… At least, Struggling MAPOLY Students Pay 60k After Project Completion
Project supervision in Nigerian universities is meant to be an avenue for academic guidance, intellectual growth, and the development of critical research skills.
However, in many Nigerian institutions, this noble responsibility has been tainted by a growing trend of extortion, where project supervisors demand financial compensation from their students, subtly or outrightly.
Just last year in Osun State polytechnic, some students accused a lecturer of extortion and withholding their results just to frustrate their graduation.
Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, Abeokuta, Ogun State is of no difference. Some lecturers, project supervisors connive with cyber cafes in the institution market to extort students. Supervisors therefore direct their supervisees to their partners in the market, demanding them to pay minimum of N30,000, for National Diploma students, and N45,000, for Higher National Diploma students, just to print their projects out.
To our greatest surprise, students are still mandated to pay exorbitant fee, as high as N65,000, even after the completion of their projects, to “appreciate their supervisors.”
With evidences, students in various departments across the polytechnic have lamented this extortion as many struggle to eat 3 square meal per day.
This is not only unethical but also illegal, as various laws and regulations strictly prohibit such acts .
The Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act (2000) is explicit in its condemnation of such behavior. Section 8 criminalizes any form of bribery, extortion, or inducement for services that are supposed to be provided without financial compensation. Section 9 goes further to state that public officials, including university lecturers, are prohibited from demanding or receiving gifts or money in exchange for performing their official duties. Those found guilty face stiff penalties, including fines or up to seven years of imprisonment.
Similarly, the Nigerian Criminal Code (1959) also addresses extortion. Section 98 classifies obtaining money or benefits through threats, coercion, or intimidation as an offense punishable by up to three years of imprisonment or a fine.
Furthermore, Section 390, which deals with stealing, establishes that obtaining money from students under the pretense of project supervision is tantamount to theft, carrying a potential sentence of up to 14 years in prison.
These are legal backings against illegal extortion from any individual whether students or not. Infact, beyond the legal framework, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has clear guidelines prohibiting lecturers from soliciting financial compensation for supervising student projects. Universities that tolerate such practices risk losing accreditation, while erring lecturers face severe disciplinary measures, including termination of employment.
The act of project supervisors extorting students undercuts the very foundation of academia and integrity, eroding trust in educational institutions.
Moreover, the economic situation in the country, while challenging, does not justify exploiting students who are already burdened with tuition fees and living expenses. When lecturers demand bribes for project supervision, they not only betray their professional ethics but also set a dangerous precedent that normalizes corruption among future leaders.
Professionally, lecturers are expected to uphold their responsibilities with integrity, while students must resist and report extortion attempts.
The relevant authorities, including the school management, NUC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), must actively investigate and sanction offenders to serve as a deterrent.
Laws exist to maintain order, and as law-abiding citizens, it is our collective responsibility to ensure they are followed. A society where lecturers exploit students for personal gain is one where education loses its essence.
Through enforcing these laws and standing against corruption at all levels, we move closer to getting a great MAPOLY, a great Nigeria that truly values fairness, justice, and academic excellence.
To stop this, we urge MAPOLY lecturers across all departments to desist from such act as we would not hesitate to publish names of supervisors involved in this in our next report if report persists.
Students should also learn to write project by themselves as it will enable them to gain knowledge and discovery.
As directed this is what is expected. Strongly beside you as your father. Investigating journalism at Best