Tai-solarin-varsity-scrapping:students-on-rampage

ABEOKUTA – Ogun  state students in tertiary institutions, Thursday, went on the  rampage in Ijebu-Ode and its environs  as well as Abeokuta, Ogun State capital over the decision of the Ogun State Government to scrap the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode.

Other stakeholders are also kicking against the new policy on tertiary education, highlighting the flaws.

For example, eldrstatesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo in a statement said while the Government of Ogun State should be looking for opportunities to expand educational opportunities at the university level, it has, by the scrapping of TASUED, contracted same.

According to him;  “The announcement of the scrapping of the Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED, came to me as a shock. The university, established some seven years ago, has provided opportunities for our children who needed university education to get it. According to statistics, the combined capacity of both the Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, and TASUED barely met 25 per cent of qualified Ogun indigenes searching for university education.

“Education is too critical to be politicised. It is therefore my view that the Government of Ogun State should immediately reverse this decision. The strength of our dear state is education, and nothing must be done to subvert this.”

Although yesterday’s students’ prostests were limited to the towns the students threatened to block the Lagos-Ibadan  Expressway if the state government still fails to reverse  the decision.

The students also threatened that, the decision of the state government if implemented would lead to anarchy and chaos in the state.

The students who were led by National Association of Nigerian Students NANS, President,  Mustapha  Adewale and President, TASUED,  Mustapha Oyekanmi said they would  stage protest across the state if the government did not revert the decision.

Meanwhile, the Police Commissioner, Nicholas Nkedeme  while reacting to the threat by the students,  said  though,  he was yet to  get the official statement, but, he would put his men on red alert.

He  told Vanguard on  phone that,  he would send his men to investigate the plan and do the necessary thing to protect lives and property.

Also, parents of the   affected students have rejected the government’s decision describing it as a wrong step.
One of the parents who spoke with newsmen, Dimeji  Kayode-Adedeji, said the institution was living up to the purpose for which it was established.

According to him, “I want to believe that it is uncalled for in the sense that the institution is known to be a formidable institution especially when you make comparison with other university in the state. You will agree with me that the decision is uncalled for.

“It will equally affect the morale of the student. I think it is unfair and not proper at this stage particularly when it is on record that the institution is well known and well recognised even by NUC and the international body because I was made to believe that the institution is among the best when it comes to training in education.”