Michael Babatunde
The Head of Department, Mass Communication, Kolawole Amos couldn’t fight back tears while addressing students recently over a petition which flooded the media alleging lecturers of the department of forcing textbooks on students.
Kolawole who described the petition as mischievous said it is unfair on the part of students to allege lecturers of forcing textbooks on students.
The 18 paragraph long petition which had been circulating on the social media since Saturday alleged that some lecturers demanded that students should attach receipts of their textbooks to assignments before submission.
It went further to list names of lecturers who were allegedly involved in the forceful purchase of textbooks.
It also alleged that some lecturers despite failing to show up at class only came to mandate their textbooks.
Speaking at a ‘family meeting’ with students of Mass Communication across all levels at the Main Hal, the HOD debunking some claims of the article chided the affected students for failing to report as expected when they saw some shortcomings in the department.
“It is disheartening that students who are being defended daily by lecturers could go this far to bring their names to disrepute. Some of these lecturers begged that we pass a lot of you that had carry-over. If a lecturer tells you to buy a book, in whose interest is it? These materials are required for you to pass. Lecturers use different appeals to make students buy textbooks, it is all for your own good as students.
“A report had earlier appeared which attracted the attention of the school management and even His Excellency. They claimed I made 2million from charging students #500 each during project defense. We made over 100,000 which was used in feeding lecturers during supervision and I made each lecturer sign. I presented all documents relating to these fees when I was before a panel.
“I see the hands of Esau, but voice of Jacob. The writer of this article has something in mind. What I am afraid of is what this writer has in mind. You are not aware that this piece has the ability of tarnishing the reputation of not just the lecturers mentioned but the entire student populace and MAPOLY at large.
“If it were to be your father, would you do this to them? We’ve been acting like fathers to you, we have children in various tertiary institutions and they buy textbooks too. But I’m surprised that despite our sacrifices to ensure your success this is how you can pay us back. If anyone of these lecturers have offended you, you should forgive the..,” (breaks down in tears)
Reacting earlier, all HOCs present at the meeting denied the claims of the petition affirming that ‘no lecturer has ever forced them to buy textbooks’. They also said that no member of their classes could have written the ‘mischievous’ petition.
Some students who came out to lend their voices on the petition supported the claims by their HOCs while a handful of others maintained that the report was written by a student of the department who had attended almost all classes.
Fingering students of the ND2 level, a student while reacting identified the use of pronouns ‘us’, ‘we’ as a pointer to the source of the petition.
However, they all condemned the petition for dragging the name of lecturers, students and the reputation of the institution in the mud.
