BY EMMANUEL AHANONU
Keen observers acknowledged that Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) was at the verge of being hit by double crisis recently: The IPPIS imbroglio and impending students revolt over recent school charges increment.
However, the swift intervention by the leadership of the Niger Delta Students’ Union Government (NIDSUG) may have saved the day.
Led by its national president-elect Comr. Joey Ekadi, The Union paid a solidarity visit to the Institution on Monday 3rd February 2020 to negotiate on students behalf and possibly avert the looming faceoff between management and students over the fee hike.
The visitors were warmly welcomed by a mammoth crowd of MOUAU students led by their Students’ Union Government (SUG) president Comr. Famous Otuonye and NIDSUG Vice president (who is equally a student of the Institution) Comr. Samuel Cyril.
They all marched to the administration block where they were welcomed by the school authority led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics, Prof. Madu O. Igwe before being led to meet with the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ogbonnaya Francis Otunta in his office.
Addressing the VC in his office, Comr. Ekadi praised the Vice-Chancellor for his understanding and maturity in handling students issues and opined that his visit is necessitated by the students cries about the fee hike.
He pointed out several strides of the VC especially in various areas of students welfare and finally pleaded with the VC to rescind his position of increasing the school charges owing to the current bitting economic reality.
Comr. Ekadi equally used the medium to iterate his leadership zeal to work with the VC noting that his manifestos is equally in line with the VC pro-students/staff vision.
Responding, the VC thanked the NIDSUG leadership for their coordination and maturity in taking negotiation route and promised the management’s swift reconsideration to the increased school charges.
Addressing students after the meeting, Comr. Ekadie pointed out that his emergence as the leader of the nine Niger Delta Students’ Union body is God’s ordained.
He asserts that he was massively voted by the students’ delegates because his agenda was humane and pro-students notwithstanding that the outgoing executive routed for his rival.
He promised to partner with Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), State governments in the Niger Delta states and relevant agencies for a revived, vibrant and students oriented administration.
He explained that it would aid the students in the area of capacity building, technical education support and encouragement of entrepreneurship on campus, all geared towards a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Niger Delta states.
