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The students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Iseyin campus, took to the streets on Monday to protest what they describe as a farm year experience, citing inadequate facilities, lack of basic amenities, and poor infrastructure as major issues affecting their academic and practical training.
The protest, which began early in the morning, saw scores of students from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources march through the streets of Iseyin in a demonstration of discontent.
The students decried the harsh conditions they have had to endure as part of their farm year, which they claim has severely affected their education and overall well-being.
“We came here with hopes of learning in an environment that would enable us to grow, both academically and practically,” said a fourth-year student, who preferred anonymity, who spoke to our correspondent.
“But instead, we’ve been subjected to dilapidated facilities, lack of basic resources, and unsafe working conditions. It’s a disgrace to the name of this institution.”
“All I am asking for personally is for them to help us with the use of plough to make the land easy to plant on and to make things easy for us because we are drained emotionally, financially and physically, the shuttle buses they gave us the drivers just abandoned us and use the busses to carry loads in the market, we need changes and we need to see it with immediate effect”
The farm year, which is a mandatory practical phase for agricultural students, is a significant part of their curriculum.
However, students say the experience has been far from productive. They reported that many of the farmlands they work on are poorly maintained, irrigation systems are non-functional, and essential equipment such as tractors and other farming tools are in short supply.
In addition, students highlighted the lack of adequate housing and sanitation facilities, making the entire experience both uncomfortable and dangerous.
One of the protesters who pleads anonymity expressed frustration over the university’s lack of response to their repeated complaints.
“For months, we’ve been reaching out to the administration to address these issues, but nothing has changed, we are tired of promises with no action, our future is at stake here, and we cannot continue to stay silent,” she said.
“Landlords, agents and bike men are thieves even lautech just collect our money without teaching us anything, It’s not fair at all, we are in 400level and we don’t know how to plant ordinary ewedu, we just waste our transport fare to school everyday with no one to supervise us” she added.
As the protests continue, students are demanding immediate action, with calls for a full overhaul of the farm year experience and better investment in infrastructure.
It remains to be seen whether the university will take decisive action to address the issues raised or if the students’ protests will escalate further.