IMSU, FUTO Students And Others Protest High Tuition, Extortion And Intimidation

Students of tertiary institutions in Imo State are currently protesting against hike in tuition and cost of living. The protesters made up of students from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, Imo State University Owerri, IMSU, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education Owerri, Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri and Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, UAES, Umuagwo, Ohaji took to the streets of the state to march against high fees, poor education, poor infrastructure, poor facilities, extortion and intimidation in their various institutions. The students urged the Federal and State Governments to stop frequent hikes in their tuition fees as well as undue extortion through handouts as well as textbooks. They appealed to the government to provide conducive learning environments and install medical equipment and facilities such as electricity and boreholes, among others, for improved quality education and moral values. They also decried the high cost of living, school fees and student accommodation as well as the hardship in Imo State, which they said is occasioned by the government’s bad economic policy, poor infrastructure and unemployment. They urged the government to make people-oriented policies to alleviate suffering, hunger and poverty faced by students. Vice President, National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Valentine Nzubechi, who addressed the protesters, reassured that the Federal and State governments would adhere to their plights and requests to enhance quality education.

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