The Management of the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State, has held a town hall meeting with representatives of the students of the institution.
The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Professor Kayode Adebowale, mni, FAS, disclosed that the meeting, which was held in the Trenchard Hall of the University, was convened to enable the students to bear their minds on vexatious issues.
The meeting was therefore devoid of any formalities, as students asked questions and raised issues to which answers and explanations were provided by the relevant officers of the University.
Professor Adebowale, who explained that federal universities were in a transition mode, and many issues were yet unclear, commended the student union leaders for exuding maturity and purposeful student unionism, virtues that he said were worth exporting to other institutions.
The Vice-Chancellor also applauded the student body for doing well and maintaining peace despite the challenges facing them on campus and in the nation, noting that the students 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, and the students of the University of Ibadan emerged in the first and third positions.
Professor Adebowale also mentioned the newly released Times Higher Education ranking, which placed UI in the first position in Nigeria and number seven in Africa, saying such news gladdens the heart.
He stated that students are important components and stakeholders in the university system, and the University Management appreciates this fact.
On accommodation, the VC recalled that the Federal Government had handed off issues of accommodation for over 20 years, but 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 the Halls of Residence, laboratory fees, sexual harassment, Post UTME for the physically challenged, use of computer laboratories, and clinical rotation for physiotherapy students.
Other issues were electricity, water supply, prices of commodities, health services, school fees, Internet facilities, and waste disposal, while a reduction from N400 to N300 per taxi drop was approved to ease transportation within the campus.
The students’ bodies were represented by members of the Students Union Executive Committee led by the 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; MSS Amir; AUCSF; and other students.
Dominica Nwabufo
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