PROTEST: Mapoly Students Declares "BLACK WEEK" In Abeokuta (See Facebook/Whatsapp Screenshot) #SaveMapoly

The #SaveMapoly Campaign, the Average Nigerian Student Dilemma and Need for Proactive Policies

Olanrewaju Oyedeji 

When I woke up and saw students thronging to the social media with their hashtags, right in my head I knew they have been frustrated and saw the Need to act. 
Nonetheless , it Is worrisome that even with the embarrassing state of Nigerian Education and what students are made to pass through, constant disagreements on policies continue to ravage our campuses. 
I have heard arguments that politicians act the way they do because they don't have their kids in Nigerian public Varsities, while I agree to some extent, I believe it still boils down to lack of basic urge for responsibility. It is funny that it is when students file out or launch a Social Media campaign that conflicts receive very fast pace of resolution. In a situation where the world is clamoring for better Educated individuals, it is funny that our own country keep diminishing in quality but improves in quantity. 
One can begin to ask questions of if the Ogun State Government made a unilateral decision in deciding to turn Mapoly to a University, in a normal setting, the staff Union should be carried along when the decisions were made. 
It seems in Nigeria we care less about the time factor, administrators sometimes I think feel students should be ready to wait even longer. 

A responsible government should not wait till students protest or take policies that would harm them. 
While it is encouraging that students now explore the Social and Digital Media, the fundamental question one needs to ask is why disagreements need to take place from time to time in Nigerian Education sector, there has been arguments that Education is too cheap in Nigeria but Education especially for a developing country like ours should be made accessible for as low as possible. 
The #SaveMapoly Campaign shows the continued dearth we have in the Education sector, the need to revamp the sector and the need to allow more funding which would be monitored from time to time. 
Sometimes it's not just about establishing a University, it's about not delaying even the future of the thousands of students policies affect, only those that take Education seriously, build a future. 
All stakeholders should join the voice to #SaveMapoly and bring everyone to listen to the plight of this beautifully made students even as they cry in pain.

See Screenshot below:

SU ELECTION: Vote Team Movement For Revolution – Come One, Come All (Read Details)

Now it's time to VOTE for those who will fight for the right of our dear students. This TEAM is here to help with the inadequacy that has been happening in our institution. We can't do it alone without your favorable support. 

... And i present to you the TEAM MOVEMENT FOR REVOLUTION

Journey 4 President
Ben10 4 V. President
Olamide 4 Gen. Sec.
AFO 4 Fin. Sec.
Oshomo 4 Treasurer
Aremu 4 Welfare Dir.
Phoenix 4 P. R. O
Cosmas 4 Social Dir.
Educated O. G 4 Sport Dir.
Cyrus 4 A. G. S

Student union has been the most powerful and effective voice student has ever had in history. Where there is no student representative the student body at large is *WEAK,* that is one of the reason we must all turn out towards forthcoming election *.. if truly we want to put a lasting solution to the crisis on campus.

Please don't  say or think what is your business with the election· My brother and sister it's your business because your are a student of this our Great Citadel of learning and am sure you are not happy with what is going on in campus and you want a Lasting Solution. Therefore i present to you the *VOICES* of the *VOICELESS*

Mapoly To Release New Academic Calendar For 2nd Semester – Press Club Mapoly (Read Full Details)

 

BREAKING: MAPOLY TO RELEASE NEW ACADEMIC CALENDAR FOR 2ND SEMESTER EXAMINATION 

The Management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Today, is set to releases the new academic calendar for the commencement of the second semester Examination following the MAUSTECH/OGUN POLY crisis which disrupted the School second semester's academic calendar.

PRESS CLUB MAPOLY learnt that there was an Academic Board meeting held today where the new examination date was deliberate upon in order to begin the second semester examinations.

It would be recalled that The first phase HND Examination was scheduled to began on the 18th of September 2017. 

 Meanwhile, The meeting was said to be inconclusive and by Tomorrow the new academic calendar would be out..

To this Effect, PRESS CLUB MAPOLY however implore and also urged Students to start preparations towards their examinations immediately as We expect the examination date to be announces soonest.. 

© PRESS CLUB MAPOLY

MAPOLY Resumes Academic Activities - ASUP MAPOLY CHAPTER

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta, Chapter has decided to suspend the ongoing industrial action and resumed full academic activities on Monday 23rd October, 2017.

The Union took the decision at its congress held on Friday October 20, 2017.

It would be recalled that the Union has been on a work-to-rule since September 18 of this year, which consequently resulted in the suspension of the school’s second semester examination.

Chairman of MAPOLY ASUP, Comrade Kola Abiola, while briefing journalists after the meeting alleged that the government did not only ignore its letters and communiqués but also paid half salaries of September to staff of the institution.

