About 200 students may have been expelled by the
authorities of Covenant University, Cannanland, Ota, Ogun State, recently for
what was described as “disregard of paramount core values.”
Frustrated and angered by the development, some of
the affected students who gave account of what happened battled emotions while
narrating their situations to Saturday Vanguard recently. They however pleaded
with the school authorities to tamper justice with mercy in order to save their
future.
Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that out
of the figure, about 126 were expelled for not attending the ‘departure
service’, meant to sign off from the school after the end of the Semester and
Matriculation of students on November 30. Five other students were thrown
out for smoking while unconfirmed source said additional 60 got the same fate
for violating other rules bordering on the University’s core values. A few
others were given four weeks suspension for failure to sign the head count that
was conducted a couple of weeks earlier.
A letter of expulsion signed by the Registrar, Ntia
Ubong, a copy which was made available to Saturday Vanguard stated that the
affected students contravened Chapter 1, section 30, page 40 of the 2010-2014
Student Handbook.
We gathered that the massive expulsion was
predicated on the anger of the Chancellor, Bishop David Oyedepo who was said to
have been infuriated after seeing students loitering around when they were
supposed to be at the Chapel for the Departure Service.
He was said to have personally chased students to
the Chapel and ordered for a search into all the halls and colleges to fish out
those who did not attend the service.
Several attempts to get the school authorities
comment on the issue proved abortive. The Instituion’s Corporate Affairs
Head, Mr Igban Emmaunel also refused to comment as calls pulled through to him
were unanswered and text messages not replied.
How it happened
A few of the affected students gave account of what happened to Saturday Vanguard at different points. The similar accounts go thus: “On November 30, the last day of the semester, preceding our December break, there was also a Matriculation for the 100 level students; in fact some students had their last semester exams on that day, some of them finished around 3:00pm while the matriculation started around 8am. Some students retired to their rooms to relax while some engaged in some other activities jubilating the end of the semester.
A few of the affected students gave account of what happened to Saturday Vanguard at different points. The similar accounts go thus: “On November 30, the last day of the semester, preceding our December break, there was also a Matriculation for the 100 level students; in fact some students had their last semester exams on that day, some of them finished around 3:00pm while the matriculation started around 8am. Some students retired to their rooms to relax while some engaged in some other activities jubilating the end of the semester.
“Some also got drinks from the matriculating
students. Even as these were going on, some students who finished around 3pm
retired to their halls. By 5pm, they announced that we should get prepared for
the ‘Departure service’ which was to start by 8pm. Some students were already
seeing their parents off while some of us were just trying to relax to get off
the stress of the exams.
“Most of us hadn’t gotten through the tiredness of
the sleepless nights of the exams; so, some us stayed back in our rooms. The
departure service is usually a day before we go home and it is usually presided
over by the Chancellor. Before the commencement of the service, they used to
lock up the main doors of the halls so as to prevent cases of theft. I was not
bothered since there were a lot of us in the hall. Some minutes past 8pm, they
switched off the light and all of us in the hall went into our rooms. Because of
the darkness and the cold, I slept off immediately.”
He continued: “The persistent knocks on the door
woke me up and I realised that they had come to search for people who had not
come to service. Before I realised what was going on, I found myself with other
students numbering about 30. They took down our names and counted us to make
sure that no one was omitted. They said the Chancellor was at the service and
we refused to come. I heard them talking about other halls and they asked us to
wait. I didn’t take it seriously because I never believed in my widest
imagination that we would be expelled. We were later asked to go to our various
halls.
“Some of those who went into hiding were lucky as
they were not found. Shortly, those who went for the service returned and told
us there was poor attendance at the Chapel and how students were diving in
through the windows, scampering for seats. In fact, one narrated to us how the
Chancellor jumped through the window to vent his anger on some students who had
jumped in,” he stated.
Another expelled student also gave similar account
of the incident. “I couldn’t go to the service because, I was not feeling well
which was as a result of the stress of the exams we had just finished. After a
while, I managed to go but I heard that they started driving people back around
7:30pm while the service was to start around 8pm. I was surprised because the
rule was that you’ve got to be seated 15minutes to the service. Again, it was
never made compulsory, but they tried to get students out of the halls to
prevent cases of theft. So, because I was not feeling well, I went back to my
room because I needed to rest for a while.
