The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), on Wednesday, condemned an assault against a lecturer of the Nnamidi Azikiwe University, Akwa, Anambra State.
It would be recalled that the university was on Tuesday thrown into chaos when a yet-to-be-identified female student of the school pounced on one of the lecturers in the university identified as Dr. Chukwudi Michael, bit him many times and tore his clothes for allegedly interrupting her TikTok video recording.
In a statement made available to The Guardian in Ibadan, the President of the NANS Senate, Babatunde Afeez Akinteye, said acts of violence and misconduct had no place in our academic institutions.
Akinteye said: “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has always been at the forefront of advocating for students’ rights, academic freedom, and a conducive learning environment.
“However, we equally uphold discipline, respect for authority, and adherence to the laws governing our institutions. It is in this light that we strongly condemn the reported incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), where a student physically assaulted a lecturer over a TikTok recording.
“Acts of violence and misconduct have no place in our academic institutions. Institutions are citadels of learning, built on mutual respect between students and lecturers. While students have the right to self-expression, including the use of social media, such rights must be exercised within the bounds of decorum, responsibility, and respect for others. The reported action of the student is an embarrassment to the student body and does not represent the values of the Nigerian student community”.
The student leader said, NANS as an association would not support any student who violated the law, disrespected lecturers, or engaged in acts that tarnished the image of the academic community.
He said: “As an association that fights for the rights and welfare of students, we must also make it unequivocally clear that we do not support any student who violates the law, disrespects lecturers, or engages in acts that tarnish the image of the academic community. NANS stands for responsible student leadership and discipline, and we will not hesitate to call out any action that contradicts these principles”.
He, therefore, called on the management of UNIZIK to conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation to establish the facts of the case.
He said: “In light of this incident, we call on the management of UNIZIK to conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation to establish the facts of the case. Due diligence must be observed, and all parties involved should be given a fair hearing. However, if the student is found guilty, appropriate sanctions should be applied in line with the institution’s regulations to serve as a deterrent to others. The academic environment must be preserved as a space of respect, learning, and professional engagement.
“We urge students nationwide to always channel their grievances through the appropriate channels and avoid any form of misconduct that could undermine their future. Respect for lecturers, university rules, and ethical behavior should be the foundation of student life. NANS will continue to advocate for students’ rights, but we will not support actions that bring disrepute to the student community.
“We trust that the university management will handle this matter with fairness, ensuring that justice is served in a manner that upholds the integrity of our educational institutions”.