He said, “60% of salaries of September is yet to be paid and the assurance for salaries of October is not guaranteed, even according to the governor”

However, the union out of trust for the new rector resolved to suspend the ‘work to rule’- an industrial action in which workers are present at work but slow down their operations.

“The Acting Rector, Mr. Ayodeji Tella made series of promises concerning welfare and the admission process as a mark of trust for the rector, we decided to suspend the work-to-rule that we have embarked on”,he said.

The union gave the management two weeks ultimatum to balance the staff salary or witness an indefinite and strongly marked industrial dispute.

Mr. Abiola said, “we have given the management two weeks ultimatum in which the balance of the 60% of last month salary should be paid and ND1 admission into either Ogun state Polytechnic, Ipokia or/and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta should commence”.

“If you don’t admit into either of the two schools this year, that means that one academic session is lost and it has an implication with the regulatory authority” he explained.

The union stated some other conditions which include a reply to its last communiqué dated 1st October, 2017 by the Honorable Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.

Abiola said, “At the end of the two weeks, if these conditions are not met, then the union would have no choice but to declare industrial dispute with the management of MAPOLY”.

When asked about the date for the commencement of the exam, he said it was not in the position of the union to tell when to start exam because “it is the prerogative of the management to arrange the calendar and decide when to start exam”.

Meanwhile, the governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosu has earlier in the day assured students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic at a Town Hall meeting for 2018 budget, that the school may start exam on Monday.

He said, “Before I left for Abuja yesterday, I met with your new rector and I asked him about the exam. He said he was looking at Monday next week…. You may start on Monday.

Comrade Abiola refuted the governor’s claim saying “our decisions were not borne out of any intimidation by anybody. What we have done as academic staff is not to confront anybody but to ask that the basic welfare of the people you want to move to the new location of the school should be paramount”

He claimed that no lecturer is bordered about going to the newly established Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia but the government should put into cognizance the conduciveness of the said institution and the welfare of lecturers.

“We have asked the government not to engage in illegality. Ogun state polytechnic is not known by law. Why do you want to move staff that are employed by a legal entity to a school that does not have any legal standing” he queried”

Signed:

Comrade Poviesi Daniel Pastor Dee

ASSOPATS PRESIDENT ELECT 

Broadcast by;

Mido-lee 

Assopat PRO 2 elect

MAPOLY WILL STILL BE IN EXISTENCE IN FOUR YEARS- AMOSUN (See Photos)

MAPOLY WILL STILL BE IN EXISTENCE IN FOUR YEARS- AMOSUN

* Appoints Acting Rector

* As students protest state of education in the State

Michael Adesanya

Abeokuta

Against insinuations that the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Ojere, Abeokuta, Ogun State has gone into extinction over the upgrading of the school to a University status, the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has said the school would still be in existence for the next four years.

Amosun disclosed this while speaking to the State students who came in their hundreds to his Oke-Mosan Governor's Office, Abeokuta to protest the state of education in the State.

The State recently upgraded MAPOLY to Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUSTECH) and created Ogun State Polytechnic which would be located at Ipokia area of the State.

The placard carrying students under the aegis of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Ogun axis began their protest at the National Nigeria Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Abiola Way down to the Governor's Office where the demonstration was terminated.

They tagged their action "Rescue Ogun State Education Campaign (ROSEC)". Some of the placard inscriptions read: " Save Ogun State education ", " Education must survive" and "Mapoly must survive".

The Chairman of Ogun NANS, Comrade Olawale Balogun told the Governor that the students was not happy with the State of education in the State, urging the government to address the issue as a matter of urgency.

He specifically mentioned the delay in the commencement of the examination of MAPOLY, saying the action would affect the career of the students.

Balogun said the association was not in tune with the cancellation of the payment of West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and the hike in the Acceptance fee of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

The Governor said the State government is working hard to improve the standard of education in the State.

On MAPOLY, Amosun disclosed that it was their lecturers who were delaying their exams, saying he has explained to them the issues in clear terms.

He said the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) of the school would be invited immediately to address the issue.

The Governor said the students who were currently running various programmes at different levels would finished their studies, insisting that no student would be taken to Ipokia.

Amosun emphatically said that there would not be automatic appointment for the aggrieved lecturers in both the University and the new polytechnic, insisting they would have to apply for the new ones.

"I am not happy because this my school. What is happening today is because those that have been given the privilege to serve us are not serving well"

" Everybody here (current MAPOLY students) will finish their courses, it will take four years before MAPOLY will go into extinction, You are not going to Ipokia . If the lecturers don't want that, we will sort them out"

On the University and new Polytechnic, he said "We will sort for new lecturers for the university and the new poly.  Mapoly lecturers are not comfortable with it, I said the appointment they have is for MAPOLY, for the new University, they will have to reapply. If they are qualified, they can take them".

