In compliance with the National Universities Commission (NUC) order on the closure of all universities and inter-university centres between February 22nd and March 14, 2023, the management of Babcock University (BU), Ilisan, Ogun State has announced the suspension of academic activities.
In a notice tagged: “Notice To All Students and Parents: Suspension of Academic Activities Due to the 2023 General Elections” the
the institution urged students to vacate their halls of residence on Wednesday 22nd February 2023.
It would be recalled that NUC had in a statement signed by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), Chris Maiyaki explained that the decision followed concerns about the security of staff, students and the universities’ properties during the general elections scheduled from February 25 to March 14.
The Commission said the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, gave the directive following consultation with relevant security agencies.
The statement signed by Dr. Joshua Suleiman, the Director, Marketing and communication read in parts, “The Babcock University as a law-abiding and responsible corporate citizen is complying with the directive and suspending academic activities from Wednesday 22nd February 2023.
“Consequently, all students should vacate their halls of residence on Wednesday 22nd February 2023.
“The Second Semester resumption and online registration for 100 and 200 Level Direct Entry/Transfer Students is Wednesday 15th March 2023, and classes will begin immediately.”
The university added that resumption for “All other students (200L-600L) is from Thursday, March 16 to Friday, March 17, 2023″ saying that hall and room allocations remain the same and urged all the students to keep safe in the exercise of their civic rights.
Besides, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun
State and Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos have adjusted their academic activities to accommodate the NUC directives in tune with the election timetable.
On the contrary, the Vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof Wahab Egbewole (SAN), has said that much as the university would not prevent its students from voting during the 2023 general elections, it would not suspend its academic programmes for students to vote.
The University said it had already designed a programme where students can attend virtual classes and vote wherever they are.
‘We won’t suspend our lecturers for voting, UNILORIN is digitised,” he said.
