Students of Obafemi Awolowo University have tasked the Federal Government of Nigeria on proper funding of education as Nigeria marks her 57th year of independence from the British colonial masters.

In a public release signed by the students’ union executives, the university students decried the poor state of the nation’s education system, the economy, the security and various agitations within the country.

An excerpt from the release reads: “Dear citizens of this noble country, it is most unfortunate to note that after 57 years of independence from the solipsistic British colonial rule, we still taste from the bitter plagues of hunger, disease, illiteracy, poor economy, internal insurgency, terrorism, etc.

“Not to economise the truth, Nigeria is fast losing her relevance in the comity of nations due to a drastic fall in her economic strength; her inability to combat and overcome the protracted Boko Haram insurgency that had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in the North Eastern part of the country; lack of foresight and progressive mentality of most Nigerian politicians which are key to attaining economic growth and political advancement, and lastly; the failure of the government to put all the existing institutions to work towards the path of progress.

“From the foregoing, it cannot be gainsaid that our nation has suffered heavy blows of setbacks in politics, science and technology, commerce, innovation and invention. Nigerian government has totally disregarded the place of the youth in nation building through its open insouciance and insensitivity to their plights. Nigerian government has failed to understand that a nation that refuses to educate its youths is certainly toeing a path of social perdition, political doom and economic disaster. By choosing not to properly fund the education sector, the government is depriving the youth of the essential weapons required to fight oppression, selfish leadership regime and tyrannical tendency of the ruling class.

“As we celebrate this year's independence anniversary, the following are our demands to the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as the Management of Obafemi Awolowo University:

“That education should be properly funded in order to raise the current standard of Federal Government-owned institutions across the country; That the Federal Government should invest more of its energy in chart a new course for development in the country that will encourage massive and effective diversification of Nigerian economy.

“That Nigeria Government should immediately revisit the recommendations of the last National Confab organised during Goodluck Jonathan-administration or fast track other means of engaging the public on important national discourses such as Restructuring, Devolution of Power, etc.; and That the Federal Government should sincerely combat insecurity in the country as Nigerians are tired of constant vitriolic Boko Haram attacks, Fulani Herdsmen ambushes, Badoo ritual killings, etc.

“That the Federal Government of Nigeria honours its agreements with all trade/professional unions that just suspended their nationwide strikes in order to ensure smooth running of our various institutions; And as a matter of fact, the Federal Government should consider more peaceful and diplomatic means of attending to IPOB agitation for balkanization of the country rather than deploy the military to the zone when the situation hasn't gone beyond the competence of the Nigerian Police Force.

“We demand the Management of Obafemi Awolowo University to make learning and living condition of students on campus more conducive by building more lecture theatres, well-equipped laboratories and hostels; We demand the University Management to ensure students have constant water and power supply.”

The students also called on the University Management to constantly embark on cutting of grasses and clearing of bushes to guarantee a safe, and healthy living environment. In addition, they want the management to renovate all the existing halls of residence.

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