate indigenes of the state.
The students made this call at a leadership summit held in Ilorin recently.
Students of Ogun State origin from various institutions in Kwara State, under the auspices of National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS), thronged the popular Science Lecture Theatre of the University of Ilorin to have their voices heard.
The summit, being the first to be held by any students’ indigenous body in the institution, was graced by past Ogun State student leaders and members in Kwara State. It was aimed at bringing together past members and leaders of the association for effective leadership and workable unionism.
In a special speech delivered by a past NAOSS member, who also was a former president of the Students’ Union (SU) of the University of Ilorin (UI), Mr Aremu Oluwafemi, lauded the leadership of NAOSS, UNILORIN, for initiating an avenue to unite past and present members of the union for efficient coexistence.
He advised the students to remain better ambassadors of their states, while tasking them to remain dutiful, selfless and agitate for their rights in a manner that portrays them as peace-loving citizens even in the face of injustice.
This, however, did not go down well with some students who claimed to have been sidelined and shortchanged for too long. They accused the government of breaching the agreement entered with the national body representing the students.
The angry students lamented refusal to pay their dues and called for a probe.
A student, who claimed anonymity, described the issue as frustrating and unwarranted, saying; “While other state governments pay regular bursary to their students as at when due, Ogun State students in other parts of the country are denied their entitlement, even when their colleagues at home are well catered for.”
Meanwhile, an appeal was made to this effect by the national Senate President of NAOSS, Mr AbdulAzeez Adeosun, at the summit, who pleaded with the students to remain calm and patient even when agitating for their right.
“NAOSS’ national body in collaboration with the state chapters is working tirelessly to retrieve your dues. The governor is a man of the people, so we assure you that your bursary will be paid to you in due course.”
Mr Adeosun, however, appealed to Senator Ibikunle Amosun to promptly look into and address the issue once and for all.
While delivering his goodwill message, the president, NAOSS, UNILORIN, Olaleye Nurudeen, thanked the past members and executives of the union who in spite of their busy schedules were able to travel far to honour their Alma-Mater.
He described them as evergreen pioneers of the union whose indelible mark will remain in the sand of time.
Odeyemi Afis Olawale
(300-Level, Education-History, UNILORIN)