This is the moment of truth for both Nigeria and managers of its public-funded institutions. Right now, the country is between the devil and the deep blue sea on this issue of school reopening. COVID-19 is on the rampage again and this second wave is proving to be more fatal. Yet, amidst this deadly scourge is the pressure on vice chancellors to reopen their institutions for learning again. This is understandable as public universities have been shut for almost a year now. Students have become restless. Many of them are tired of staying at home and are eager to return to school. Some of them have even gone to the ridiculous extent of threatening to attack any vice chancellor that refuses to open the doors of their institutions for learning.
The Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Professor Prof Lilian Salami, confirmed this on Wednesday when she featured on NTA Good Morning Nigeria breakfast show monitored by Franktalknow. The VC had said, "I have heard some students say, look, if you don't open, we will beat up the vice-chancellors and start beating up the lecturers. Maybe other vice-chancellors can take up the beatings but I can assure you that Professor Salami is too fragile to be beaten."
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