ADO-EKITI- The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Hephzibah Oladebeye has urged students to shun destructive tendencies during their agitations.
The Rector gave this admonition while receiving the new President of the National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), Com Sunday Asefon and his team in his office in Ado-Ekiti.
Oladebeye also charged the students’ leaders to lead campaign on reorientation of students which would allow for dialogue with the management, instead of confrontations while making their demands .
He advised the students not to resort to arson attack or looting during crisis with the management of the institutions.
“How I wish that the 3Cs of mediation; Consultation, Consolidation and Confrontation are entrenched in schools during Con Asefon’s reign. I have listened to your request on SUG and we pray that we have a governing council soon , so that we can lift a ban placed on election to give way for a fresh one.”
“Students’ welfare has always been my priority as an alumnus of this polytechnic. We would have done better and turn this place(campus) into something else, but there is no adequate funding. But we have been able to do the little we could.”
“The students must bear with us and understand our financial challenges. The electricity distribution Company, BEDC recently said we will be paying N8 million monthly even with epileptic power supply. Universities are better funded than the Polytechnics , even the colleges are better in terms of funding . We appeal to students to always explore the 3Cs before any protest”.
According to him, the EndSARS protest that shook the country Tonite foundation and forced President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation underscored the impacts of the youth in nation building.null
“I want to congratulate you on your victory. Com Asefon had a good dream for the students. With him in the saddle, things will normalise in terms of SUG elections in Nigeria. He is rugged and he is goal getter, I have trust in him”.
Earlier Comrade Asefon, assured that the union under his leadership will bring revolution that would transform the lives of students at various campuses across the country.
He appreciated the Rector for his support during the electioneering campaigns and most importantly, for prioritising the welfare of students.
“The new team of NANS is tagged revolutionary leaders . We are going to ensure that our students are well taken care of, because we have the mandate of Nigerian students to fight for their interests . We will not engage in confrontations. We will jaw jaw and not war war. But if any management refuses to listen, then we will apply force.
“That mandate given to us by students across this country is greater and higher than any management, it is greater and higher than any person, it is greater and higher than the federal government”.
Asefon added that his tenure woukd ensure that monies from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund meant for all campuses to initiate beneficial projects are well appropriated.
“I met with the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola on the need to extend the hand of fellowship it has extended to some federal Universities on road networks to the federal Polytechnics and other tertiary institutions that are yet to benefit.”
“I also discussed with him on how to help the tertiary institutions to have befitting hostels. Looking at what is going on, the managements alone cant do it and once they are on pressure, the students will be at the receiving end, because they can jack up the school fees. These are the issues we are going to discuss with stakeholders at every level”.
Asefon applauded the Polytechnic management for setting up a Students Union Government caretaker committee that would usher in a new set of executive after the botched election, begging the students not to sabotage the efforts to conduct election early next year.
