Students Protest Paralyses Commercial, Social Activities in Owerri

Posted by African Examiner education, Featured, Latest Headlines, News Saturday, November 8th, 2014

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Owerri,

Students of various Federal institutions in Imo State disrupted commercial and social activities in Owerri, and environ, as they protested their non inclusion in the state government free education scheme and payment of bursary Friday.

The aggrieved students in their thousands, were demanding that the state government, as a matter of urgency commence the payment of bursary to them so as the put them at par with their counterparts in state owned institutions.

African Examiner reports that the students are from the Federal University of Science and Technology Owerri, (FUTO) Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri and Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri.

In their second protest over the same issue, the students operated under an umbrella body known as the National Imo students Assembly, NISA

They argued that if the government could afford to offset the 100% school fees of their brothers and sisters who school in the state own tertiary institutions, it is not out of place if they are compensated with at least bursary to give them a sense of belonging as citizens of the state.

Addressing the protestants, Governor Rochas Okorocha, assured that he would look into their plights, and appealed to the aggrieved students to return to their hostels and allow the state government to sort out the issues.