PARENT CALLS FOR UI VC's RESIGNATION

-By Lucky Racer

A parent, Mr Fashina Olusegun has called for the resignation of the vice chancellor and other principal officers of the University of Ibadan. This call was made during the stake holders’ forum organized by the University management on the many issues confronting the University most especially on the increment of tuition and accommodation fees. The forum which held on the 10th of April, 2018 at Trenchard hall, University of Ibadan under the chairmanship of a one-time Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Omoniyi Adewoye saw the presence of stakeholders including parents, alumni, partners, friends, students, etc.

Mr Fashina who was the first to react after the VC gave a concise report on the state of the University started by saying that parents(including those on the high table and those on the other side) are the most bastardized entities in the country. According to him; “I want to bring our understanding to the fact that whether we like it or not from this side and this side of the hall, we have a common adversary and that is if I may call it the Government because we’re talking about poor funding of the education… Parents are the most bastardized entities in this country for now, in all the angles and when the decision is being made, even the one that is taking the decision is also a parent but then you have the ability to take yourself out of the mentality of a parent and now you assume the position of an authority.”

He further expressed his dissatisfaction at the increment noting that  although every parent understand the need to increase, the increments would have been better welcomed if it was gradual, while reacting to the VC’s statement on how poor funding of the UCH merely results to a situation he described as garbage in, garbage out, he noted that; “you said we cannot continue with garbage in, garbage out, but almost immediately you mentioned… when you mentioned that one I was now thinking up till last year, up till the end of this one, up till the end of that session, are we saying the products of the University have been garbage? But I doubt that. But almost immediately, you said that they are been sought after everywhere. But that is to say that 32,000 have brought ex-students that are been sought after somewhere, then I want to ask myself what is that tsunami that has happened between now and then we have seen a lot of deficit right? But can’t we just look at 32,000 becoming first of all 50,000 a year, then 60,000 the next year and things like that  so we will be gradual and be humane to people on this side. The thing is that if you’re able to produce a graduate with 32,000 last year, I do not see why you will produce a very  very bad graduate with 50,000 this year looking at every data that is influencing the increment in this country.. let us do it in such a way that we will not kill this already bastardized, demonized entity in this country”

While concluding his reaction, he called that the VC and other administrative members can as a way of protest resign in order to make Government understand the need to fund education in the country. In his remark; “With the consciousness of the fact and on a lighter mood sir, with due respect sir. With the consciousness of the fact that it is as a result  of poor funding, like we have in other clans can we have a scenario whereby the administrative office holders of the Universities, I mean the VC, the DVC, the Provost and things like that(after all you are lecturers) resign  in protest of poor funding of education and then go back to classrooms as lecturers  to pass a message to the Government. You take your jobs as lecturers but then because you are leading an entity that is poorly funded and is about to crash and because of that maybe we if you threaten, UI, all the other federal Universities. Like the governing council and things like that are about to resign so that Government will know that education is being poorly funded maybe you can arouse something.”

Meanwhile, a number of other reactions from parents and students toed the same line of argument. The meeting could be said to have been closed abruptly by a sudden introduction of the vote of thanks by the authorities as parties concerned didn’t reach a compromise.