Nigerian universities, kidnapping and banditry
BY Goke Awoyemi
The Saturday Punch interview, granted Noble Eyisi, a former President student union Government, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, November 6 2021, as further exposed the hypocrisy and self-serving attitude inherent in Nigerian University system. Eyisi, who was expelled from the University in 2015 for leading a protest graduated with first class honours from the University of Hull, United Kingdom, in 2019, and obtained a masters degree with distinction at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, in 2021.
While Eyisi’s ordeal was political as a student union activist who was fighting for freedom and enhanced welfare of his fellow students, his mental health was affected as he became depressed because he was expelled in his final year leading to graduation before relocating to the United Kingdom. Others in his category whose parent could not afford the travelling expenses abroad would have swollen the rank of kidnappers and bandits rampaging the country. The atrocities committed by University teachers in Nigeria culminating into frustration of students under their tutelage reared its ugly head when on December 17th, 2018, Justice Maurine Onyetenuof the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, sentenced a senior lecturer , Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Richard Akindele of the infamous OAU Sex-for-mark don to six years imprisonment. Justice Onyetenu said inter-alia that “…. the rampant cases of students harassment by lecturers should be stopped.The case is endemic.”
Since Akindele was used as a scape-goat, the occurrence has reduced, but it has not stopped. Instances abound whereby the female victim will have to bear the expenses of the hotel to enable her lecturer has his way, because she knows that her future will be at stake. The irony of it is that a male student who goes out with the lecturer’s choice becomes a target to be frustrated. They see these female students as an extension of their fringe benefits and allowance.
Speaking at a stakeholders consultative forum on sexual exploitation organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the forum blamed the victims for their ignorance and culture of silence, for their inability to channel their complaints to relevant agencies. But University lecturers employ different tactics to frustrate their students, ruin their future, thus contributing to the menace of kidnapping and banditry. Mike Ozekhome, renown right activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria who was a victim of abduction some years ago, narrated his ordeal after he was released, that some of the perpetrators are educated, and that kidnapping had become a lucrative business.
I had a bitter pill during my studentship at the Graduate School, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife between 1990 and 992 in the department of International Relations. I had gone to Professor Olusola Ojo, the head of department, to inform him that the lecturer of IRS 609, entitled Foreign Policy of the Great Powers told me when he instructed his students to come to his office to check for results that I scored 58%. I then asked him, how come that 37% was recorded for me? This was the sin I committed that earned me a bastardised transcript of academic record, as Professor Olusola Ojo got infuriated, and angrily told me that he will not award the degree to me, saying “even if I give everybody, I won’t give you.”
I thereafter wrote a petition to the Graduate School, O.A.U, Ile-Ife alleging that apart from Professor Olusola Ojo, another lecturer in his department Dr. Alade Fawole, now a professor was demanding that I should settle him with my salary, before I could pass his subject. I was then an English Lecturer at Christ International Divinity College, (Affiliated to one the oldest Universities in Canada, Acadia University, Canada) Erinmo Ijesha, owned by renown Evangelist, Kayode Abiara. The Graduate School then ordered the department in a letter addressed to me to arrange for a re-sit examination in six subjects. Amazingly, as I was writing the last paper under discuss, IRS 609, Professor Olusola Ojo rushed into the examination hall, seized my script and tore it before I could submit the script. I played a gentleman, without rough-handling my lecturer, rushed to the office of the Secretary, Post-Graduate School, Mrs. Mary Oyewole with a letter reporting Professor Olusola Ojo. She (Mrs. Mary Oyewole), after collecting my letter, told me to go, that the exercise was over.
But after a while, when my name was not listed among those graduating, I approached a lawyer to write to the University requesting for my transcript of academic record, wherein 0% was recorded for me in IRS 609, and NIL degree was awarded. On sighting the transcript of academic records Mr. Afolabi, Director Academic Affairs,and Mrs. Fadeyibi, one time Secretary, Graduate School, told me that the transcript of academic records did not get to the senate. I made spirited efforts by approaching lawyers, and after narrating my ordeal to Mike Ozekhome (SAN) at his Ogunlana-Surulere, Lagos Office Chamber, he asked if I was a cultist. I replied by telling him that I was neither a cultist nor a student union activist, because undergraduates run student union government. Not too long ago, I approached another right activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, but got tired after visiting his office severally without seeing him. I guess, maybe, because of his busy schedule. Occasionally, he replies to text messages sent to him. But Nathaniel Oke, an Ibadan based Senior Advocate of Nigeria, after perusing through the documents presented to him, told me that the case could be statute barred.
I never gave up, as I re-opened my case before Professor Roggers Makanjuola, former Vice-Chancellor, O.A.U. Ile-Ife, when we met in a fishing facility owned by a wealthy Ile-Ife Chief. He subsequently advised that I should write a petition addressed to the current Vice-chancellor, O.A.U., Ile-Ife, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, promising to drop same with him before travelling to the United Kingdom. As luck will have it, I met Ogunbodede shortly after 2018 Osun Governorship Election at the residence of Senator Babajide Omoworare, who is currently the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly, after collecting my petition, promised to ensure justice is done. I was not surprised to read from a letter sent to me thereafter form Obafemi Awolowo University legal department that I should contact my lawyer, knowing fully well that it is statute barred.
These are what students encounter in Nigeria Universities on a regular basis. We know that those in government place their interest before others by exploring the Machiavellian theory. Machiavelli, the unscrupulous Italian Philosopher, has said that “the end justifies the means,” by this, he meant that greed and avarice are basic ingredient in the running of affairs of a state. Even at that, we have professors in Nigeria Universities today who are professing nonsense, and the huge research grant made available to them, has not been seen to have a meaningful impact on the Nigerian Society. How do you explain a former soviet union trained professor of Computer Engineering at Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Arakeji Osun State, who during his inaugural Lecture One and half years ago publicly advertised that 2 + 2 might not be equal to 4. What kind of Arithmetic postulation was he trying to teach our children, except confusion. Perhaps they need to be told those young men terrorising Professors and their Families in their various campuses might be among those they have unjustifiably frustrated during their tutelage under them. God help Nigeria.
Goke Awoyemi, Media Consultant, sent this piece from Ile-Ife. Osun State.47B Ayetoro Street, Ile-Ife. 08039506843.
