The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, has paid a solidarity visit to Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, in the wake of recent unpleasant incidents which occurred on the campus.
PUNCH Online reports that in May, a 200-level engineering student of the university, Alex Timileyi, was beaten to death by his colleagues over a claim that he stole a mobile phone.
The student was allegedly beaten to death inside a hostel known as Shepherd Inn on the school premises.
Meanwhile, giving an update on the situation on Tuesday, Media assistant, Sunday Saanu, who is on sabbatical at the institution, said that the Primate, accompanied by the Visitor to the university, Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa, the Secretary to the House of Bishops, Rt. Rev. Williams Aladekugbe, and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Olutoyin Okeowo, among others, assured students, parents, and staff that God has checkmated the plans of the “devil” against the institution.
Addressing the ACU community, Ndukuba stated, “The plan of the devil was to completely destroy the university we have been labouring to build in the last 17 years with good reputation, were it not for God who checkmated the level of the disaster.”
In a post via Facebook, Saanu noted that the Primate urged all stakeholders to keep believing in ACU’s capacity to offer quality education and moral training, noting that the university would emerge stronger from the storms.
“What has happened has made us wiser and stronger. I have been informed that the university management had decided to put in place certain measures that would prevent these kinds of ugly experiences. I know that the security of the students is going to be given more attention. One thing is certain, affliction shall not arise again,” the Primate assured.
Commending the management for their handling of the situation, Ndukuba disclosed that the incidents had rattled all ACU stakeholders as “this is an academic environment where such things were not expected to happen.”
After being led to the scene of the incident at Shepherd Inn, the Primate advised students to be vigilant and report any unusual occurrences to the authorities instead of posting on social media.
“Instead of posting your observations or grievances on social media, report to the school management where there will be solutions. Social media will not offer any solution, rather, it will continue to soil our image. Therefore, don’t keep quiet when you observe anything that looks unusual,” he stated.
Ndukuba, who prayed for the students and staff, assured them that the Church of Nigeria would continue praying for ACU’s success, stressing that the institution, with its track record, is “a beautiful university that must be supported and protected.”
Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor had briefed the Primate on the incidents of rape and a student’s death over an alleged phone theft, which had led to police involvement.
“The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Adebayo, who was on an official assignment at the time of the visit was represented by his Deputy, Prof. Benjamin Popoola and other management team, including the Registrar, Dr. J. T. Babatola, University’s Bursar, Mr. Ayodele Olusanwo and the University’s Librarian, Dr. Bosede Adebimpe Ajiboye,” the statement added.
