Students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Iseyin staged a peaceful protest in the Custom (Oremoje) area of Iseyin earlier today, voicing their frustrations over a series of longstanding issues that have impacted their academic experience. The protest highlights concerns over lecturers’ absenteeism, poor living conditions, and exploitation by local caretakers, which have compounded the challenges faced by the student body.
According to a permanent resident of Iseyin who is familiar with the situation, there has been a persistent issue with lecturers failing to commit to the Iseyin campus. “Since inception, no lecturer has ever stayed or lived in Iseyin for more than two days. Many shuttle between Ogbomosho and Iseyin, and some don’t even show up to lecture students regularly,” said the source, who also highlighted that a lecturer had been unable to secure housing in the area despite repeated requests.
Local housing conditions in Iseyin have also drawn criticism, with reports of caretakers exploiting both students and landlords. “Caretakers are taking advantage of the situation. They have been increasing rents at will, with some landlords lamenting that they are forced to comply with demands for new hostels to drive up the rent,” the resident said. Additionally, concerns were raised about the influence of illicit activities, such as the involvement of “Yahoo Boys” (internet fraudsters), in exacerbating the situation.
The protestors also addressed claims that food prices in Iseyin are exorbitant, a narrative that some feel is exaggerated. “One student mentioned that they spend half of what they spent in Ogbomosho on feeding, and they rarely need to spend on generator fuel,” the resident shared, suggesting that the real issue lies in the increased demand and inadequate infrastructure in the area due to the growing student population.
Despite these challenges, the local government has already responded to the students’ concerns, assuring them that action will be taken. The resident expressed hope that the state government would intervene and address the situation. “I believe the governor will step in to address these issues,” the source said.
The protestors are demanding that lecturers who are unwilling to commit to teaching in Iseyin should consider resigning. With growing dissatisfaction among students, many are calling for immediate improvements in both teaching quality and local living conditions to restore normalcy to the campus and ensure a more productive learning environment.
