UNIUYO Press Release On June 12 Mayhem Caused By Students

Sequel to the recent students demonstration in the University of Uyo, the Senate of the University, at an emergency meeting held at the Main Campus of the University on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 undertook a holistic overview of the situation. Following a comprehensive briefing by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Mrs) Comfort M. Ekpo, on the events leading to the ugly incident of June 12, 2013, reports from the mass media and personal accounts of individual members, Senate was able to crystallize the situation into the following frame:

1. Senate expressed satisfaction with the steps taken by the University administration in arriving at the payment of the one hundred naira (N100.00) transport fare from the Town Campus to the Main Campus.
2. Senate condemned in strong terms the destruction of University property by some students and sympathized most passionately with the overwhelming innocent majority of them who, as helpless members of the community, were traumatized by the actions of their colleagues.
3. Senate particularly joined the Management in condoling with the family of the one student killed in the course of events in the evening of June 12, 2013.
4. Senate noted, however, that reports on the incident as presented to the public in both the print and social networks have been grossly inaccurate and largely distant from the actual facts on ground.
5. As a responsible apex body of the University on academic matters, Senate has been overwhelmingly impressed and satisfied with the Vice-Chancellors motherly disposition and compassion for the students of the University, notably displayed through policies geared towards reducing the number of students whose status as students was on the verge of elapsing. Besides, in her zeal to effect early release of students results and facilitate easy access to them as well as reduce drastically the perennial problem of delays in issuing transcripts, the Vice-Chancellor has put in place online posting of all students results. She is also known for making her office accessible to students with complaints to reach her easily.
6. Above all, Senate also traced some of the lingering and disquieting problems of the University to the non-provision of a take-off or special grant by the Federal Government to enable the University to develop its permanent site, since its establishment in 1991, as done for other federal universities in the country. This, Senate noted, has contributed significantly to the relative absence of impressive structures in the University, as observed by the Hon. Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, during his recent tour on Good Governance to Akwa Ibom State.

In consideration of the foregoing observations, Senate resolved and acted as follows:

(a) passed an overwhelming vote of confidence in the administration of the University under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Mrs) Comfort M. Ekpo;
(b) called on the Governing Council of the University and other stakeholders of the University at all levels of government to press for the release to the University of take-off or special grant to ease the institution perennial pecuniary pressures which often result in tension and stress for both the managers and other members of the University community;
(c) Appealed to the public to discountenance the extraordinarily exaggerated and outlandish reports in the print and social media networks and continue to retain confidence in and support the administration as the team works towards resolving issues in the institution;
(d) urged the Vice-Chancellor not to allow the recent unpleasant developments in the University to dampen her characteristic zeal and passion for students welfare and the development of the University;
(e) pledged, without prejudice to the Panel set up by Council to investigate the recent crisis in the University, that Senate and other members of the University community would continue to work towards ensuring that a fresher and more vibrant university emerges from the ashes of the one burnt down by the few misguided elements on June 12, 2013.

 Source: University of Uyo, UNIUYO official website; www.uniuyo.edu.ng