The University community is in disbelief after Miss Idemudia Osasogie Divine abruptly resigned from her position as Vice President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) on Monday.
Divine asked the students to be resolute, brave, and determined in their future bid in her resignation letter, which was seen by AMILOADED Correspondent. Divine said that she and her team had failed the students who had elected them into office.
Although she did not express so explicitly, her resignation as the second-ranking student at UNIBEN occurred in the midst of a controversy over the recent increase in school fees by the organization’s management.
Remember that the University of Benin recently increased its tuition costs for new students by over 100%, with N190,000 for scientific students and N170,00 for non-science students.
However, the university administration announced a decrease in the school tuition to N115,000 and N105,000 for Science and Non-Science students, respectively, and then N95,000 and N85,000 moving forward. This announcement was made just seconds after her resignation letter appeared on social media.
Students had expressed worries and discontent earlier, with many questioning the SUG’s ostensible quiet regarding the school fee controversy. Despite the fact that the union initially claimed to be unaware of the development. Later, they would say that they were in talks with management.
Miss Divine cautioned the students to be resolute in electing future student leaders who will not betray their interests but serve them well in their many positions in the former vice president’s letter of resignation.
She said that elected student leaders are to blame for the school fee hike controversy while simultaneously insisting that the Union, of which she had previously served as vice president, had failed the students who had chosen them to lead the organization.
Students’ reactions to Divine’s decision to step down as vice president have been conflicted. While some applauded her for taking the courageous step—Nigerians hardly ever resign—others are pressing for details.