The National Association of Nigerian Students, Oyo state chapter has affirmed solidarity with the protesting students of The Ibarapa Polytechnic Eruwa and called for immediate funding by the State Government and accountability of over N40 million generated by the management.
This is as ex-students of the Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa, Oyo State protested non-issuance of certificates and non-mobilisation of graduates for National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) scheme. The protesting students who lamented that two years after graduation, they were yet to collect their certificates and be mobilised for the NYSC scheme as a result of non- accreditation of their courses, shut down the main gate leading to the school premises.
In a statement signed by Asubiojo Olujuwon ( Marshal), Chairman, NANS Oyo State Chapter and made available to InsideOyo.com, the union leader said “the management of Ibarapa pointed to inadequate funding by the Government as the reason for the delayed accreditation of important courses in the institution which is preventing the students from being mobilized for service.”
“The National Association of Nigerian Students Oyo State Chapter, therefore calls the State government to save the future of these students by releasing enough fund for the accreditation process.
“We also call for public accountability of over 40 million Naira which was generated from the sum of 5,500 Naira reparation fee paid by all students of the institution as NANS Oyo State will not hesitate to take decisive actions if this situation is not promptly attended to.”
Senate President, Federation of Oyo State Student’s Union (FOSSU), Wasiu Oke, who noted that the cry of the aggrieved ex students of the school has gotten to the association, added that FOSSU was ready to take up the struggle and make sure that the matter is resolve on time.
“We want to urge the Oyo State government to do their best to resolve this issue; the management of this institution in conjunction with the NBTE must also make sure that this problem is resolve on time.”
However, Rector of the institution, Mr. Eyitayo Iyiola while reacting maintained that the reason for the delay was due to the shortage of funds from Oyo State government.
Iyiola said that N600 million was proposed by the faculty of engineering for the procurement and upgrading of engineering materials so that the NBTE can inspect and accredit the courses.
Iyiola emphasised that the problem also came from the faculty because the school management were not told that the facilities the engineering department have on ground can not be satisfied by NBTE for the accreditation of the engineering course, noting that NBTE did not say that the school totally failed the accreditation test, but NBTE only said that they needed to upgrade the facilities in the engineering department.
Iyiola said, “The management of the school didn’t have enough fund to buy engineering materials to accredit the engineering courses, and we have been misinformed by the faculty concerning the accreditation.”
“Funding and misinformation was the basic cause of this issue, we have met several times and we keeps on saying the same thing, the issue we are having relies on finance. This problem will be resolve very soon because the National TETFUND has promises us some funds, together with other individual who has showed interest to assist us.”
