Students of the Ondo State College of Health Technology staged a protest on Monday over poor learning facilities and alleged extortion by the school management.
The students barricaded the school entrance, displaying placards reading “We Are Tired of This Wickedness,” “Stop Extortion Now,” and “No Solution, No Exams.” They lit bonfires, sang solidarity chants, and warned that academic activities could be disrupted if their demands were not addressed.
Protesters complained of a lack of portable water, dilapidated classrooms, non-functional laboratories, no hostels, and unreliable electricity. They also alleged that management imposed unnecessary levies and encouraged lecturers to demand payments for textbooks and assignments.
A staff member, speaking anonymously, said the students’ demands were reasonable and urged management to prioritize their welfare, noting that the state government controls much of the college’s policies.
The college rector, Emoruwa Oluwanbe, denied the allegations but confirmed that the state government had convened a meeting on the matter and said a formal response would follow. Students said the protest would continue until their grievances were addressed.
