UI: THE THIRD STAKEHOLDERS’ FORUM ENDS WITHOUT A RESOLUTION

This is a guest post 
- By Olopade Oluwasegunfunmilola

Professor Omoniyi Adewoye, Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, 1996 – 2000, was the chairman of the third stakeholders’ forum on Tuesday 10th of April 2018. The meeting, which was held at Trenchard Hall, was transmitted live on Diamond FM, and it started around 10:10am with the National and UI Anthems. The anchor invited the university principal officers to the high table. The Vice Chancellor, DVC Admin., DVC Research, University Librarian, Provost College of Medicine, Deans of Faculties, Dean of Student Affairs, Dean of Post Graduate Schools, Deputy Provost, DVC Academics and the newly appointed Registrar, were all invited to the high table.

The meeting started proper with a welcome speech by the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Omoniyi Adewoye. In his words, “We are here today, to discuss the subject that is dear to our hearts, and how we can lift this university high.” He accentuated on the fact that the University of Ibadan is still the best in terms of quality education. But the problem has been on how to maintain the standard.

After the short welcome speech by the Chairman, the University Media Centre played a video clip on the state of the halls of residence in the university. In the clip, various disheartening views of the male and female toilets, kitchenettes, water pumps and rooms were recorded. And from the record in a meeting held on the 13th July 2017, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, promised to make the halls of residence and the university environment the best, as it is called.

The Vice Chancellor was then invited to make his presentation on the state of the university. Professor Idowu Olayinka started with reasons for calling the stakeholders’ meeting. He then highlighted the points to be discussed. The benefits of university education, issues of hostel accommodation, other academic and professional training charges, taking care of indigent students and concluding remarks. “Free education started from Ibadan”, the VC said. “The history of the University of Ibadan is, in a sense, inseparable from the history of Nigerian after the second world war.”

On hostel accommodation, the VC gave profound analysis on the reasons for the dramatic increment from 14,000naira to 30,000naira. He reiterated that the hostel is available only for fresh and final year students of the University, and yet optional. And on school fees, he read out the new fee schedules in various faculties, stating explicitly the faculties which are required to pay for laboratory and studio (science and arts) maintenance fees, and fees for professional training (Medical students [non-clinical and clinical], Education [300L & 400L], Pharmacy and Faculty of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources). In his words on the College of Medicine fees, “the cost of training of health professionals is high and continues to increase”.

The VC concluded his presentation on the state of the University, “The University is at a point where it is difficult to continue to subside the running of the Halls of residence and carry out some academic functions without a slight adjustment in accommodation charges and school fees.”

After the VC’s presentation, the stakeholders’ interactive session started, which almost caused an uproar. The first speaker, Mr. Fashina Olusegun said “Parents are the most bastardized entities in the world. Every parent here knows that there is a need for increment, but let us do this in a way not to kill.” The atmosphere changed, like it was exactly the most anticipated session for the parents. Everyone was nodding in agreement to every statement of Mr Fashina till he dropped the microphone, and was accompanied with clapping. Another stakeholder, Mr. Ayo Akinyemi said “This gathering today, is like putting the cart before the horse. Because the university management had already concluded on the decision before calling the stakeholders to it.” This created more scenes and reactions from parents. Should it be that nobody ever thought of this until this man mentioned it? The reactions were uniform, and the parents became more furious. Another stakeholder, Mrs Olukanmi Koleowo surprisingly, came with a different motion. “Dear parents, I think we have to be realistic. We cannot compare the prices of things from years back. The state of the hostels is bad.” The noise from the back of the hall could not make her to finish her statements. Almost everyone was whooping at her statements till she stopped. Another parent said, “Mr. Vice Chancellor, until now, the minimum wage in Nigeria is 18,000naira. We know we can’t send our wards to private institutions, that’s why we brought our children to a public institution. I hereby move a motion that this decision on increment be reversed, and another meeting be called for deliberations.” Things were becoming interesting on the side of parents and stakeholders while another parent stood up. “We cannot decide for the University here, but the University can go back and review this and get back to us.” Everyone had something to say. Another parent stood up, “I have three children here. I just want to suggest that the accommodation fee should come down to 20 – 25,000naira.” Anjola Boluwatife, a 400L student of Law, mounted the podium to speak the mind of the students. He accused the management of distrust. He revised the issues of the promised digital ID cards, compared to the usual plastic school ID cards issued out, despite the huge payments made for it. In his words, “I think we have a problem of trust. We have listened to analysis, but there are things not said here. We are talking of 30,000naira for a bedspace, not a room.”

Professor Olaopa, Provost College of Medicine, intervened to the germane issues raised by the earlier speakers.  And he clarified the fact that the VC has no right to call a stakeholders’ meeting without the prior approval of the Senate; and this made the information regarding the meeting to tarry. Back to the Stakeholders interactive session, another parent stood up, “This meeting is being transmitted live and everyone is listening, so I want to implore us to be cautious of our decision here today. Any mistake we make today will affect all other schools throughout the nation.” Everything started to look too serious again until another parent stood up and pleaded for the management to repent on the decision, “Please look at me very well. I came here today with slippers. My wife asked me why, and I told her – this is the state of the nation.” The atmosphere, in a bit, changed and everyone laughed at the joke, though it’s the truth.

At this point, more hands were up. The parents were venting displease on the outrageous increment in the hostel accommodation levy and school fees. But to a surprise, the program anchor called on the newly appointed Registrar, Mrs. Bunmi Faluyi, for the vote of thanks. The parents who raised their hands to ask questions or make a plea, were left amazed. The only question everyone kept asking with no answers was “So, what’s the resolution now? Why were we called to the meeting?” This drama continued till the end of the vote of thanks and UI Anthem, before everyone sluggishly left the hall one after the other.

Olopade Oluwasegunfunmilola is a final year Computer Science student, University of Ibadan. He can be reached via email profthepoet@gmail.com or chat/text 08102483872
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