Kaduna Varsity Students Threatens To Boycott Exam Over Blackout

Students of Kaduna State University, Kafanchan campus, Kaduna State, on Thursday, threatened to boycott their second-semester examinations if power supply is not restored for them, after a protracted blackout.

The threat was contained in a statement by the first vice president, KSU students’ union, Comrade Eli Sajo, to the management of the institution, at the commencement of a two-day peaceful protest against the power outage and other issues,

The protesting students, bore placards with various inscriptions, such as ‘Bring Back Light to KASU,’ ‘No Light, No Exams, ‘Light Up Kafanchan Campus,’ and ‘Restore Our Light,’ among others.

While lamenting the lack of electricity supply which has persisted for over five months, Sajo who spoke on behalf of
the joint leadership of various student unions, said the situation
has hampered their lectures and preparations for the forthcoming examinations.

He said students have endured the challenges of being in total darkness for close to one session, noting that despite several letters of protest the unions have written, and promises made, power is yet to be restored.

However, the union leader, who acknowledged the efforts of the school’s management in providing alternative sources of power supply, noted that it is unsustainable, and demanded the immediate restoration of the power supply before October 25.

He said, “Besides negatively affecting our studies, we have had our property and other valuables either stolen or vandalised by hoodlums posing a threat to our safety.

“That has grossly affected our studies and some extent, our performances in our academics.”

Responding, the Provost of the institution’s Kafanchan campus, Prof. Ibrahim Sodangi, assured that the management was doing everything within its power to ensure that the student’s concerns were promptly addressed.

Sodangi noted that a compendium of the institution’s needs has been tabled before the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Musa, who he said has the willpower to address, adding that paucity of funds has affected ongoing projects.

He lauded the students for their peaceful conduct during the protest and urged them to give more room for dialogue so that their grievances would be adequately tackled for the good of all.