Data analysis: Over 72 percent of OAU students reside outside school due to limited hostel facilities.
OAU KILONSHELE
18,928 out of over 26,000 of the students in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife reside outside the school premises, which implies that over 72.2% of the students are vulnerable to attacks, exploitation and other dangers of living outside the confinement of the University.
A recent survey carried out by OAU KILONSHELE revealed that only 7,217 bedspaces are available in the school presently, which can only cater for just 27.8% of the undergraduate students according to the over 26, 000 population published on the university's website.
The breakdown of the available bed spaces states that there are 4, 162 spaces in the male halls of residence-Awolowo Hall, 1,524; Fajuyi hall, 1,198; Angola hall,880 and ETF hall, 560.
It further states that a total of 3, 055 bedspaces for the females, which include Moremi hostel, 987; Alumni hall, 402; Mozambique hall, 1,166 and Akintola hall, 500.
The results of the survey is not unconnected to the latest accomodation policy adopted few months ago after this news outfit reported the plans of the university management to decongest the hostels, Professor Isiaka Aransi, the Dean of the Division of Students Affairs, revealed.
Some rooms now have 4 occupants as against the initial 5 or 6 occupants while some house 6 against the 12 occupants in the previous academic sessions.
Meanwhile, students living in Private hostels around the school as well as others residing in farther places outside the university have lamented insecurity and unnecessary hike in house rents by the landlords.
Earlier this year, students in De Gold and Bver hostels, private properties, complained of incessant increment in the hostel fee even when most of the facilities and appliances are not in good condition.
"The hostel fee which was initially N75,000 is now 85,000." A release by the Association of Campus Journalists , OAU, stated.
Likewise, many have lodged complaints of robbery cases and sexual harassments. It was learnt from Oyebanji Peter, a 200 level student of Public administration, that one of the streets in his area, was robbed few weeks ago.
"they robbed at AP area during the second week of resumption."
Adewusi Ibukunoluwa, 200 level and Adetunji Tosin, 100 level, reportedly victims of an attempted rape at AP area, lodged the complaint last two weeks at the security unit of the university.
"We'll work in conjunction with the police to investigate the matter." Mr. Babatunde Oyatokun, the Chief Security officer of school, replied when contacted.
It can be recalled that Insecurity as a challenge, led the former students' union officers to visit the Osun state commander of the Nigerian police force last year with the aim of providing special security for students in major places outside the school campus.
This step did not witness much progress as the security measures proffered by the ex-unioun officers were not adhered to.
According to the former union Legal adviser, Olaoye Gideon, he stressed that the team proffered that there should be police posts in places like Asherifa, Omole estate and other major areas off campus, where myraids of students reside.
As at the time of filling this report, there are no police posts in these areas pointed out.
Also, the high number of students outside the school has caused transportation crisis as most times, students struggle to get buses for conveyance from the school to their respective homes.
Moreover, the availability of basic amenities in some places, is nothing to go about in comparison to the supply of these services in the school environment.
Adekunjo Samuel, a part three student who stays in Mayfair, few kilometres from the school, said the supply of electricity in his area has not been regular.
"I have to get to school before I can read most times, especially recently." Samuel told our journalist.
The National secretary of the Education Rights Campaign and a final year student of the school, Omole Ibukun, explained in an interview that the university management is endangering the lives of most of the students owing to insecurity off campus and the transportation crisis.
Another member of an ideological group on campus, Afolabi Alawode, stated that "there is an influx of cultists outside the school, which can later result to the initiation of some of our students and that will pose a threat to the university community."
Mr. Omole, then canvassed for the proper funding of Education by the Federal Government and that more hostel facilities should be constructed.
"The Federal Government should build more hostels. There are hectares of lands in the schools."
However, as reported by this newspaper recently, the Vice-chancellor of the University, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, has promised to build more hostels so as to accommodate a larger percentage of the university.
The VC, in a meeting with student journalists and other principal officers, also promised the provision of Campus shuttle buses in order to alleviate the transportation crisis.
