Ekiti Varsity Suspends Academic Activities Over Students’ Protest

The management of Ekiti State University, (EKSU) Ado Ekiti, on Tuesday, ordered the suspension of academic activities on campus for two weeks with effect from Tuesday,  April 11, 2023.

The Vice Chancellor of the State-owned institution, Professor Edward Olanipekun, approved the suspension of the academic activities on behalf of the university’s Senate.

This followed protest by students on Tuesday over what they described as high school fees and late registration fees being charged by the authorities of the institution.

The main gate of the institution was locked  as students and staff were barred from gaining entry into and moving out of the university.

The Ado Ekiti-Iworoko highway was also barricaded by the protesters to register their displeasure at the school authorities’ stance on the school fees hike.

A statement by Head, Directorate of Information & Corporate Affairs of the university, Mr Bode Olofinmuagun, made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti said: “Arising from the above, all students of the university are ordered to vacate the campus premises immediately and should not be seen within the campus premises for the next two weeks.

“Parents and guardians are hereby advised to invite their wards home immediately.

“Any student found wandering around the university premises does so at his/her own risk.”

The students expressed their opposition to the N5,000 charged for late registration, hike in school fee, Internet services charges and other payments.

Reacting, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Professor Ayodele Babatope, hinged the crisis on the refusal of students to comply with the directive of the institution to register early for academic activities, which they were penalised for.

Babatope disclosed that the N10,000 penalty was reduced to N5,000 after the students complained against it.

When contacted to speak further on the development, Olofinmuagun said, “Examination is to start next week. Late registration fees was reduced from the earlier N10,000 to N5,000 after the leadership of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution appealed to the management for reduction.”

He alleged that some of the students who were yet to pay the fees were behind the protest.