Graduates and students of the All-State College of Education, Ero in Ondo state have staged a protest, disrupting academic activities at the institution due to their non-mobilization for the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC).
The proprietor of the institution, Prince Fasua Oyeleye, was said to have been confined to his office for over six hours until he was eventually rescued by the Nigerian police.
The demonstrators blocked the highway and demanded a refund of their five-year tuition fees if the school authorities failed to facilitate their NYSC mobilization.
President of the institution’s Students Union Government, Comrade Olusola Gbenga, said the school has two sets of graduates waiting to be mobilised for the national service.
Comrade Gbenga stated that Vice Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA) Prof. Olugbenga Ige, assured them during their matriculation that they would proceed with the NYSC programme after graduation.
Gbenga said a total of 400 graduates were waiting to be mobilised.
He said: “We now have two sets of graduates waiting to be mobilised. We protested because our school name was not on the portal of AAUA. The VC who was DVC then promised us that we would go for the NYSC programme.
“What is the purpose of going to school without NYSC? We will continue the protest until we are sure of our fate.”
Students Affairs Officer of the institution, Samuel Adebayo, said the school proprietor was whisked away to avoid attack by the students.
Adebayo, who absolved the institution of connivance, said lecturers from AAUA were responsible for examinations conduct and supervision.
“Mr. Fasua believed the students will go for NYSC after graduation. He is toothless in this matter. The students shut down all academic activities. They now want their money refunded. The AAUA management should come out to clear the air on the fate of the students.”
The spokesman for AAUA, Victor Akinpelumi, described the allegation as a fallacy.
He urged the students to meet their proprietors for proper guidance.
He said: “Thanks, the allegation is not correct. It is a fallacy. I will advise the students to channel their grievances to the Proprietor/ Registrar of Ero College of Education, Ero, for proper guidance.”
