Students Decry Nonpayment of Bursary

Ogun State Students in Kwara State has appealed to the executive governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun to facilitate the payment of their grants, which has been withheld since the last five years. The students lamented in Ilorin the injustice being meted out to them by their home state government, nothing that, it is denying them their individual right as legitimate indigenes of the state.

The students made this call at a leadership summit held in Ilorin penultimate weekend, which saw student's indigene of Ogun from various Institutions in Kwara State under the auspices of National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS); thronged the popular Science Lecture Theatre of the University of Ilorin to have their voice heard.

The Summit being the first to be held by any student's indigenous body in the institution was graced by past Ogun state student leaders and members in Kwara state. It is however aimed at bringing together past members and leaders of the association for effective leadership and workable unionism.

In a special speech delivered by a past NAOSS member who also was a former President of the Student Union Government (SUG) of the University of Ilorin; Mr. Aremu Oluwafemi lauded the leadership of NAOSS, Unilorin for initiating an avenue to unite past and present members of the union for efficient coexistence. He advised the students to remain better ambassadors of their home country, while tasking them to remain dutiful, selfless and agitate their rights in a manner that portrays them as peace loving citizens even in the face of injustice.

This actually did not go down well with the Protestant students who claimed to have been sidelined and shortchanged for too long. They bemoan the government for breaching the agreement entered with the national body representing the students. The angry students lamented the refusal to pay their dues as injustice by the government which must be probed into and subsequently resolved. A student, who claimed anonymity, described the issue as frustrating and unwarranted, saying; “While other state government pay regular bursary to their students as at when due, Ogun State students in other parts of the country are being denied their entitlement even when their colleagues at home are well catered for. It is a deliberate attempt by the state government to overturn our rights for personal gain.”

Meanwhile, an appeal was made to this effect by the national Senate President of NAOSS, Mr. AbdulAzeez Adeosun. He made this plea at the summit in Ilorin where he pleaded with the students to remain calm and patient even when agitating for their right. He assured the students of the association support, saying, "NAOSS national body in collaboration with the state chapters is working tirelessly to retrieve your dues. The governor is a man of the people, we assure you that your bursary will be paid to you in due course."

Mr. Adeosun however appealed to the executive governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun to promptly look into and help solve the burgeoning issue once and for all.

The summit attracted to the university, dignitaries from far and near and was graced by two former students union President of the University of Ilorin, past Presidents of NAOSS. Others include national executive leaders of the union, academic staff of the Institution, patrons, as well as other student's members of the union from various institution of higher learning in Kwara state.

While delivering his goodwill message, the President, National Association of Ogun State Students (Naoss), Unilorin, Com. Olaleye Nurudeen, thanked the past members and executives of the union who in spite of busy schedule were able to travel far to honor their Alma-Marta. He described them as evergreen pioneers of the union whose indelible mark will remain evergreen in the sand of time. In same light, he thanked all Ogun state members in attendance and those absent for their regular support and commitments.

-Odeyemi Afis Olawale, 300 level, Education-History, Unilorin