Students have been expressing differing opinions following the closure of the University of Ibadan by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, on behalf of the Senate, on Friday, August 30.
It should be recalled that on Thursday night, students staged a protest against the memo that announced the decision of the school management to both maintain the increase in the much-debated school fees and release a new deadline for registration.
Disappointed by the alleged betrayal of the school’s Governing Council, the University of Ibadan Students’ Union disrupted all academic activities on Friday, August 30, voicing their grievances.
This immediately led to another meeting with the management, who at the end of the day issued a circular signed by the Registrar, G.O. Saliu.
In the circular, Prof. Adebowale mandated the closure of the school and ordered all students to go home.
“Following the meeting of University Management with the leadership of the Students’ Union today, Friday, 30 August 2024, the Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of the Senate, has approved a three-week break for students of the University of Ibadan, with effect from Saturday, 31 August 2024, to 20 September 2024. The hostels will be reopened for students from 12 noon on Friday, 20 September 2024,” the document reads.
Despite the stated reasons for the three-week break, mixed reactions have trailed the event among students.
While many students saw the “long-term” break as a silver lining, others saw it as a delay in their academic progression.
David, a 200-level student of the school, who has paid all his school fees, said, “I am glad this opportunity came. It will give me more time to read and understand the aspects that have remained difficult to grasp.”
Another student, Esther, asserted that the break is a blessing as it would allow her parents more time to gather the balance for her school fees.
“My parents will be happy. They will finally be able to balance their savings for my fees,” she said.
On the contrary, Segun, a male student from the Faculty of Arts, expressed that the decision would only prolong what should not have taken much time.
“I am not happy about it at all. The Student Union and the school management did not handle this well. They should have just allowed us to complete our exams and be done with it before sending us home,” he lamented.
IbadanCity Announcer reports that, following the order given in the circular, more than 50% of the students packed their bags and left their hostels on Friday, while others followed suit on Saturday.
By Saturday evening, all the school halls of residence had been closed by the institution’s porters.
Revealing more details about the reason for the three-week break and the resumption date, part of the document reads, “The three weeks are to give students ample time to complete their online registration.
“The 2023/2024 first semester examinations will now start on Monday, 23 September 2024.
“The portal for registration will be closed on Friday, 20 September 2024.
“There will be no reopening of the portal for fee payment or course registration after 20 September 2024.
“Students who do not register appropriately will not be allowed to write examinations.
“All students are to vacate the University Campus by 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 31 August 2024.”
Report by Tobiloba Ojetunde for IbadanCity ANNOUNCER
