There is rising uproar at the Bayelsa State owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Ammassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state over the decision of the Institution’s Senate to order that students adopt a new dress code by putting on approved uniforms on campus.
Some students accused the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Samuel Gowon Edoumiekumo of degrading the status of the state university by directing that the students sew uniforms to differentiate each faculty in the institution.
A student from the Engineering department, who pleaded anonymity, told journalists that the Institution purportedly directed all students to start putting on uniform and that no students should bring any uniform from outside except the one the school will issue to them.
He said the price of the uniform is according to Dept in Engineering, Marine Engineering Department N30,000 per uniform. While other Dept in Engineering is N20,000”
An alumnus of the Institution, Bodmas Kemepadei faulted the claim of the aggrieved students and insisted that a private investigation showed that the claims by the students were false.
”I have investigated and confirmed the news to be false and misconstrued by the public, the VC only appealed to students in the faculty of Engineering during a meeting to always gear up especially during field trips and practical classes, as this was also contained in the students handbook, this action was aimed at curbing insecurity and to restore orderliness in the aforementioned faculty in extension the entire school”
“The VC further added in his appeal that those in professional courses like Agriculture, medicine, law should also endeavor to follow suit. Other faculties like social sciences, arts, etc were not inclusive.
The above propositions were later misconstrued and propagated by certain sinister forces within and outside the school, with intent to undermine the progress of the school management in the fight to maintain high level of discipline and standards of the university.”
Emerald News also gathered hat the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri intervened and summoned the Vice Chancellor of the Institution and other deans over the development.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Institution, Ingezi Idoni, confirmed the development but said the decision for a new dress code was taken by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Gowon Edoumiekumo with the approval of the Institution’s Senate.
According to Ingezi Idoni, the decision was taken in line with existing dress code pattern adopted by the Law and Health Sciences.
The decision was to extend the dress code to other faculty. In recent times we have witnessed shabby dressing from some students and a situation where some unidentified gunmen suspected to be cultists walked into the school and shot a student dead. It will curb insecurity and promote descent dressing among students.”
