The Education Rights Campaign (ERC), an NGO, on Thursday lauded the University of Ilorin for releasing the certificates of two ex-students withheld 16 years ago.
This is contained in a statement jointly signed by Mr Hassan Soweto, National Coordinator and Mr Michael Ogundele, National Secretary of the group, in Lagos.
The affected students are: Mr Lanre Akinola and Mrs Rasheedat Adesina.
According to the statement, the duo received their certificates after 16 years of legal battle.
The statement said the degree certificates were withheld since 1999 and 2001 respectively as punishment for their involvement in students’ unionism and struggle to end military rule.
It said Adeshina was Assistant Secretary-General of the UNILORIN Students’ Union while Lanre Akinola was member of Students Representative Council of the students’ union.
“The release of the withheld certificates has put an end to the erroneous belief of the administrators of academic institutions that they cannot be compelled to release academic results and degrees.
“It gives hope to all victims of repressive, dictatorial and vindictive administrations in every sector of the society that it is possible to defeat the oppressors.
“It also underscores the fact that the battle for justice may be long, victory is certain if we remain resolute and committed’’, it said.
The statement listed the predicaments of the duo to include participation in anti-Abacha rally staged on campus on June 4, 1998 and students’ protest against poor welfare conditions on campus on June 5 of the same year.
“Their predicament with the university administration under the leadership of the then Vice-chancellor, Prof. Shuaib Oba Abdul-Raheem, started in June 5, 1998 following students’ protest against poor welfare conditions on campus.
“The anti-Abacha rally staged on campus on June 4, was organised by Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON) under the leadership of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
“The released certificates indicated falsely that Lanre Akinola and Rasheedat Adesina graduated in 2015 instead of 1999 and 2001 respectively.
“Nevertheless, it is a victory for students’ activism, the poor and oppressed people of the society. It is also a confirmation that there is a limit to institutional enmity and lawlessness.
This victory came after the judgment of the Supreme Court in 2014 upheld the judgment of Appeal Court which had earlier ordered the release of the certificates and awarded damages against the university’’, the statement said.
Vanguard extract.
OMG....16years without their certificate?I wonder how their lives turned out without their degrees to search for good jobs.
Better late than never.
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never
ReplyDeleteUnilorin nor dey play o. Unilorin will almost always eventually do the needful but it usually comes at a great price to the person/student wey follow them drag the matter.
ReplyDeleteWho remembers the case of the 44 lecturers? The sacking of those lecturers and scrapping of any form of unionism (trade and student) at the time helped in setting unilorin on the right track. Today some universities have copied the Unilorin model and its working out for them.
Today being an alumnus of the school, sometimes puts a smile on my face and some other times, while reminiscing, just makes me angry. This is because everything for the school na wahala.
Yes oo. Better by stress
DeleteEducational system in Nigeria Is a mess.
ReplyDeleteCan you just imagine?
ReplyDeleteOMG
They've been using their statement of result I guess.
ReplyDeleteMany people don't even go for their certificates till many years later.
Nah wah. 16 years
ReplyDeleteWhat! So because they were student activist they did this to them? It is well.
ReplyDelete16 yrs without certificate, this school is damn too wicked.
ReplyDeleteThank God is been released.
Oriegwu.
16 years? That's a long time. The owners might have acquired another degrees
ReplyDeleteGood
ReplyDeleteThey must have gotten other certs but as Alụta people,they must get those certificates.
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens when ur village people is on ur case. I'm sure one witch some where have being using the cert as hand fan... 16 long years??
ReplyDeleteThank God for granting them victory at last. Atall atall na him bad pass.
ReplyDeleteI hope at a certain point they wrote Jamb again and got another degree even Msc. Or opted for private business.
But why 2015? Totally wrong. It should be the year of graduation. Totally absolutely wrong. Was the court order not spelt out.
Aluta continua....
ReplyDeleteWTF!!!16 good years
ReplyDeleteCongratulation to them oh
Very nice
ReplyDeleteWow, good news indeed. I knew Rashidat back then in school, she was ever vibrant, leading Aluta everywhere on campus. Some of us got encouraged by her vibrancy. It's really cruel for Unilorin to have withheld their certificates this long. Wishing them both the very best. "Injury to one, injury to All"!
ReplyDeleteThanks 2 God that they were alive 2 see the end of them waking up early 4 lectures, test, seminar, presentation, examination etc. Destiny can only be delay & not denied
ReplyDeleteAre u a student, unemployed etc & u use internet daily? Then follow this link and start earning your own income without answering Yes Ma/Sir 2 anyone: http://TheRevenueJob.com
16 long years,na wa
ReplyDeleteWow..
ReplyDelete16 years is such a long time..
That's how lasu held on to our result since February 2011, imagine they have no useful reason for doing so.almost of the people that did part time, have not been giving their resutts( such a silly Skool) I wonda how they hope we survive, pay so much 2 be educative yet u can't get d cert 2 move ahead, one of my course mate is a sale gal imagine @ my age am still doing ushering jobs coz I have no cert, it's very depressing stella if u can do a post on it, I will be glad.
ReplyDeleteThat's how lasu held on to our result since February 2011, imagine they have no useful reason for doing so.almost of the people that did part time, have not been giving their resutts( such a silly Skool) I wonda how they hope we survive, pay so much 2 be educative yet u can't get d cert 2 move ahead, one of my course mate is a sale gal imagine @ my age am still doing ushering jobs coz I have no cert, it's very depressing stella if u can do a post on it, I will be glad.
ReplyDeleteThey should sue the school for hardship and stress for the 16 years without their certificates. 16 fucking
ReplyDeleteyears! That's brutal