The University of Ibadan (UI) on Sunday closed its medical
school, directing students to vacate hostels by noon on the same
day.
The directive is contained in a release signed by the
institution’s Registrar, Olujinmi Olukoya, and made available to
newsmen in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the release was,
however, neither dated nor written on the official letterhead of
the university.
According to the release, the Academic Board of the College of
Medicine, UI, considered the possible security threat that the
students’ agitation against school fees could pose.
Thus, it recommended the closure.
The release said that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka,
approved the board’s recommendation and directed that medical
students should leave their hostels by 12 noon on Sunday.
The President of the university’s Medical Students Association,
Mr Olakorede Jacob, frowned at the closure in a telephone interview
with NAN.
Jacob told NAN that the association was not contacted through
any official notice.
“We only saw copies of the release to that effect pasted around
the hostel premises.
“Nonetheless, we have no choice than to adhere to the
directive,” he said.
NAN reports that the decision of management to close the medical
school is in connection with the staged protest by the students
against increase in accommodation fee and introduction of a new fee
described as “professional training fee”.
The students claimed that the increase was capable of making
some of them to abandon their medical course.
NAN also reports that the professional fee ranged from N75,000
to N100,000 per student, while accommodation fee in the halls of
residence was raised to N30,000 per student.
As at the time of this report, all occupants of the Alexandra
Brown Hall in University College Hospital had vacated the
hostel.
The University of Ibadan (UI) on Sunday closed its medical
school, directing students to vacate hostels by noon on the same
day.
The directive is contained in a release signed by the
institution’s Registrar, Olujinmi Olukoya, and made available to
newsmen in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the release was,
however, neither dated nor written on the official letterhead of
the university.
According to the release, the Academic Board of the College of
Medicine, UI, considered the possible security threat that the
students’ agitation against school fees could pose.
Thus, it recommended the closure.
The release said that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka,
approved the board’s recommendation and directed that medical
students should leave their hostels by 12 noon on Sunday.
The President of the university’s Medical Students Association,
Mr Olakorede Jacob, frowned at the closure in a telephone interview
with NAN.
Jacob told NAN that the association was not contacted through
any official notice.
“We only saw copies of the release to that effect pasted around
the hostel premises.
“Nonetheless, we have no choice than to adhere to the
directive,” he said.
NAN reports that the decision of management to close the medical
school is in connection with the staged protest by the students
against increase in accommodation fee and introduction of a new fee
described as “professional training fee”.
The students claimed that the increase was capable of making
some of them to abandon their medical course.
NAN also reports that the professional fee ranged from N75,000
to N100,000 per student, while accommodation fee in the halls of
residence was raised to N30,000 per student.
As at the time of this report, all occupants of the Alexandra
Brown Hall in University College Hospital had vacated the
hostel.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/university-of-ibadan-medical-school-shut-down/