Part-Time (or External) students of Lagos State University, LASU, looked forward to the end of 2011/2012 academic session with great joy and optimism. To the young citizens, it was the end of an era and a starting point to the future they constantly fantasize.
However, as the last quarter of 2014 draws nearer, many LASU students of that batch are yet to see their final results to know whether they are good to go or have problems that must be sorted out before graduation. For those whom have seen theirs, they cannot proceed as the school has not released certificates.
Sorry tales
Sharing her experience with DailyPost, 26 year-old Olayeni Akinjeji, who studied History and International Relations, described the situation as “disheartening and makes this generation lose hope in the Nigerian system.”
Asked how the matter has affected her job search, the aggrieved graduate said: “We all know that’s what one needs before mobilization for the mandatory national service. Most companies demand NYSC discharge certificate before employing, so getting a job remains a tall order because LASU would not do the right thing.”
“Me and others feel helpless, we can’t even further our education like doing a Masters or doing a Post-Graduate Degree. We wonder who will come to our rescue.
“Most of us feel depressed having spent 5 years in school, exclusive of ASUU and internal strikes. Yet, we have nothing to show for it. Atimes, one is ashamed to boldly say ‘I am a graduate’.
“By my profile, I have to pass two more units in order for me to graduate. Some outstanding results were listed out for me but I had long seen my scores in them. In other words, there seems to be a mix-up whereby, the lecturers have submitted those results but Exams and Records department didn’t include them in my profile.
“To make matters worse, some of my colleagues don’t even have a profile which sounds preposterous after writing every other exams for 5 solid years!
“We’ve been out of school for two years now, and since mid-2012, the school keeps saying it is working on our plight. Two years of life stalled.”
Also commenting on the issue, Frederick Emenalo of the Sociology department lamented despite being qualified for some advertised jobs, he was pointedly told that he could not be recruited because of his inability to tender his university certificate.
“They did not even give ‘TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN’ notification, a temporary attestation which schools usually make available to students pending when results are ready,” he frowned.
“The management said they are trying to resolve the many complaints concerning missing results among others. According to them, there is progress but we are yet to see.
“We are sad about the situation and dissatisfied with the outcome of our years of study in LASU. Most young people with very promising future are being treated in this manner. Its not a good one at all.”
SOS to Fashola
Another affected graduate, Dotun Olukoya, confided in DailyPost that he was forced to learn a skill just to make ends meet.
“I sponsored my tertiary education because my late parents were aged that time so I felt I should not bother them. Adding my own burden to theirs would have been heartless of me because the little they had was spent on transportation, feeding, drugs, house rent and others,” he said.
“Having survived university through divine grace, I thought I would go for service, get a job, work for a while and establish a personal outfit. But since we left LASU, it has been as if we went there on an excursion.”
“Earlier in the year, when it was almost two years and no good news came, I took up 3 months training in hair cut. I opened this place the first week in July and I have been managing here. I told my friends to look for a skill they find interesting and learn”
“As it is now, the year is fast running and by 2015, we may be looking at 3 years without certificate. Maybe we have to march to the office of Visitor to the institution, Governor (Babatunde) Fashola, to beg him to save us,” Olukoya hinted.
Not a new occurrence
Independent findings by this newspaper reveals that LASU, which prides itself as the “preferred university of excellence with cutting edge research,” has unenviable history of delaying results. So bad, its students call it a tradition.
In 2012, the School of Part Time (commonly called as LASU External System) established in 2002, released the final year results of two departments – the 2003/04 and 2007/08 batches of students in Mass Communication and Economics Departments respectively. This means that while a latter batch got their results four years later, the former waited eight years.
Apart from recurring late issuance of certificates to graduates, non-issuance of identity cards to students, and delay in payment of lecturers’ remuneration which affects their job are said to be part of frustrating that suppresses the morale of the learners.
The university management is also accused of concealing the true state of happenings instead of carrying its students along.
When contacted, Oladimeji Ikudaisi of LASU Information and Media Unit, denied knowledge of the situation. “I don’t know anything about that, I don’t,” he replied.
Pestered, he told DailyPost that he is not in a position to provide a response to the enquiry.
Upon request, Ikudaisi promised to forward the phone number of the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Kayode Sutton.
He did not do so, despite reminders, before this report was published.
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