The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the tenure of the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, over allegations of anti student policies and alleged corruption.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its President, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, the student body described Adebowale’s administration as one marked by oppression, intimidation of student leaders and policies that allegedly made learning difficult for students.
According to the statement, the association had monitored the administration of the outgoing Vice Chancellor over the years and deliberately waited until the end of his tenure before making its position public. NANS alleged that students who protested against policies affecting their welfare were intimidated, suspended or expelled, while the Students’ Union was weakened during the period.
The association further alleged that the outgoing Vice Chancellor presided over an administration surrounded by controversies and allegations of corruption, insisting that the ICPC should conduct a thorough investigation into his stewardship. It maintained that public office holders must be held accountable for their actions after leaving office.
NANS also warned that Nigerian students would oppose any future public appointment involving Adebowale, arguing that he had lost the confidence of the student community because of his stewardship at the University of Ibadan.
The student body, however, congratulated the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba, on his appointment and urged him to pursue a student friendly administration anchored on transparency, accountability, improved welfare and respect for students’ rights.
Akinteye reaffirmed the commitment of the association to defending the interests of Nigerian students, promising that the leadership of NANS would continue to speak against policies and actions it considers oppressive while advocating improved welfare and a conducive learning environment across tertiary institutions in the country.
Professor Adebowale had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the NANS statement as of the time of filing this report.
