Scores of students of the Ondo State–owned College of Health Technology, Akure, on Monday barricaded the institution’s main entrance in protest against poor learning facilities, lack of basic amenities and alleged extortion by the school management.
The students converged at the school gate early in the morning, displaying placards with inscriptions such as “We Are Tired of This Wickedness,” “Health Tech With Poor Environment,” “Stop Extortion Now,” and “No Solution, No Exams.” They also lit bonfires and chanted solidarity songs, disrupting academic activities on campus.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, a student, Adeola Ibiroke, lamented years of neglect, citing the absence of potable water, dilapidated classrooms, poor internal roads, unstable power supply, non-functional laboratories and lack of hostel accommodation.
According to her, the situation had become unbearable, especially amid current economic challenges, as the management allegedly continued to impose what she described as unnecessary levies on students.
“As I speak with you, there are no basic amenities in this college. There is no water or steady electricity. The classrooms are dilapidated, and there are no functional laboratories or hostels, yet the management keeps demanding money from us,” she said.
Ibiroke further alleged that the institution had become a “money-making venture,” accusing the management of encouraging some lecturers to demand money for textbooks and assignments.
She said repeated attempts by student representatives to engage the management had failed, forcing the students to resort to protest.
An academic staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed sympathy with the students and faulted the authorities for failing to address their grievances in time. The staff member also blamed the Ondo State Government, noting its significant role in the administration of the institution.
“What the students are demanding is reasonable and aimed at improving campus life. The management should have listened earlier,” the lecturer said.
Reacting, the Rector of the College, Emoruwa Oluwole Oluwanbe, denied the allegations of extortion but confirmed that the Ondo State Government had intervened and convened a meeting on the matter. He said the management would issue a detailed response later.
Meanwhile, the protesting students insisted that no lectures or examinations would hold until their demands were addressed, warning that the protest would continue.
Fidelis David
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