UI charges students’ representatives on vexatious issues

THE Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale,  has commended the institution’s students’ representative council (SRC) for purposeful unionism and for always exuding maturity when it comes to handling issues; virtues he noted were worthy of exporting to other institutions.

Professor Adebowale gave the commendation during a town hall meeting between the management and the SRC, held at the Trenchard Hall of the institution recently.

He said the meeting was convened to enable the students to bare their minds on vexatious issues.

The meeting, which was devoid of formalities, entertained questions from the students, as certain issues were raised also by the students to which answers and explanations were equally provided by the relevant officers of the university.

The VC explained that federal universities were in a transition mode, and that many issues were yet unclear.

He lauded the students’ body for doing so well and maintaining peace in the university community in spite of the challenges they are facing on campus and in the nation.

While stating that the students had continued to excel and win laurels, he cited   the recent scholarships of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, which attracted 154 nominations from all over the country, as the students of the institution emerged in the first and third positions.

Professor Adebowale, who noted that “such news gladdens the heart”  also mentioned the newly-released Times Higher Education ranking, which placed UI in the first position in Nigeria and number seven in Africa.

“Students are important components and stakeholders in the university system, and the university management appreciates this fact,” the VC said.

He hinted that the Federal Government had handed off on the issue of accommodation in the institution for over 20 years, stating that the management had kept open the Halls of Residence and had even gone further to enter into 18 Build-Operate-and Transfer hostel agreements to ensure that the students are kept on campus.

Issues discussed at the meeting included of the halls of residence; laboratory fees; sexual harassment; post-Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination (UTME) for the physically-challenged; use of computer laboratories; and clinical rotation for physiotherapy students.

Other issues included electricity; water supply; prices of commodities; health services; school fees; Internet facilities; and waste disposal.

Reduction from N400 to N300 per drop was approved to ease transportation within the campus.

The students’ bodies were represented by members of the Students Union Executive Committee led by its president, Mr Tobiloba Samuel;  functionaries and members of the Students Representative Council; Hall Chairpersons; Faculty Executive Committee members; members of the Students Press; a representative of the physically-challenged students; representatives of off-campus students, among others.