The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has reaffirmed its criticism of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, maintaining that its position on his administration remains unchanged despite a public disagreement with the University of Ibadan Students’ Union (UI’SU).
The renewed position comes days after the student body accused Professor Adebowale’s administration of pursuing policies it described as anti-student and called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate his tenure.
In its earlier statement, NANS alleged that the outgoing administration was characterised by policies that placed students under considerable strain, citing the expulsion of student protesters, the subsequent legal battle following court judgments in favour of the affected students, and increases in tuition and other charges introduced during the administration. The association argued that these developments reflected a pattern of governance that negatively impacted students’ welfare.
The statement, however, sparked a response from the President of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union, Comrade Adeboye Temidayo, popularly known as Deboye, who distanced the union from NANS’ position and expressed appreciation for the outgoing Vice-Chancellor. Deboye maintained that “the views expressed by NANS did not represent those of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union.”
The University of Ibadan Students’ Union (UI’SU) also issued an official statement, signed by Students’ Union President Comrade Temidayo Adeboye (Deboye) and General Secretary Joshua O. Shontan. The statement stressed that NANS’ publication was “neither initiated, endorsed, nor authorised” by the Students’ Union and did not represent its official position.
Responding to the rebuttal, NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, defended the association’s intervention, insisting that NANS, as the apex body representing Nigerian students, possesses the constitutional mandate to address issues affecting students across tertiary institutions without requiring the approval of any campus-based students’ union.
According to Akinteye, the association’s assessment of Professor Adebowale’s tenure was informed by reports, petitions, testimonies and engagements with students, alumni and other stakeholders, rather than the perspective of any single student leader.
He further argued that while individual student leaders are entitled to their opinions, no single viewpoint should invalidate the experiences of other students who believed they were adversely affected by policies implemented during the outgoing administration.
In a fresh statement released on Saturday 25th, July, the NANS President reiterated that the association’s position on Professor Adebowale’s administration remained unchanged, asserting that farewell tributes and congratulatory messages should not overshadow what it described as the realities experienced by many students during the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure.
The association again referenced the expulsion of student activists, the University’s decision to appeal court judgments delivered in favour of the affected students, and the increase in school fees as key issues that shaped its assessment of the administration. NANS also maintained that it had received repeated complaints from students who considered several policies introduced during its tenure to be unfavourable to students’ welfare.
Akinteye stated that NANS would continue to advocate for students whose rights it believes have been threatened and insisted that preserving what he described as an honest account of students’ experiences remains part of the association’s responsibility to the Nigerian student community.
The exchange marks the latest development in the growing debate over the legacy of Professor Adebowale’s administration as his tenure draws to a close. It also highlights differing perspectives within the student movement over how the outgoing Vice-Chancellor’s years in office should be assessed.
As of the time of filing this report, the University of Ibadan had not issued a fresh response to NANS’ latest statement.
