Students at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Lagos State, are protesting against the institution’s poor conditions and dilapidated infrastructure. The demonstrations, which began on Monday and continued through Wednesday, have seen students taking to the streets of Akoka and its environs.
Provost’s Claims
Dr. Wahab Azeez, the Provost, claimed in an interview with PUNCH newspaper that the protests were being instigated by staff members eyeing his position.
“Those students who are protesting are being instigated by those staff members eyeing my position,” Azeez said.
He emphasized that in his five years as Provost, he had maintained a good relationship with students, leveraging his experience as a former Student Union leader to understand and meet their needs.
Students’ response
The students, however, vehemently denied these allegations, insisting that their grievances are genuine and based on the poor state of the college’s facilities.
Salami Bolanle, acting President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), refuted Azeez’s claims, stating that the protest was driven by the students’ dissatisfaction with the deplorable conditions of their campus.
“The state of the college is very bad, the toilets, the pitch, and everything. Everybody is complaining, even the lecturers,” Bolanle said.
Evidence of Poor Conditions
Images of the campus facilities show rotting wood structures, dilapidated concrete, rusted tanks, and overgrown grass.
The Speaker of the SUG, Oyefara Enoch, highlighted that students are protesting because they have not received value for their payments, citing poorly maintained hostels and inadequate sports facilities as major issues.
Staff Union’s Position
The caretaker chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union at the college, Ogunwale Raphael, and the General Secretary, Favour Randal, both supported the students’ claims, stating that the issues raised were legitimate and not incited by the staff.
Raphael mentioned that the Governing Council had been aware of the staff’s protests and the students’ grievances, while Randal emphasized the need for better amenities to ensure a balanced educational experience for the students.
Urgent attention
The ongoing protests at FCET Akoka highlight significant issues within the institution that both students and staff agree need urgent attention.
The students continue to demand improvements in their living and learning conditions, challenging the Provost’s assertion that their protests are merely politically motivated by staff ambitions.
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