Mr. Olorunfemi Adeyeye, a student activist who faced rustication from the University of Lagos in 2016 for his role in organizing and leading a large-scale protest against inadequate infrastructure on campus, has successfully completed his studies after a seven-year journey.
Adeyeye, along with several other student activists, was initially suspended for participating in the protests that took place on April 6 and 8, 2016.
These demonstrations resulted in the temporary closure of the university and the subsequent indefinite suspension of the University of Lagos Students Union.
However, in 2022, he was reinstated and has now graduated from the Department of Building, marking the culmination of his academic pursuits.
Adeyeye was also accused of criticising the leadership of the institution for their inability to manage situations as “democrats” in a Facebook article titled: “The Senate of the University of Lagos; a conglomeration of academic ignorami.”
Sharing his sign-out pictures on his Facebook page on Monday, Adeyeye, shown standing at attention, wore a white shirt with the inscription, “It needed attention, and I gave it full. To continue the big things. Grateful.”
According to reports, during his period of suspension, Mr. Olorunfemi Adeyeye, along with other student leaders, was accused by the University of Lagos authorities of leading a group called the “Save UNILAG Coalition.”
This coalition included members from the National Association of Nigerian Students. The accusation stated that they entered the university campus on March 31, 2016, with the intention of disrupting the operations of the Dean of Student Affairs’ office.
The university, in a statement, clarified that the disciplinary action taken against Adeyeye and other student leaders was not solely due to their involvement in the campus protests. Instead, they were found to have violated a specific provision outlined in the university’s 2015-2016 student information handbook, which led to their disciplinary measures.
Mr. Olorunfemi Adeyeye stated that the content of the Facebook article, which was referenced by the university, clearly highlighted his belief that the decision made by the university Senate regarding his rustication was undemocratic.
“It was rather disheartening that the university came out to say that. It is an untrue statement. I and other student leaders were invited to a panel. The panel was known as, the ‘Special senate disciplinary committee on recent students’ protest.’
“Everything I wrote in the article I posted on my Facebook page pointed to the fact that the resolution of the Senate was not a product of a democratic process, especially with the student leaders who participated in the protest. From the day I was admitted into the university till the day I was rusticated, there was no regulation in the university’s student handbook that stated “unauthorised use of university name, logo, etc in a manner that would bring the university to disrepute,” Mr Adeyeye had said.
