FUOYE Students protest over yet-to-be fulfilled promises

By Daniel Whyte The students of Federal University Oye-Ekiti on Monday, 29th of April came out in mass to protest over several unfulfilled promises made by the university management. This was after the students had held a peaceful protest on Wednesday, 24th of April over poor power supply that plagues the University’s host community, Oye-Ekiti among other neighbouring towns. UCJ FUOYE gathered that the students converged as early as 7am this morning at the university’s main gate to agitate for the implementation of basic amenities and necessities which have been earlier promised in a memorandum of understanding between the Vice Chancellor and the Students leaders but are yet to be fulfilled. It should be recalled that during the agitations for the reduction of the sundry fees payable by returning and fresh students of the University, in the early weeks of the semester, the University Management represented by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun and the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Dosu Malomo, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the student union leaders. While the students agreed to pay the amount paid as sundry fee for the previous session, among others, provision of some basic amenities were promised which includes but are not limited to: street lights on both campuses; reconstruction of the road that leads to phase three as well as from faculty of agriculture to engineering in Ikole campus; provision of integrated public address system in all faculties and auditoriums; presentation of result on the university portal; completion of sport complex in Oye campus and extension in Ikole campus; and a functional university transport system. Furthermore, it should also be recalled that recent promises were made when the Vice Chancellor visited Ikole Campus following a protest held there on the 15th of April. The VC had promised that the construction of the Sport’s complex in Ikole, installation of campus-wide Wi-Fi and the construction of additional makeshift lecture halls would begin on the 23rd of April which was last week Tuesday. However, the students lament that the developments are not in place and have come out to protest against it. While addressing the students during the protest, the Student Union President, Awodola Oluwaseun, said the theme of the protest is “our voice should be heard”. He emphasised the fact that they are agitating on students’ welfarism which encompasses the provision of more lecture rooms, public address system as well as the functionality of the Wi-Fi. Also, “we want the road to phase 3 to be worked on. We don’t want [students of the faculties of] social science and management science to keep fighting over inadequate lecture theatres. We need street lights; and the functionality of the library”, he added. He concluded by saying “we need a better FUOYE!” Placards raised during the protest . Speaking to UCJ FUOYE, the Student Union PRO, Omofoye Adetola, said the conclusion for the protest was reached around 11:30pm, last night and the major reasons are that the Wi-Fi both in Oye and Ikole have not been fixed, although we have seen signs that they are working on it in Oye but work hasn’t started in Ikole; the road to Faculty of Engineering; Makeshift classes in Ikole and Oye, proper maintenance of the school hostel and a good running water system for effective use of the conveniences on campus. He clarified that the protest is not primarily for the extension of the school fees payment deadline which is 30th April. According to him “the extension of the school fees’ payment doesn’t deserve a protest…its not a major concern”. However, he said there is a possibility that the deadline won’t be feasible anymore for tomorrow. At the time of filing this report, the Vice Chancellor was unavailable to address the aggrieved students. The students have however maintained that until they are addressed, they will not resume academic activities.