A Legal Practitioner, Frank Tietie has called for an investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of an Ebonyi State University final year student, Favour Ugwuka.
Favour was reported to have committed suicide after repeatedly failing a course handled by a lecturer.
The Lecturer, Prof. Amechi Enyi had however stated that he had no hand in the student’s death, stating as incorrect insinuations that her death was related to academic activities.
But Tietie, who is also the Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER), stated that the allegation against the lecturer is very weighty and must be investigated by the police and the school management.
“The allegations against the lecturer are very weighty; therefore, the authorities of the University must get to the root of the accusations against him.
“The family of the victim and the Nigeria Police must immediately initiate criminal proceedings, starting with an investigation, which requires the immediate invitation of the said lecturer for questioning, and where necessary, he should be arrested and granted bail pending the conclusion of the criminal investigation,” he insisted.
He added that the school management should also “search out and terminate the employment of roguish and predatory lecturers with low self-esteem who do more harm than good to the minds of young people.”
Recalling his personal experience in the University of Benin in the mid-90’s, Tietie stated that he had to endure threats especially from some lecturers of English courses like Drama and Prose who created the impression that no one could pass their classes.
“In my case, where it took me an extra five years (making it a total of 10 years) to graduate after my original classmates not only graduated from university but attended law school and were called to the Nigerian Bar, I probably could have committed suicide myself if I baulked to the scorn and pressures I received at that time.
“ I recall visiting the University guidance counsellor, but she looked so ill-equipped for the role and couldn’t offer any help. But my faith in God, the sound theologies of evangelical preachers, and the love of Jesus Christ expressed through the ministry of local churches and students’ fellowships, which saw me through those days of turbulence, I doubt if I could have survived.
“Today, I am, in my way, by many standards, able to measure up with my original classmates, many of whom are judges, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, professors, billionaires, etc.,” he narrated.
He emphasised the need for young people to learn and adopt coping mechanisms beyond those given by popular definitions of success, which are mainly superfluous.
“A life of competition and comparisons among classmates coupled with the mindless pursuit of good grades to get good jobs after graduation that usually never materialises, putting unnecessary and undue pressure on young people, is harmful in the long run to individuals and society.
“Young people should adopt healthy philosophies, ideologies and faith that recognise the realities of failures, hardships, oppositions and adversities as part of the journey to success. In that case, they become psychologically fortified to cope with periods of uncertainty, which usually don’t last,” he said.
He also spoke of the need for a more empathetic and compassionate society, especially at personal levels, lamenting that the churches fellowships that saw him through his turbulence days “have been sucked into the competitive world and have lost mainly the example of the Lord Jesus Christ of freely giving love to those who need it.”
‘Prof Amechi Enyi Has Case To Answer’ – Lawyer Calls For Investigation Into Ebonyi Varsity Student’s Death is first published on The Whistler Newspaper