Some students of Obafemi Awolowo University under the aegis of a platform called OAU Wikileak have advocated that students be allowed to participate in the ongoing selection process of the Vice Chancellor.
In a social media discussion monitored by Oye Ola Oladimeji, majority of the contributors feel the students be afforded a voice in the very crucial process since they will be affected by the decision of whoever emerges at the end of the day.
Leading the debate, Moshood Odunayo Olajide, the Convener of OAU Wikileaks frown at the way students are completely excluded in the choosing of the university's Vice Chancellor. He argued that students exclusion from such prominent appointment is part of the reason why the university authority takes students for granted. He however urged students to rise up and change this trend.
In his own opinion, Honourable Epitome, a parliamentarian from the faculty of EDM stated that students must participate in providing criteria for the appointment of Vice Chancellor. Hear him, in a typical democratic setting, students can participate in form of public debate whereby every sapient will be allowed to ask questions.
Contributing, Honourable Omole Ibukun from the faculty of Tech advocated a thoroughly transparent public debate that will simultaneously feature the outgoing Vice Chancellor coming to give account of his regime while students are allowed to question both the outgoing and the incoming freely.
Also speaking, Fatoyinbo Gafar, a social critic, aver that students have always constitute the major stakeholder in the education sector. He further stated that students should be allowed to partake in the decision making process as the appointment of a new vice-chancellor will either make or mar students, hence the need to have the input of the students. He further asserted that the imposition of anointed candidate on the university by powerful forces may be too hazardous for Great Ife students to bear. Speaking in the same vein, Matthew Edache urged the university authority and the National University Commission (NUC) to provide a platform for students to air their views on the appointment of VC's. He also condemned the increment of tuition fees which has not led to improved welfarism on campus.
In his own contribution, Bamidele Williams, suggested that a Congress of Great Ife students be convened by the Security committee of the students union to dispassionately discuss the modalties of the appointment of Vice Chancellor while a seven man committee should be set up to meet with ASUU, and SSANU while the committee should also spearhead media campaign tagging it #OAUSAYSNOTOANNOINTEDVC. Aligning with the position of Williams, Solomon Abiodun popularly known as Spiritdrunk suggested that the Security committee should convene a Congress and make students' demands known to the university management.
Opposing the debate, Emeka Mbah, a student from the faculty of medicine however feels that students stand no chance in participating in the appointment of the Vice Chancellor stating that the race is purely political and beyond the participation of students.
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