The Global President,
National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS), David Kikiowo, has described year 2020 as the worst year in history of education in Nigeria.
Kikiowo disclosed this is n Akure at an event organised to mark 2020 International Student Day.
He said the academic calendar was disrupted by COVID- 19 pandemic and the strike embarked upon by university lecturers.
Kikiowo said, “This year has been an adventurous one, we are caught in the web of a pandemic, ASUU strike and the historical End SARS movement.
“Nigerian youths and students have suffered severely from these blows. Recall that the lockdown has kept students away from school for months and the ASUU strike has continued to top the sad development for undergraduates.
“Covid-19 brought forced social-distancing and hunger on us, as the lockdown grounded a lot of economic activities.
“The leadership of the National Association of Ondo State Students put it upon herself to support her members with food items during this moment. It was recorded that several students benefitted from this show of love targeted at Ondo State students in Akure environment. We ensured the distribution of food items to areas like FUTA, Ondo Road, Ijoka, Oda road and FECA”
NAOSS Global President urged Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to pay the students’ bursary at this critical time
He added, “The Association would like to appeal to Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu to remember his promises concerning the payment of bursary, especially in a time like this when the country is just recovering from the effects of the pandemic.
“It is clear that bursary will relief students of Ondo State. We have waited for over eight months now and we call on the governor to hearken to our pleas.
“We also call on the Ondo State Government, to look into the payment of the West Africa Examination Council fee for public schools in the state to lift this burden off the shoulders of Sunshine boys and girls.
“As a dividend of democracy, let education be free to the common man. We also call on the government to put infrastructures in place that will hasten the reopening of state-owned institutions. For if we are to lead the future, time must not be wasted in the present. We do hope that our pleas would be hearkened to”.
Kikiowo also implored governors to consult with the Federal Government on how to resolve the impasse with the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
“The coalition of Students Union Presidents met in Ibadan recently for this purpose and issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve this impasse and reopen universities in the country.
“Our stand is simple and replicates the resolution of the meeting held in Ibadan. We call on the public to also request that our government promptly resolves this deadlock for the sake of the future of this country”
