Host Community Protest, Halt Activities At Rivers State University

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The host community of  the Rivers State owned Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni on Monday May 19 ,2025  brought activities at the institution to a halt.

This followed massive protests by women and youths against what they described as gross marginalization of the community members in both employment opportunities and contract awards by the institution’s authorities.

The protesters, in their numbers, as early as 10 am, took over the University’s main gate, beating and dancing to local musical rhythms while also being guarded and shadowed by security agencies to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

The protests and subsequent disruption of activities, however, came amidst the institution’s ongoing first semester examinations.

The protesters who blocked other entry and exit routes of the University, vowed neither to vacate nor halt their actions unless their demands are addressed by the relevant authorities.

While addressing the Media, Leader of the protesters ,and Youth Leader of the Community ,Felix Chinda ,alleged that the University authorities have neglected the community in both employment and contract awards despite providing the land for its establishment.

According to him, several efforts made at getting the University management to address their concerns have been rebuffed or outrightly ignored.

The Community, he noted, had before now written several letters and held meetings on the need to accord attention to the community, but to no avail .

The Youth leader specifically referenced the recent employment exercise whereby most of the opportunities were offered to outsiders ,while ignoring indigenes of the host community.

“What we are doing today is a last resort. This is because  over the years, during employment, the institution never bothers to carry the us along.

“As a host community,we are supposed to be allotted certain  percentage of the opportunities on offer ,and if it is contracts ,we are expected to be patronized.

“But unfortunately, this has not been the case ,with successive administrations of the institution.

“This land used to serve our parents as farmland before it was given out for the establishment of the university.

“In line with the principle of reciprocity, we are supposed to be  accommodated in employment opportunities ,and other activities.

“But our people are not given the chance during employment exercises”, Chinda alleged.

However, addressing the protesters, the Vice Chancellor of the University Prof .Okechukwu Onuchuku, insisted that while observing merit in its activities, the institution has also accorded every interest ,including the host community its dues.

According to him, the University authorities have made the twin principles of transparency and fairness the bedrock of their policy formulation and implementation.