By Politico Staff writer
In the early hours of Thursday, 22 February 2024, students awaiting graduation at Njala University stormed the Bo campus in protest for their graduation gowns ahead of today’s convocation.
This led to the disruption of the first-semester exam for continuing students. Speaking to Politico, one of the students expressed disappointment over the situation.
"Prior to our convocation, a press release was out from the university giving an ultimatum to pay for convocation and gown. I paid and many of us here protesting have not received ours. We paid one thousand Leones for graduation and gown, one thousand and twenty Leones for registration", he stated.
He added that on the 9th of February this year, they were asked to collect their gowns. “On Wednesday this week, the administration was distributing the gowns without informing some of us. Only those who knew came and collected theirs,” he said.
He said those who came later couldn't get it and were asked to wait for a later date.
“We converged and chose amongst us those who went to see LUC Fahnbulleh at the police station to complain. The LUC called and the administration told him we paid late which is untrue", he said.
“My Uncle gave me a gown, but I chose to buy mine and use it. I was number 6 on the list of those who paid. They never took my measurement though I requested it. The administration is unfair to us", he stressed.
He said they complained because they did not want to take the law into their hands.
"At 2 pm (Thursday 22 February) if the administration fails to produce our gowns we will not allow the convocation to take place,” he said.
A female graduate from the School of Community Health Sciences Bo campus also expressed her frustration over the issue.
She said the statement made by the administration Bo campus was unfortunate when they requested for their gowns. She stated that they were on campus on Wednesday night but couldn't get it, adding that they were there again before the protest ensued with no administrator on sight to respond to their concerns.
“We will go to Njala Mokonde and block it everywhere. No gown, no convocation", she concluded.
Ayuba Koroma at the Public Relations Unit, Njala University, told Politico that they are appealing to the graduates to be patient with the administration, assuring that they will get their gowns.
Koroma, while calling for calm said the plan by the graduands to cause mayhem the university will be the wrong step.
The situation affected the movement of vehicles to the campus in Bo. However, calm was later restored.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (26/02/24)
