Matriculations, like convocations, hold a special place in students’ hearts. Matriculation signifies the formal start of their academic life; convocation marks the end. On campuses nationwide, it is the season of matriculations. The exercise turned awry at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, where two students were reportedly shot. Awwal Mijinyawa, MARK ORGU, HAUWA MUHAMMAD, RILWAN BALOGUN, ADEKUNLE OLADUNNI and IBRAHIM ALAMU write.
FRESHERS in higher institutions across the country were upbeat last week as they took their matriculation oath.
From the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), and Kwara State Polytechnic (KWARA POLY), students gathered for the exercise, which marks the beginning of their academic journey.
Beaming with smiles, they trooped to the matriculation venues with their families and friends. In excitement, they took pictures to mark the day.
At KWARA POLY, the ceremony was marred by bloodshed. Two students were allegedly shot by suspected cultists.
The matriculation began with orientation in departments, where the freshers were exposed to campus life.
The ceremony started in the ETF Hall at 10am amid tight security. A lecture was given by the Rector, Alhaji Mas’ud Elelu, who advised the freshers against joining unregistered associations. He also harped on attainment of academic excellence.
After the ceremony, the freshers went to the motion ground for pictures and merriment with friends and relatives. The place was filled up with revellers. Some clubs, such as Kegite, welcomed the students with “gyration songs” and palm wine in the building of the Institute of Basic and Applied Students (IBAS).
Hip-hop music also blared from an uncompleted building, opposite the IBAS complex. The celebration was in full throttle.
At 4:05pm, things turned awry. Guns boomed from various directions. The revellers scampered for safety, leaving their personal effects. Many rushed to the school park to escape being hit by stray bullets.
The few buses at the park could not convey all the students out of the campus.
By the time the dust settled, two students had been shot by the assailants, who were said to be members of a cult group. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that one of the victims died on the spot; the other was taken to the hospital.
It was gathered that the slain student was among those drinking and smoking in an abandoned building near the IBAS complex. It was learnt that the killing may not be unconnected with the rivalry between two warring campus cult groups.
A student was allegedly killed when the polytechnic conducted its entrance exams a few months ago. This latest killing heightened the fear of students, who said cultism-related violence was becoming rampant in the institution.
Mercy Adeoye, a student, said: “The killing is becoming too much in the school. The same thing happened when management conducted post–UTME exam for applicants last year; a student was killed right on campus. Another killing happened on matriculation day again. UNILORIN held its matriculation without bloodshed. This shows security is ineffective here. I implore the management to protect lives on campus.”
Simbiat Babalola, another student, said: “I and members of my family ran for our lives when we heard the gunshots. This is bad because security should have been tightened on the campus but nobody was concerned. In fact, I still habour fear to enter the campus again.”
The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Abdulqadir Yinus, has denied any killing on campus.
Speaking to our correspondent on phone, Yinus said: “There is no iota of truth in the report of killing on our campus during the matriculation day. What happened is that, a man, who is not a student of the school, was seen with a gun. This scared the students, who ran for their lives. The gunman was chased by security men but he escaped through the bush. But I can confirm that no student was killed.”
It was peaceful at ABU as the freshers gathered in Mamman Kontogora Square for the ceremony.
Clad in flowing academic gowns, the students took the matriculation oath with joy. The event was attended by faculties’ deans.
The freshers were described as “golden jubilee students”, because the university celebrated its 50th anniversary recently.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdullahi Mustapha, advised the students to shun cultism and exam malpractices.
He said the university could only admit 6,800 of the 54,000 applicants.
Chahandila Yalusa of the matriculants Library and Information Department, said: “I feel happy because I have been applying to study in this institution for the past three years. I thank God now that I have been admitted.”
At UNILORIN, it was the first matriculation under the administration of the vc Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, who assumed office last October.
By 7:30am, the expansive university auditorium was filled to capacity, with the matriculants and staff seated. At 8am, the programme began with the VC’s speech entitled Hard work.
He enjoined the students to be hardworking, diligent and focused to make the best use of the opportunity offered them by the institution.
Ambali said of the 8,093 offered admission, 7,098, which represented 11.10 per cent of the applicants, scaled screening and registration. He warned the students against vices that could truncate their academic career.
Afeez Agboola of the Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, said: “I am elated to be among the lucky applicants admitted into this university. I won’t misuse the opportunity given to me to study in this place.”
At YABATECH, the Rector, Dr. Margaret Ladipo, described the 4,500 matriculants as the “most privileged ones”. She said they must attend 75 per cent of lectures before their results could be computed. She warned them against vices and keeping of bad company, saying the college would not hesitate to punish anyone that went against regulations.
