Increment Of Fees: OAU Student Writes Open Letter To VC

Like most students, I have always admired you. From the very
first day I saw and heard you speak, I have since then even until now reserved
for you good judgements contrary to the very bad ones spreading like wildfire.
As much as I would have loved to sound obscene in this piece of mine, I choose
to maintain some decorum instead, as this is very much required at this point
in time. Cutting all craps and going straight to the point, avoiding every form
of side attractions and putting on hold every form of sentiments I might have
had and may still have for you, I consider it sad, absurd and utterly
inadequate the reasons you gave as regard the outrageous and unfair increment
in the school fees, save some few.

Just to let you know sir, I am writing this letter based on
what is known, obvious and crystal clear from reliable and confirmed sources –
such as the press, distinguished members of the student’s union and their
likes. I have been disappointed so far on how you have not been able to sustain
at least a particular reason for your action. The reasons so far have become
chameleonic in nature, changing with seasons and interviews that suites its purpose.
First it was that our fees are ridiculous because of how cheap they were, then
onto the university being underfunded; the most recent reason, the one blaming
the increment on the high inflation rate didn’t even make any attempt to drive
the nail in. Please sir, kindly make up your mind and carry us along with the
real motive(s) behind the sudden increment in the school fees.  The next set of reason(s) I await, as I am
sure can be reasoned out if weighed properly.

I am not against an increment in school fees, as long as it
is proper, rational and realistic. The absurdness and percentage of the
increase is nothing to write home about. The heat of whatever the management is
facing should not and cannot be taken out on innocent students who fought their
way through the tough admission process. That is why it is called a federal
university dutifully under a federal ministry of education. I believe strongly
that anything whatsoever pertaining to the running and management of the
university should be taken out on the ministry, not on the students who can
barely afford a credible accommodation, one of human basic needs, in an
academic year.

I plead that you listen to the likes of Senator Omisore, The
Ooni of Ife and other influential personnel, who have strongly condemned and
advice against this increment. The poor deserves quality education too. With
this unjust increment in school fees, you’ll only add to the number of dropouts
some of whom are trying to fight their way back into the higher institution.
Education is for the masses and the unfair decision you spearheaded and
suddenly made known to us few weeks to the start of a new session must not
deprive those who are ready to get educated the chance to.

The students are not ready to back down from the current
struggle. Those who can afford it and those who can’t –  we are all in this together. It is important
you realize that not all student have Samsung galaxy tabs like you said, those
fancy cars you see on campus are few in number compared to the population of
the students. We cannot because of the luxury of a few conclude or make
decisions that affects the generality of the population, most of whom who live
from “hand to mouth.” Everything just seems wrong and awkward– the fees, the
timing, the reasons and so on. Need I remind you, the LASU struggle is still on
and getting out of hand – I don’t pray same in our case!

Therefore, I beseech you sir to restructure, re-plan,
re-strategize and reorganize whatever it is you can lay hands on to ensure a
fair and just academic year. If the fees were this high during your
undergraduate days, Nigeria will not be where it is today as many prospects
will be on the street jobless now. Most of our Great Ife alumni, who indeed
have the ability to head a family and run a home, have the affordability and
professionalism of the university to thank. Great Ife is indeed great; a lot of
things contribute to this greatness, the most spectacular being that the child
of a common man can get the same or even better education the rich claims to be
chasing as a result of them looking down on us. Please maintain our greatness
and don’t take OAU away from us. Great Ife lives on!

Thank you.

Yemi Olutoye (@YemiOlutoye) on Twitter.