A Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Atiba University, Oyo State, has described some protesting students of the institution as “intellectually bankrupt” during a demonstration over the university’s Law programme. The official made the remark while addressing the students during their protest against the 10-year moratorium imposed on the university’s Law programme by……
A Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Atiba University, Oyo State, has described some protesting students of the institution as “intellectually bankrupt” during a demonstration over the university’s Law programme.
The official made the remark while addressing the students during their protest against the 10-year moratorium imposed on the university’s Law programme by the Council of Legal Education (CLE).
The students had taken to the university premises to protest the decision, which was reportedly linked to deficiencies in facilities and alleged breaches of regulations governing legal education.
In a video circulating online on Tuesday, the DVC urged the students to remain calm while addressing their concerns.
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“Let’s calm down. We’re all intellectual beings, so one day you might even find yourself in my shoes. So, don’t talk rubbish because you don’t know what your future will be,” he told the protesters.
One of the students, however, urged the university official to address the immediate concerns surrounding the Law programme.
“Sir, let’s focus on this one. Let’s focus on our present,” the student said.
The exchange escalated when the DVC responded: “Listen, listen! Many of you are intellectually bankrupt. When I say you don’t know what your future holds and you are replying to me, I’m a successful man! If you are able to be like me in life, thank your Almighty God! What are you talking about?”
Another student subsequently displayed a document on a mobile phone and referred to the date of the CLE decision.
“August 19th, signed by the Secretary of Council of Legal Education, August 19th…” the student said.
The DVC dismissed the date as irrelevant and called on the students to listen to his explanation.
“Doesn’t matter! Just listen! Just listen! Whatever… noise will not help you. I’ve been shouting it. Noise will not help you! Crisis will not help you! There are some fundamental issues that you must understand. I showed a letter to one of you the other day,” he said.
He further told the students that the issues surrounding the Law programme existed before the university secured accreditation, a claim that was met with boos from the protesters.
“This thing is not just there online. It was there before our accreditation,” the DVC said.
The controversy took another turn on Tuesday after the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde, shared a video appearing to show the DVC climbing a fence while trying to leave the university premises.
Babatunde, in a post accompanying the video, said the official was prevented from leaving through the main route following his exchange with the protesting students.
“The Law Student’s of ATIBA UNIVERSITY, make sure the DVC who spoke to them rudely and arrogantly during their protest yesterday, could not leave the school, until he escaped through the Fence,” he wrote.
He added: “This is the type of judgement that await all Oppressor … We are in solidarity with the Law Students and we will join them to get justice…”
Meanwhile, NANS has expressed solidarity with the affected Law students, accusing the university management of continuing to admit students into the programme despite what it described as the absence of CLE recognition and approval.
In a separate statement earlier reported by TVC News, the student body questioned the management’s handling of the programme and its impact on students and graduates.
“It is rather appalling that despite the affected students’ continuous agitations and the intervention of the apex student representative body, NANS, the management of Atiba University, Oyo State, has paid no heed to these genuine agitations,” the association said.
NANS added: “Every sane individual must begin to question the integrity, efficiency, and competence of the management of Atiba University, Oyo State.”
The association alleged that graduates of the programme had been left stranded and unable to proceed to the Nigerian Law School because of the university’s inability to secure the necessary recognition and approval from the CLE.
NANS also called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to withdraw Atiba University’s licence, while demanding that the institution resolve the outstanding issues and provide a clear pathway for affected students and graduates to proceed to the Nigerian Law School.
