The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has taken the decision to shut down all academic activities indefinitely, effective immediately, in response to the ongoing protests by students over the prolonged power outages on campus. The move is aimed at addressing the students’ demands for a 24-hour electricity supply, which the university management has deemed unrealistic.
According to sources, the students have been protesting for weeks, blocking major roads, including the Benin-Ore Highway, to draw attention to their plight. The power outages have severely impacted their preparation for the upcoming first-semester examinations, which are just two weeks away.
The university’s Senate made the decision after students refused to shift their demands, despite efforts by the management to negotiate a compromise. The Senate has ordered students to vacate their hostels immediately, while non-teaching staff and those on essential duties are exempt from the shutdown.
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Thursday. She emphasized that the shutdown does not affect non-academic staff, who are free to continue with their duties as usual.
The university’s decision comes as a major blow to the students, who had been hoping for a resolution to the power crisis before the exams. The situation is likely to cause inconvenience and uncertainty for students who had been relying on the university’s facilities for their studies.
It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days and whether the university will find a solution to meet the students’ demands or if alternative arrangements will be made for the upcoming exams.
