Gbenro Adesina
Students of University of Ibadan (UI) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife have been directed to vacate the institutions’ campuses with immediate effect as part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
This was declared in a special release 4297 signed by UI’s Registrar, Olubunmi O. Faluyi, which states, “This is to inform the University Community that the Board of Health of the University of Ibadan at its meeting of Thursday, 19 March 2020 considered the state of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria. As a health safety precautionary measure, it recommended that all students (both undergraduate and postgraduate) vacate the Campus immediately. The Vice-Chancellor has approved this recommendation on behalf of the Senate”.
She stated further, “Consequently, all students are hereby directed to vacate the campus with effect from Friday, 20 March 2020. The institution will remain closed to students until further notice. However, the Students’ Affairs Division of the University will see to any need to make special arrangements for international students who are unable to vacate their hostels. All primary and secondary schools located within the campus of the University of Ibadan are hereby advised to close until the Pandemic is brought under effective control”.
The Registrar urged all staff and students, wherever they may be, to adhere strictly to all health safety measures to avoid exposure to or contact with the virus.
The health safety measures they are expected to adhere to include: social distancing, avoidance of handshakes and other unnecessary physical contact, regular washing of hands with water and soap for at least 20 seconds, use of hand sanitisers containing at least 60 per cent alcohol, avoidance of touching of eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, avoidance of contact with people who are sick, practicing safe coughing or sneezing techniques and regular cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, phones and keyboards.
Also, OAU spokesperson, Abiodun Olanrewaju, in a statement said the closure was in compliance with directives from the Federal Government, which ordered all tertiary institutions and unity schools to shut down in order to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
He said that all the students have been directed to proceed on a break, and those in the university’s halls of residence have been asked to vacate their hostels and go home adding that students are expected to be leaving their hostels and the campus immediately.
Olanrewaju pointed out that the Vice Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede has ordered the suspension of all local, national and international conferences, seminars or workshops, scheduled to hold in the University, until further notice.