“I thought it was a joke when they said we
are in for expulsion because we failed to come for departure service. I have
never done anything contrary to the school laws. I have never faced any panel
before and neither did I have any unpleasant case in my file. I never
thought it was real until letters were handed to me the following
morning.”
Giving account of how letters were handed out to
them, the visibly troubled student said: “By 6am, they announced the names
of those who were caught in halls and colleges. Usually after the
departure service, one can sign out from there and go but because it ended late
and no one could travel, students had to wait till the following
morning. But the hall officer told those of us whose names were written down
that if we leave, we should be considered gone from the university
forever. That gave us an insight into what was likely to come as punishment. By
7:45am, we were called once again to go downstairs for our letters. Those who
collected theirs before mine were crying and I wondered what the punishment
could be until I read the letter stating I was expelled from the university.”
At the Chapel
Another student who found his way to the Chapel also told Saturday Vanguard that while the Chancellor was being driven past, he noticed that students were loitering at about the time they were supposed to be seated at the chapel. He said that this apparently infuriated him and he alighted from his car and chased students to the chapel with knocks. “I saw him, alighted from his car and chased students to the chapel; I quickly found my way to the hall. Not quite long after, I saw students jumping in through the windows. It was a big commotion. Even the chancellor was going after those who jumped into the chapel. Later, he addressed the students saying he was very disappointed by the behaviour that the students were not seated 15 minutes before the service.”
Another student who found his way to the Chapel also told Saturday Vanguard that while the Chancellor was being driven past, he noticed that students were loitering at about the time they were supposed to be seated at the chapel. He said that this apparently infuriated him and he alighted from his car and chased students to the chapel with knocks. “I saw him, alighted from his car and chased students to the chapel; I quickly found my way to the hall. Not quite long after, I saw students jumping in through the windows. It was a big commotion. Even the chancellor was going after those who jumped into the chapel. Later, he addressed the students saying he was very disappointed by the behaviour that the students were not seated 15 minutes before the service.”
Another account had it that while the Education
Secretary, Prof. Aize Obayan was addressing the students, the students were
murmuring, then the Chancellor immediately took to the microphone and
said: “if I hear the voice of any student, the curse of the Lord shall fall
upon that one.” The chapel immediately went dead silent.
Our source who was also late to the service stated that
the Chancellor later directed that those students who did not come to the
service would be purged out saying they did not belong to the school. Our
source stated that at the end of the service, he prayed for the students in the
hall.
Another source in the school hinted that at that
point, the Vice-chancellor pleaded on behalf of those who were absent but the
Chancellor insisted they must be purged from the school.
Our source told Saturday Vanguard that
the Vice-Chancellor while addressing the students announced that a
search would be carried out in all the halls and colleges to find out those who
failed to attend the departure service, advising them to wait behind.
Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that out
of the figure, about 126 were expelled for not attending the
‘departure service’, five were thrown out for smoking marijuana, twenty-five
final year students and undisclosed number of lower level students
were caught violating rules bothering on the University’s core values. We
also gathered that a few others were given four weeks suspension for failure to
sign the head count that was conducted a couple of weeks earlier. Some of
the students opined that failure to sign the head count was even a
greater offence which implied that the student was not in the school at the
time of the exercise but yet got a four-week suspension.
The private university is known for its
strict rules and discipline such as not allowing the students to use mobile
phones within the school’s premises, while it is mandatory for students to
always bring their bible to the chapel.
Parents react
A few parents who volunteered information spoke to us on condition of anonymity fearing that their children might be victimised in case the issue was resolved amicably. One of them said with bitterness that it is unacceptable, adding that the expulsion was not commensurate with the offence deemed to have been committed. He urged the school authorities to rescind its decision adding that the future of the students is at stake.
A few parents who volunteered information spoke to us on condition of anonymity fearing that their children might be victimised in case the issue was resolved amicably. One of them said with bitterness that it is unacceptable, adding that the expulsion was not commensurate with the offence deemed to have been committed. He urged the school authorities to rescind its decision adding that the future of the students is at stake.
