Illicit drugs: Varsity tests students

Authorities of Al-Hikmah University in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said they had begun testing the students for hard drug use.

They said the tests would enable the institution to know the appropriate interventions to adopt.

The institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Taofeek Ibrahim, addressed reporters in Ilorin at a pre-convocation press conference.

This year’s ceremony will hold on Saturday.

Ibrahim said any student caught using hard drugs would be referred to a hospital as well as the guidance and counselling unit of the institution for reformation.

He added: “Students discipline remains very high up on the university’s agenda to maintain law, order and peace on our campuses.

“To sustain our mitigation of indiscipline among students, the compulsory accommodation of students in the university’s hostels and accredited private hostels remains in force.

“Also, the digital automated electronic identification card to monitor students’ attendance of lectures and unapproved absences from hostels at night, is starting this academic session. The university remains committed to improving facilities for students’ welfare and comfort in our learning environment.”

The professor of Medicine equally made some suggestions to government to stop unwarranted strikes in public universities in Nigeria.

“A law should be in place to disallow public office holders from sending their children/wards to foreign countries for education. This will put an end to incessant strikes by staff of the tertiary institutions in the country.

“My candid advice is for the political office holders to allow their children acquire higher educational qualifications in Nigeria this will ensure adequate funding of education in the country. The moment we can do this I think that will end constant strikes in the universities,” he said.

Ibrahim said that a total of 876 students would graduate from the university  made up of 798 are undergraduates, 61 postgraduates and 17 sub-degree diplomas.