NANS delegation meets Achievers varsity management, seeks pardon for expelled students
The National Association of Nigerian Students has appealed to the management of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, to reconsider its decision to expel students indicted in the financial scandal that rocked the institution a few months ago.
The appeal was made on Tuesday when a high-powered delegation of the association led by the National Director of Private Institutions Affairs, Comrade Emmanuel Segun Amos, visited the university.
Comr. Amos said the visit was in line with the directive of the NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez.
According to him, the delegation was warmly received by the management team led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Omolola Irinoye.
He said the NANS delegation comprised the Chairman of the National Association of University Students, Ondo State chapter, General Secretary of NANS, Ondo State, Treasurer of NAUS, Ondo State, Social Director of NANS, Ondo State, NANS South-West Director of Public Complaints, Students’ Union Government President of Margaret Mosunmola College of Health Technology, OLGASU National President, Prince Adeyemi Kendrick, and other student leaders.
Amos said the delegation told the university management that its mission was to appeal for compassion, reconsideration and leniency for the affected students, many of whom had invested several years in pursuing their academic dreams.
He said, “At the commencement of the meeting, we clearly stated the purpose of our visit, which was to appeal for compassion, reconsideration and leniency for the affected students.
“In presenting our appeal, we acknowledged the seriousness of the financial scandal and the need for accountability. However, we emphasised that the circumstances surrounding the involvement of the affected students were not entirely the same.
“While some students may have been victims of the situation, we also acknowledged that others might have knowingly participated in the scheme as a business venture, despite being aware that such conduct was wrong.”
He said the association urged the management to consider each student’s case individually and explore a more compassionate approach that would preserve their future without undermining the institution’s disciplinary standards.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Irinoye, commended the delegation for the maturity and civility with which it presented its case, noting that their conduct challenged the negative perception often associated with NANS.
Amos quoted Irinoye as saying that the university’s decisions were not taken arbitrarily or out of malice, adding that the management devoted considerable time to reviewing available evidence and gave the indicted students opportunities to defend themselves.
He said the vice-chancellor also highlighted the financial implications of the scandal for the institution and the damage it had caused to its reputation.
“She explained that the university’s decisions were not taken arbitrarily. According to her, the management devoted considerable time to reviewing the available evidence and afforded the indicted students opportunities to present their cases.
“While explaining the university’s position, the vice-chancellor nevertheless acknowledged that there remained an opportunity for appeal. She advised that the affected students should be encouraged to pursue the appropriate appeal process, with their petitions directed to the Governing Board of the institution.
“She also assured us that NANS’ intervention and the concerns we had presented would be taken into consideration as a factor in favour of the students during the appeal process,” he added.
Amos said the vice-chancellor also highlighted the institution’s commitment to student leadership development, including its functional students’ association and scholarship opportunities.
He said the NANS delegation appreciated the management for its openness and willingness to engage on the sensitive matter.
The NANS director disclosed that the association had also arranged to meet with the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Bode Ayorinde, in the coming days to further appeal for leniency.
“Our position remains clear: where wrongdoing has been established, appropriate corrective measures should be applied; however, such measures should also create room for rehabilitation, learning and a second chance, particularly where the ultimate consequence could permanently derail the academic and professional aspirations of young people.
“We strongly believe that the affected students have learnt valuable lessons from this unfortunate experience and that a reconsideration of their cases, where justified, would serve both the interests of justice and the broader objective of education,” he said.
He stressed that the intervention by NANS was not an endorsement of financial misconduct but a principled appeal for fairness, compassion and an opportunity for deserving students to rebuild their lives.
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