“For me, it is not acceptable. These students
were not given fair hearing. Expulsion should not be a punishment
for failure to attend service. We all agree, it is a Christian school but
failure to attend church service could be due to a lot of reasons. I gathered
that some of the students even finished their exams about 5pm that day. So,
those people that finished at that time had barely three hours to prepare for
the service. But stampeding them to congregate for service and then expelling
those who did not come is a decision taken too far. For me, if there was poor
attendance, I think the authorities have a responsibility. They have not been
fair in putting the service so close to the examination. Even God will not do
that.”
He however commended the Chancellor, Dr. Oyedepo on
his vision towards the education of Nigeria children especially when the
government institutions are failing, but urging him to tamper justice with
mercy.
Another parent who was afraid of the press
noted that he was still studying the situation and would not want to
comment but noted that he was reliably informed that some group of parents made
frantic efforts to meet with the Chancellor on the issue but without success.
It was not clear the level of the efforts made. He further hinted that some
students have not told their parents about their expulsion, still hoping that
the issue would be resolved.
He lamented that his child had been having
sleepless nights, going through mental torture unjustifiably. “I agree
that discipline must be instilled in the students but it should not be aimed at
destroying the life of the students. Expulsion is too great a punishment for
non attendance of a departure service, without even a warning especially when
the students hitherto, had not been found wanting,” he stated.
What the Student Handbook says
The Covenant University Core values border on Spirituality, Possibility Mentality, Capacity Building, Integrity, Responsibility, Diligence and Sacrifice. On the spirituality aspect, it states: “The Christian ethos underguard our activities and conducts at all time and every student of Covenant University is expected to exhibit character traits and dispositions of a Jesus-centered heritage. The Jesus – factor centered approach to all issues is non-negotiable and central in the pursuit of our mandate in raising a new generation of leaders and in the realization of the objectives of our purpose.
The Covenant University Core values border on Spirituality, Possibility Mentality, Capacity Building, Integrity, Responsibility, Diligence and Sacrifice. On the spirituality aspect, it states: “The Christian ethos underguard our activities and conducts at all time and every student of Covenant University is expected to exhibit character traits and dispositions of a Jesus-centered heritage. The Jesus – factor centered approach to all issues is non-negotiable and central in the pursuit of our mandate in raising a new generation of leaders and in the realization of the objectives of our purpose.
To this extent therefore, students will be
committed to maintaining a high level of spirituality and shall act in such
manner as to facilitate their spiritual growth as well as work out ways to
evolve and implement a spiritual development plan. Attendance at Chapel
Services is a compulsory part of students’ spiritual development where a bible
and notebook are essential kits for the service. Students are expected to
demonstrate a deep reverence for God at all times.”
The school declines comment
Several attempts were made to get the school authorities comment on the issue. The institution’s Corporate/Public Affairs Officer, Mr Igban Emmanuel Kalu declined comment. At first, several calls were pulled through to him but he refused to pick his calls. When the reporter persisted, he later picked but said he was driving and could not answer any question. But few hours later, other calls pulled to him were unanswered. A text message was sent to his phone and up to the time of writing this report, he did not reply.
Several attempts were made to get the school authorities comment on the issue. The institution’s Corporate/Public Affairs Officer, Mr Igban Emmanuel Kalu declined comment. At first, several calls were pulled through to him but he refused to pick his calls. When the reporter persisted, he later picked but said he was driving and could not answer any question. But few hours later, other calls pulled to him were unanswered. A text message was sent to his phone and up to the time of writing this report, he did not reply.
I’m not aware —Prof Julius Okojie, NUC Executive
Secretary
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof Julius Okojie said he has not been briefed on the matter.
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof Julius Okojie said he has not been briefed on the matter.
Prof Okojie stated this during a telephone
conversation Saturday Vanguard had with him a few days ago. “I am not aware of
any expulsion by Covenant University; I will ask the school authorities.
Right now, I am not in Abuja, I left Abuja few days ago and until I
return to Abuja and find out details about the matter, I cannot comment on it,”
he said.
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