We were young with a mixture of the more matured in our midst. With enthusiasm, we looked forward to starting a fresh course which most of us had no foundational knowledge. But being a young mind and with a background of ‘Government’, the subject of ‘History’ wouldn’t be a difficult one to comprehend. Our thought! Majority had aspirations of working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; some aspired to be lecturers, followed by a few who just wanted to acquire the knowledge to pursue their political ambition as well as those who just wanted the title of a “Graduate”.
From the beginning of our lectures in 2006 up till 2012 when we wrote our final exams, we made friends and foes. Coursemates became close than they were with siblings and relatives. Five/Six years is a lifetime; this I confirmed during my school days. In the course of that academic journey, two excursions were organized. One was to Badagry in Lagos, the other to Calabar, the capital of Cross River. Series of class activities were also organized and these made our 5-year study exciting.
Academically, we had new lecturers upon new lecturers. Even those that weren’t qualified to lecture us stood in front of the class simply because ours was a Part-Time programme. For the first time, and in my 400-level, a Professor lectured me.
I could recount well the number of Doctors that lectured. Under such condition, the kind of education one had shouldn’t be hard to imagine. In all of these, we, as learners, did our best to cushion the effect in form of extra reading classes and tutorials amongst ourselves.
But having gone through all of these, we never imagined that 3 years after we wrote our final exams, an ugly fate would befall our result.
Despite paying more fees/charges than the internal students, we didn’t know that we would lack the best of academic service; we didn’t know that the Lagos State Government, employers of our lectures, would not pay salaries, thus, giving them them liberty to hold on to our result; we didn’t know that ten years after we gained admission into Lagos State University, LASU (School of Part-Time Studies), our dreams and aspirations would remain delayed/unachieve; we didn’t know that, in the quest of finding our result, we (females) would be asked for sexual gratification before a legitimate request is attended to.
Personally, I didn’t know that I would be stranded in my late 20s; I didn’t know that at this point, I would be without a job because there is no proof I attended a tertiary institution; I didn’t know that I wouldn’t be able to further my education.
On this note, I have no other option than to cry out for help. It is unthinkable, abnormal and wicked for one to pay for academics and not get result/certificate.
It is now 3 years after leaving Lagos State University, LASU, but nothing to show. In essence, I have not been graduated formally. What they keep telling us to fill out a particular form over and over. However, whether actions have been carried out on this form is yet to be seen.
On behalf of my colleagues affected by this injustuce, I am calling on Lagos State University, LASU (School of Part-time Studies), Lagos State Government, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Lagos State House of Assembly, releveant stakeholders, media houses, corporate bodies, Lagosians and Nigerians in general to please hear the cry of Lagos State University, LASU (School of Part-Time Studies) set of 2012 and every other set faced with similar situation.
Please come to our rescue. We need help! We need help!! We need help!!!
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