The University of Benin (UNIBEN) is set to reopen on August 11, following a period of unrest that led to its temporary closure.
This decision comes after a series of student protests forced the institution to halt all academic activities and clear out the student hostels.
On July 4, the university management announced the indefinite suspension of academic activities, directing students to vacate their hostels immediately. This announcement was made public through a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire.
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In a circular released on Wednesday, Ademola Bobola, the university’s registrar, confirmed that students are expected to return to their halls of residence on Sunday, with lectures set to resume on Monday.
Bobola outlined that the university had addressed the issues that triggered the protests, including resolving problems related to electricity and water supply and carrying out necessary renovations in the halls of residence.
“The decision to reopen the university was made by the Senate at its meetings held on July 23 and 24, 2024, in tandem with the position of the Governing Council, critical stakeholders, and after a review of the current atmosphere in the country,” Bobola stated.
However, the resumption comes with stringent conditions. The registrar emphasized that each returning student must swear an affidavit of undertaking to be of good conduct while at the university. “The affidavit must contain cardinal points, as captured in the document attached to the circular,” he added.
Students are required to upload the sworn affidavit on their Kofa page and submit a hard copy to their departmental course adviser within two weeks of resumption. The registrar warned that failure to comply with this directive could lead to serious consequences, including the withholding of students’ results.
Assuring students that the necessary measures had been taken to prevent further disruptions, Bobola expressed confidence that academic activities would proceed smoothly once the university reopens. He urged students to take note of the resumption date and adhere to the new requirements to avoid any penalties.