"I will ask the Commissioner to meet them again".

On the delay exams, the Governor stressed "They cannot hold us to Ransom, they will explain to us why there is delay but it cannot be because we are creating new schools".

"We are only admitting ND 1. We are not admitting any student to Mapoly. We are not sacking anybody, we are not taking them automatically. Why should we carry another place problem to new one.

"We are only admitting ND one. If you have carryover you are going to Ipokia. I told them (management) don't admit new students to MAPOLY".

He added "Education will be free at the primary and secondary schools, for tertiary we will subsidise it".

Meanwhile, the Rector of the school, Prof Oladele Itiola has proceeded on his terminal leave.

The State government in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo  Adeoluwa however appointed, Mr Ayodeji Salimon as the Acting Rector of the school with immediate effect.  

See More Photos:

THE EFFECTS OF MAPOLY TRANSITION TO UNIVERSITY ON ITS STUDENTS

It is no longer news that Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere Abeokuta Ogun State has been converted into Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology. The Transition has Led

to the following problems:

=> Lecturer Protest against Mass Labor Turnover

=> Delay in the Examination of HND 2 FT/EV

=> Communication Gap between State Government and Management of MAPOLY

=> Inconsistent Lecture for ND1 & ND 2 FT/EV

=> Failure to admit new students for ND 1 and HND 1 FT/EV

                           

 Ogunbiyi Ahmed ET Muftau Arifayo "2017

Based on the aforementioned problems each stakeholder (Government, MAPOLY Managements and Students) are agitating for their right but the noise of the grass root (Students) seems not to be heard. The transition has posed a significant effect on students such as;

=> Students that have any issue such as Carryover/ Extra year, how will they complete their programme?

=> Students have lost focus on reading most especially HND 2 FT/EV which can significantly lead to mass failure if the examination commences soon.

=> Students that hold Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Certificate have no reference point anymore based on which school they finished from.

=> National Youth Service Corps of Outgoing HND 2 FT has been delayed as well because no mobilization without final examination

=> Delay in youths plan as various outgoing students have individual plans which have been affected negatively by the delay in their final examination.

Mapoly Students

      However, the crisis going on wouldn’t have occurred if the Ogun state government had learnt from the TASUED/TASCE crisis, which recently occurred as a result of lack of funding. As student(s) of MAPOLY, we have not said the transition is not a good achievement but proper structure ought to have been put in place, structures that will mutually benefit both parties (Government and MAPOLY stakeholders). 

The Government should not have scrapped MAPOLY while the new MAUSTECH was being established. Better still, MAUSTECH should be entirely new varsity at Ipokia instead of destroying laid down structure in MAPOLY. The implication is that if MAPOLY had not been scrapped by statue and simply related to Ipokia, (name can be changed to Ogun Poly) then the workers will no longer have the right to argue that they cannot be transferred or moved to the same institution new location. This issues has posed a very negative effects on both students’ and MAPOLY Staff as the student’s graduation is not guaranteed while the staffs’ employment is at stake.

Concerning Profferable solutions, the issues are still not far-fetched and rectification can be done amicably if the following can be considered based on the problems and its tremendous effect on students and MAPOLY Staff :

=> MAPOLY Staffs should be included in transition committee to ensure mutually but beneficial satisfactions.

Government should have a general meeting with all Management both teaching and non teaching staff in order to develop goals and planning strategy which can resolve the current issues 

=> They should consider the current human resources in MAPOLY by retaining qualified staff for University and deploy others to new establishment.

=> MAUSTECH should be entirely a new university at Ipokia to avoid needless argument.

=> MAPOLY should be de-scrapped, if already scrapped, movement to a new site will them simply be on disarticulation of co-habilitation policy.

                                  Ogunbiyi Ahmed ET Muftau Arifayo "2017

     It is high time the institution enjoy the goodness of the government, OGSG should support the institution (MAPOLY) by completing the road leading to the institution, building more lecture room, practical room, and payment of staffs salaries.

    In conclusion, all government should learn from this, the OGSG has basically focused on infrastructure in the state which is a very good idea, but then again, infrastructure cannot go in isolation. Others aspect should also be considered basically on EDUCATION and ENTREPRENEURSHIP and AGRICULTURE. If the students are not schooled or empowered, they might destroy the infrastructure of the government. Agriculture however will promote the culture and tradition of the state and as a result leads economy boom in the state as well as job opportunities.

Written by:

Ogunbiyi Ahmed and

Arifayo Muftau