Kenneth Afor
The management of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU) in Ondo State has ordered the indefinite shutdown of the institution following the death of one of its students.
This was disclosed in a circular signed by Opeoluwa Akinfemiwa, the acting Registrar of the institution, on Sunday.
According to the circular, the institution’s Senate issued the order due to the students’ protest on Sunday over allegations that the state government has failed to find lasting solutions to the incessant road crashes, which had resulted in the deaths of members of the university community.
The circular read: “Further to our circular of Saturday 23rd January 2021 and the attendant protest by students on Sunday, 24th January 2021, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof Olugbenga Ige, on behalf of Senate, has directed that the University be closed with immediate effect until further notice.”
“All students are therefore advised to vacate the campus latest by 6 pm today, Sunday 24th January 2021.”
Meanwhile some irate youths in the community had on Sunday prevented a government delegation from entering the community.
Among those in the delegation who were said to have been sent by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to assess the situation were Olugbenga Ale, the Chief of Staff to the governor and Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Pro-Chancellor of the university.
Earlier, the institution had in a statement issued yesterday postponed indefinitely, the examinations scheduled to commence on Monday, January 24.
The move followed a fatal road crash which occurred in the town on Saturday evening, in which some students of the university lost their lives.
“As a mark of respect for our departed students, the examinations scheduled to start on Monday, 24th January 2021, are hereby postponed till further notice.
“We appeal to our students to remain calm, as the University mourns those that lost their lives in this unfortunate incident,” the statement read.
