The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, has constituted a six-member joint management-student committee to address grievances raised by Medical and Dental students of the Enugu campus.
The decision followed a recent peaceful protest by students of the College of Medicine at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC), where they highlighted concerns over fees, hostel allocation, accommodation management and welfare.
The meeting, convened by the Vice-Chancellor, was held at the UNN Centre for Excellence Auditorium, at the Enugu Campus, and attended by principal officers of the university, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enugu Campus), Professor JUJ Onwumere; Provost, College of Medicine, Professor Hyginus Uzo Ezegwi; Director, Centre for Excellence, Professor Uduji; Director, Business School, Professor Ugwoke; Director of Housing and Accommodation, Dr. Aaron Agbo; and Deputy Director of Housing and Accommodation, Dr. Jude Anago. Student Leaders and students of the College of Medicine were also present.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ortuanya addressing the students during the interactive session
Speaking on behalf of the students, President of the University of Nigeria Nsukka Medical Students Association (UNNMSA), Abraham Chukwuka, presented a seven-point document titled “Urgent Appeal for Key Improvements in Fee Structure, Hostel Allocation, Accommodation Management, and Related Welfare Matters for Clinical MBBS/BDS Students.”
Key demands included a review of the “7th year” school fees by students whose programmes were prolonged by industrial actions and the COVID-19 pandemic; the establishment of an independent Directorate of Housing and Accommodation for the Ituku-Ozalla campus; restoration of the traditional class-based hostel allocation system; expansion of Wi-Fi access in hostels; adequate bed space allocation for clinical classes; and assurance of non-victimization of students who participated in the protest.
Responding, Director of Housing and Accommodation, Dr. Agbo, attributed many of the accommodation challenges to entrenched corruption and syndicate activities that previously distorted hostel administration and bed space allocation for pecuniary gains. He said the current administration was dismantling the system and restoring transparency, fairness and accountability.
A cross section of the Students at the meeting
Addressing the students, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ortuanya assured them that no participant in the protest would be victimized, describing the students as his “children” whose welfare he was duty-bound to protect.
He, however, expressed regret that the protest occurred during his official engagements abroad, noting that he had been in Accra, Ghana, for the launch of the QS World University Rankings at the Association of African Universities headquarters, where UNN was ranked 19th out of 690 universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, improving from its previous 46th position in Africa and moving from 12th to 3rd in Nigeria. He also attended the International Conference of the Association of West African Universities in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where UNN presented a lead paper.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the international engagements were part of efforts to enhance the university’s global visibility and competitiveness.
He said “I perfectly understand you. Do not have any fear of anyone victimizing you here under my watch. Don’t forget I was also here as a student where I was the Speaker of the Parliament and had also interfaced between the students and management. I had also taught here and had been in the management. I only felt you would have exercised a little patience until I returned to hold this parley we are having now.”
Continuing he said, “we are introducing some changes to improve on what we met. We cannot keep doing the same thing that is problematic and expect a different and better result. We need to make sacrifices for today and tomorrow. You are here now. Your children will be here tomorrow studying to be doctors. We must therefore blow the bridge and make retreat in our reforms impossible. Some of these may be uncomfortable now but with time they would get us to a better standing,” he told the students, urging patience and cooperation as reforms are implemented.
At the end of the meeting, a six-member committee comprising three representatives each from management and the students was inaugurated to examine all issues raised and submit recommendations within seven days.
The committee is chaired by Professor Obi Nnamchi, with Dr. Obialumma Okafor as Secretary. Other members include Dr. Aaron Agbo, UNNMSA President Abraham Chukwuka, the Speaker of the Students’ Parliament, and Mr. Devine Ekweremadu, a student.
© Echo Dei Media Consult
