Natives of the Rumuolumeni community, landlords to the Rivers State-owned Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUOE), Nigeria on Monday shut down the institution in protest over allegations of marginalization.
According to Diaspora digital media (DDM) corespondents, the protesters, mainly women and youths, disrupted academic activities at the university by blocking the institution’s main gate with rafia leaves, tents, and cooking pots.
This blockade prevented both staff and students from gaining access to the campus.
According to reports by Daily Champion, students who were in the middle of writing their first-semester General Studies Examination, as well as others expecting to start their second-semester lectures, were denied entry by the protesters.
The protesters were seen dancing around the gate to the beats of local drums while security personnel were present to maintain order.
The protesters have vowed to maintain the blockade until their demands are met.
One of the leaders of the Rumuolumeni host community and youth leader, Comrade Felix Chinda, spoke to journalists about the reasons behind the protest. Chinda accused the university management of marginalizing the host community in terms of employment and contract opportunities, despite the community’s contribution of land for the institution’s establishment.
Chinda expressed deep frustration over the university’s alleged disregard for their concerns despite several letters and meetings with the management.
He specifically highlighted the recent employment exercise, stating that it was unfair and that opportunities were diverted to non-indigenes instead of the host community members.
He said, “Over the years, during employment exercises, the institution never includes the host community. Our people farm this land, and we gave it willingly to the university.
We expected that in return, our people would get employment, but this has not happened.”
Responding to the allegations, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechukwu Onuchukwu, maintained that the recruitment process was merit-based and conducted transparently under the supervision of the dissolved governing board chairman.
Meanwhile, many stranded students expressed worry over the disruption caused by the protest.
Some lamented that their transport fares to school were wasted, while others spoke about the negative impact on their ongoing exams and the delay in the commencement of second-semester lectures.
The crisis continues as the community insists on urgent redress from the university management.
