The proprietor of the College of Education, Ero, Ondo State, Mr. Oyeleye Fasua, has appealed to the protesting students of the institution to remain calm, assuring them that the issue of mobilizing them for the National Youth Service Corps would be addressed.

The students staged a protest on Monday over the failure of the institution to mobilize them for the NYSC after completing their degree programs. During the protest, they blocked the Akure-Ilesa Expressway and vandalized some school properties.

Fasua, while speaking on the issue on Thursday, explained that the institution acted based on the promises made by the management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, with whom the college has an affiliation agreement for the degree programs. 

He admitted that the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the AAUA did not specifically stipulate that the students would be mobilized for the NYSC scheme, but he insisted that the university had promised to do so.

“On September 15, 2017, the College of Education, Ero, entered into an affiliation agreement with the AAUA to run a degree program. Throughout this partnership, we have been assured by the university that our students would be eligible for the NYSC upon completion of their studies.

“These assurances were reiterated during the matriculation ceremony held at our institution, where the Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of AAUA addressed our students directly. It is with deep regret and disappointment that I must express my shock upon learning that the list released by AAUA for NYSC placement did not align with the assurances given to us.

“This unfortunate development has led to a protest by our students, which resulted in acts of violence and damage to property. I must emphasize that I strongly condemn any form of violence or destruction of property as a means of expressing grievances.

“I would like to assure the public that the AAUA is a reputable institution that takes matters such as these seriously. I contacted the university’s directorate, Professor Hassan, the Director of IOD about the ugly development and he responded that the student representatives from my school Ero just left his office,” he said

Fasua stated that he had contacted the AAUA directorate about the situation and that they were working together to find an amicable solution. He expressed his trust that AAUA would take swift action to investigate and rectify the discrepancy, ensuring that the promised opportunities for NYSC placement are extended to deserving students.