Students of the College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Iseyin campus, staged a protest on Monday over the lack of practical facilities required for their academic activities.
The students expressed frustration, accusing the school management of neglecting their needs despite collecting approximately N50,000 from each student for farm equipment and other materials.
The protest, which began with 400-level students, soon garnered support from students in other levels. They criticized the management for failing to provide adequate resources for practical learning, a critical component of their agricultural studies.
One of the protesting students explained, “At 400-level, we are supposed to be deeply engaged in farming. However, since our first semester began on November 11, 2024, all we’ve done is weed and clear land for less than a week. Despite paying N50,000 for equipment, we have no tangible results. Now, they’re asking us to pay an additional N10,000 for IT without addressing our grievances.”
Another student highlighted the poor living and studying conditions at the Iseyin campus. “There’s no hospital on campus. The Provost, Dean, and even local leaders came during the protest, but no concrete steps were taken. If things don’t change by Friday, we’ll protest again. We travel long distances daily, only to find lecturers absent and no facilities in place for practical work.”
The lack of practical facilities such as poultry farms, piggery units, and livestock resources was a major concern. “How can we graduate as Agric students without hands-on experience? These resources are available at the Ogbomoso main campus but are lying unused,” one student lamented.
Students also decried the high costs of accommodation and transportation. “The campus is far from town, and housing is expensive. Coupled with the absence of proper lectures and inadequate teaching resources, the situation is unbearable,” another student added.
The relocation of the College of Agriculture to the Iseyin campus in 2023, which was resisted by lecturers, students, and residents of Ogbomoso, is now being questioned. “We warned against the relocation, but the government insisted. Now, we face the risk of graduating as half-baked professionals while facilities remain unused at the main campus,” a student remarked.
Students also pointed out issues with exorbitant manual costs, inadequate lectures, and poor academic planning. “We’re paying high fees but receiving substandard education. One lecturer covers seven chapters in a single session. It’s unacceptable,” another student said.
The protest highlights a growing dissatisfaction with the state of education and infrastructure at the Iseyin campus, as students demand immediate action to address their grievances and improve their academic experience.
