By Gbayesola Samuel 

On the 16th of July, 2024, students of the University of Ibadan organized a campus -wide protest following a memorandum released by the school authorities announcing a new schedule for the provision of electricity across the campus.

The protest which started at Nnamdi Azikwe Hall about 10:00 pm, lasted for four hours as student residents from other halls of residence joined in solidarity.

What started as a night demonstration marked the beginning of campus-wide protest. The  protest continued the following morning, Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at around 5:30 am 

Students were mobilized from halls to halls, faculties to facilities as the solidarity action continued. Classes were disrupted as UI students mobilized themselves in mass.

The grand protest was held at Tekena Tamuno building, where hundreds of students gathered, compelling the University management to come down from their blocks to address students.

Despite the delay of meeting meant to address the concerns raised by the students, the University of Ibadan students remained firm on their demonstration against policies they term unfavorable.

VIDEO: UI students protest fee hike

Thousands of students at the University of Ibadan have protested against a hike in school fees and other issues. pic.twitter.com/fDURl20LLl

— NaijaEyes (@naija_eyes) July 17, 2024

What made this demonstration more historic was that the protest held on July 16 midnight and all-day protest on July 17 were the first protest by UI students following the peaceful protest of May 29, 2017 led by the then Ojo Aderemi-led Students’ Union.

FULL CONTEXT: What led to the protest? 

In a special release by the university authorities, the university attributed the power situation to the energy crisis on a national scale.

“It is no longer news that there is, at present, a severe energy crisis on a national scale and this has negatively affected supply from the national grid to the institution.” the statement reads.

According to the management, the power supplied by IBEDC has reduced compared to the usual number of hours.

“The daily power availability of 18-22 hours from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has dropped to about 10-12 hours.”

“It is pertinent to note that the University has been alive to its responsibility by augmenting whatever level of supply received from the national grid through local power generation, although at rising costs, especially fuel, among other power generation inputs,” it added.

The notice added that the supply from the University Power Station is expected to augment grid supply between 10.00a.m- 2.00p.m and 11.00p.m – 6.00a.m.

This decision drew concerns from student residents who described the reduction in power supply and the new supply schedule as unfavorable. Beyond the electricity rationing students also reach a resolution on some concerns raised. These concerns include the victimization of three UI students and reversal of increased fees.

Related: “Reverse Power Supply Schedule”- UI Students Tell Management

Below is a statement from Education Rights Campaign (ERC) University of Ibadan branch following the protest.

 

UI Management Responds After Protest 

Following the meeting held by the University of Ibadan Students’ Union with the University management with regards to concerns raised by students. The management consented to seven resolutions.

These resolutions include: ensuring that no students get victimized; cancellation of the purchase of GES textbooks; prohibition of the sale of handout; restoration of power supply to ABH, a commitment from the UI Vice-Chancellor through the Governing Council to review fees; and the temporary suspension of fee payments until further notice.

While the University meant the demands of the students, that demonstration is a reference point to subsequent protests.

Speaking in retrospect, Aduwo Ayodele, a member of the Concerned Students Movement, noted that the resolution release by the union on July 17, 2024 was a collective effort of concerned students who stepped in when the union was unwilling to do so.

“That protest resolution dated July 17 was a brainchild of the Concerned Students Movement (CSM), alongside other courageous students, who forced the production of this release. CSM and other students around 2am at Njeoma Road (besides Faculty of Law) agreed on all of the protest resolutions, typed the resolutions and compelled the unwilling union leadership to put it on the letterhead.” he said.

 

 

He also stated that without intervention of concerned students the protest produced the resolution reached.

“Without which there wouldn’t have been a July 17 protest that lasted the entire day and produced gains such as an indefinite extension of fee payment, withdrawal or denial of issuing the 10-hour electricity rationing by the UI management, among other momentary pledges,” he added.

It is worthy noting that the electrical challenges still presist.

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