A public disagreement has erupted between the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the University of Ibadan Students’ Union (UISU) over the legacy of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, with both student bodies presenting sharply contrasting assessments of his administration.
The controversy began after the President of NANS, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, issued a strongly worded statement accusing Professor Adebowale of presiding over what he described as an “anti-student” administration marked by oppression, intimidation and policies that allegedly undermined students’ welfare.
In the statement, NANS alleged that the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure was characterised by anti-student policies that subjected students to hardship and created an unconducive learning environment. The association further claimed that student leaders who challenged management decisions were intimidated, suspended or expelled during his administration.
The national student body also accused the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of stifling student union activism and alleged that his tenure was surrounded by corruption-related controversies.
Consequently, NANS called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate Professor Adebowale’s tenure as Vice-Chancellor.
The association warned that it would oppose any future public appointment involving the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, arguing that he had lost the confidence of Nigerian students.
However, the University of Ibadan Students’ Union swiftly distanced itself from the allegations, insisting that the NANS statement did not reflect the realities experienced by the institution’s student leadership.
In a statement signed by the President of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union, Comrade Adeboye Temidayo, popularly known as “Deboye”, the Union said it was neither consulted nor authorised anyone to speak on its behalf before the NANS statement was issued.
According to the Students’ Union President, the University of Ibadan Students’ Union had consistently challenged management whenever students’ interests were threatened, including organising lawful protests and engaging in difficult negotiations with the university authorities.
He maintained that throughout those engagements, disagreements with management were resolved through dialogue rather than victimisation.
“During my tenure as President, the Students’ Union has not shied away from confronting issues affecting students. We have openly disagreed with the University Management when necessary, organised lawful protests, including a full-scale protest, and engaged in difficult negotiations in defence of students’ interests,” he stated.
Adeboye added that, based on his personal experience, the allegations levelled against Professor Adebowale were unfounded and inconsistent with the realities he witnessed during the Vice-Chancellor’s administration.
While acknowledging that no university administration is free from disagreements, he said he could not support allegations that did not align with the facts as he experienced them.
The Students’ Union President further reaffirmed the independence of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union, stressing that the Union has never outsourced its responsibility to speak on behalf of students.
He emphasised that any official position concerning issues affecting the university community would continue to be communicated exclusively through the elected leadership and official communication channels of the Union.
The exchange has exposed differing perspectives within Nigeria’s student movement over the administration of Professor Adebowale, whose tenure as Vice-Chancellor is drawing to a close.
While NANS is demanding an investigation into his stewardship, the University of Ibadan Students’ Union has publicly defended his handling of student relations, highlighting dialogue and engagement rather than repression as the defining features of its interactions with the university management.
Neither Professor Adebowale nor the University of Ibadan management had publicly responded to the allegations and counterclaims at the time of filing this report.