"We've provided two buses already." He said.
18,928 out of over 26,000 of the students in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife reside outside the school premises, which implies that over 72.2% of the students are vulnerable to attacks, exploitation and other dangers of living outside the confinement of the University.
A recent survey carried out by OAU KILONSHELE revealed that only 7,217 bedspaces are available in the school presently, which can only cater for just 27.8% of the undergraduate students according to the over 26, 000 population published on the university's website.
The breakdown of the available bed spaces states that there are 4, 162 spaces in the male halls of residence-Awolowo Hall, 1,524; Fajuyi hall, 1,198; Angola hall,880 and ETF hall, 560.
It further states that a total of 3, 055 bedspaces for the females, which include Moremi hostel, 987; Alumni hall, 402; Mozambique hall, 1,166 and Akintola hall, 500.
The results of the survey is not unconnected to the latest accomodation policy adopted few months ago after this news outfit reported the plans of the university management to decongest the hostels, Professor Isiaka Aransi, the Dean of the Division of Students Affairs, revealed.
Some rooms now have 4 occupants as against the initial 5 or 6 occupants while some house 6 against the 12 occupants in the previous academic sessions.
Meanwhile, students living in Private hostels around the school as well as others residing in farther places outside the university have lamented insecurity and unnecessary hike in house rents by the landlords.
Earlier this year, students in De Gold and Bver hostels, private properties, complained of incessant increment in the hostel fee even when most of the facilities and appliances are not in good condition.
"The hostel fee which was initially N75,000 is now 85,000." A release by the Association of Campus Journalists , OAU, stated.
Likewise, many have lodged complaints of robbery cases and sexual harassments. It was learnt from Oyebanji Peter, a 200 level student of Public administration, that one of the streets in his area, was robbed few weeks ago.
"they robbed at AP area during the second week of resumption."
Adewusi Ibukunoluwa, 200 level and Adetunji Tosin, 100 level, reportedly victims of an attempted rape at AP area, lodged the complaint last two weeks at the security unit of the university.
"We'll work in conjunction with the police to investigate the matter." Mr. Babatunde Oyatokun, the Chief Security officer of school, replied when contacted.
It can be recalled that Insecurity as a challenge, led the former students' union officers to visit the Osun state commander of the Nigerian police force last year with the aim of providing special security for students in major places outside the school campus.
This step did not witness much progress as the security measures proffered by the ex-unioun officers were not adhered to.
According to the former union Legal adviser, Olaoye Gideon, he stressed that the team proffered that there should be police posts in places like Asherifa, Omole estate and other major areas off campus, where myraids of students reside.
As at the time of filling this report, there are no police posts in these areas pointed out.
Also, the high number of students outside the school has caused transportation crisis as most times, students struggle to get buses for conveyance from the school to their respective homes.
Moreover, the availability of basic amenities in some places, is nothing to go about in comparison to the supply of these services in the school environment.
Adekunjo Samuel, a part three student who stays in Mayfair, few kilometres from the school, said the supply of electricity in his area has not been regular.
"I have to get to school before I can read most times, especially recently." Samuel told our journalist.
The National secretary of the Education Rights Campaign and a final year student of the school, Omole Ibukun, explained in an interview that the university management is endangering the lives of most of the students owing to insecurity off campus and the transportation crisis.
Another member of an ideological group on campus, Afolabi Alawode, stated that "there is an influx of cultists outside the school, which can later result to the initiation of some of our students and that will pose a threat to the university community."
Mr. Omole, then canvassed for the proper funding of Education by the Federal Government and that more hostel facilities should be constructed.
"The Federal Government should build more hostels. There are hectares of lands in the schools."
However, as reported by this newspaper recently, the Vice-chancellor of the University, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, has promised to build more hostels so as to accommodate a larger percentage of the university.
The VC, in a meeting with student journalists and other principal officers, also promised the provision of Campus shuttle buses in order to alleviate the transportation crisis.
"We've provided two buses already." He said.
Nice one
ReplyDelete