Student union leaders on Thursday protested at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja, calling for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Fasina.

Under the joint leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the National Association of University Students (NAUS), they called on the Nigerian government, through the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to immediately dismiss Fasina.

The protesters, armed with placards, said their demand stemmed from allegations of sexual harassment and mismanagement of the university’s resources and cover-up by the VC.

Spokesperson of NANS, Samson Adeyemi, accused a lecturer in the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Dr. Anthony Agbegbedia, of sexually harassing a female student and unfairly awarding her a failing grade.

“At the heart of this protest lies the disturbing and well-documented case of Dr. Anthony Agbegbedia, a staff member of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, whose actions represent everything wrong with unchecked academic power,” Adeyemi said.

“Dr. Agbegbedia sexually harassed a female student and deliberately failed her after she refused to submit to his immoral demands. When the matter was brought to light, her script was re-evaluated by an external panel, and she passed honourably.

“Rather than discipline the predator, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, protected and even rewarded him with a promotion.”

Adeyemi described the development as an abuse of power, a betrayal of trust, and a violation of the moral sanctity of education.

The NANS leader listed other demands to include immediate suspension of Dr. Agbegbedia, setting up of an independent panel to probe sexual harassment cases, protection for whistleblowers and harassment survivors, full audit of the university’s finances under Prof. Fasina as well as public release of the findings and a timeline for implementation of reforms to ensure transparency and accountability.