Students at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun, on Tuesday, shut the institution following the inability of the institution to reverse the recent tuition hike.
The students, Parallel Facts gathered, blocked access to the campus for staff members by closing the entrance gates under the direction of Abbas Akinremi, president of the Students’ Union.
The protesting students carried placards that read, among other things, “Education is bleeding; there is no need to celebrate independence.” “Let the Poor Breathe; Fees Must Fall” and “My Parents are Poor; They Cannot Afford Exorbitant Fees.”
Reacting, the SUG president stated that if the administration refused to decrease the new fees by 50% in comparison to the 15% reduction, students would not stop interfering with school operations.
“What we embarked upon is protest-a-thorn, we will continue to shut the campus till the management heed our demands, today we started 7 am and subsequently in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS and National Association of Universities Students, NAUS, we will disrupt activities across the state to attract Federal Government’s attention,” he said.
Abiodun Olarewaju, the institution’s public relations officer, said the school has not ruled out negotiations with the student leadership but has instead urged them to engage in constructive conversation as opposed to disrupting on-campus activities.