Students at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Iseyin campus, have issued a fervent appeal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Razaq Rom Kalilu. They allege severe administrative negligence and an escalating academic crisis, accusing authorities of “playing politics” with their educational future. Primarily from the Faculty of Agriculture, students highlight a litany of grievances, including inadequate facilities, a chronic lack of practical training, lecturer absenteeism, and systemic issues with examination administration that threaten their academic progression and professional readiness.

The urgent plea was conveyed through a comprehensive “save our soul” message, made public by the students operating under the aegis of the Concerned Students of LAUTECH, Iseyin Campus. This group represents a significant cohort of students who were relocated from the main Ogbomoso campus to the newer Iseyin facility several years ago. The move, initially presented as an expansion of the state-owned institution and a strategic development for the Iseyin community, has reportedly led to a precipitous decline in educational standards and a breakdown in essential academic support services for those affected.

A cornerstone of the students’ complaint centers on the complete absence of practical agricultural training, a fundamental and indispensable requirement for their degree programs. They report the Faculty of Agriculture operates without any essential livestock or poultry units, rendering their curriculum almost entirely theoretical and devoid of real-world application. Despite mandatory levies paid for a designated “Farm Practice Year,” students attest that no tangible practical sessions have taken place since their relocation to Iseyin at the 200-level stage, severely undermining their professional development and future employability within the agricultural sector.

The campus infrastructure remains critically underdeveloped, featuring only two functional lecture rooms and a single administrative building, starkly insufficient for a burgeoning university faculty. Crucially, there are no dedicated offices for lecturers, forcing academic staff to commute regularly from the main Ogbomoso campus, a considerable distance of over 50 kilometers. This logistical challenge, combined with the lack of on-site facilities for research or preparation, often deters lecturers from making the arduous journey, resulting in weeks-long periods without scheduled lectures and leaving hundreds of students academically stranded with significant gaps in their curriculum.

Administrative disarray further exacerbates the academic environment, particularly regarding examination processes and result dissemination. Students describe a flawed system where examination scripts are routinely transported between the Iseyin and Ogbomoso campuses, a practice inherently prone to significant error and mismanagement. This frequent transit reportedly leads to the loss of numerous scripts, often resulting in students receiving “Awaiting Results” (AR) statuses that, without explanation or their fault, are eventually converted to failing ‘F’ grades. The absence of any local redress mechanism means students must undertake costly journeys to Ogbomoso to lodge complaints, adding to their frustration.

The cumulative effect of these systemic challenges profoundly impacts the pioneer 500-level students, who are nearing their final academic year and impending graduation. They face a logistical nightmare, with some departments reportedly ordering final-year students to relocate to the Ogbomoso campus for project work and thesis supervision. Subsequently, they are often recalled to Iseyin for lectures that frequently fail to materialise due to persistent issues of lecturer availability and inadequate facilities. This creates immense uncertainty about their timely academic progression, project completion, and ultimate graduation prospects.

The Concerned Students assert they have exhausted all internal avenues for resolution, including submitting formal letters to the university management and staging peaceful protests to draw attention to their plight. Despite these concerted efforts, they claim no substantive changes have been implemented to alleviate their suffering. The students reiterate their urgent call for the Oyo State Government and university authorities to cease what they perceive as political maneuvering and instead uphold their fundamental right to quality education, which they emphatically argue should not be treated as a mere privilege but a guaranteed entitlement for all enrolled.

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Keywords: LAUTECH Iseyin campus, Oyo State education crisis, Ladoke Akintola University, Student academic challenges, Agricultural practical training, University administrative negligence, LAUTECH Iseyin infrastructure, Governor Seyi Makinde appeal