In response to a recent protest by students against an increase in tuition fees, the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered all students to vacate the campus by 2 pm on Saturday.
The decision was made following a directive from the institution’s Governing Council.
The protest, held on Friday, saw students marching peacefully with placards that read, “We Say No To Tuition Hikes,” “Management Is Insensitive To Our Plights,” and “Our Parents Cannot Afford The New Hikes.” They blocked the roads leading to the campus to express their dissatisfaction with the fee increase.
A circular from the university’s registrar, G. O. Saliu, dated August 30, 2024, announced the closure of the school for three weeks.
According to the circular, the decision to close the campus was made after a meeting between the university management and the student union leaders on Friday, August 30, 2024.
The Vice-Chancellor, representing the Senate, approved the temporary shutdown of the institution.
“All students are to vacate the university campus by 2 pm on Saturday, August 31, 2024,” the circular stated. “The hostels will reopen at noon on Friday, September 20, 2024.”
The notice further detailed that the closure aims to provide students ample time to complete their online registration.
It also indicated that the first-semester examination for the 2023/2024 academic year would now commence on Monday, September 23, 2024. The registration period will end on Friday, September 20, 2024.
In response to the closure, the Union of Campus Journalists, a media platform within the university, reported that students plan to continue their protests.
“Following the University of Ibadan’s announcement of a three-week break, students are once again mobilising to resume their protests,” the statement from the union said.
“The management’s decision to mandate all students vacate the campus has been met with widespread criticism, with many viewing it as a tactic to diminish the momentum of their demonstrations against the tuition fee hike.”
