• It is a ruse, says principal
The Principal, Federal School of Occupational Therapy, Lagos, Mr Adeoso Akinwole, has been alleged of illegal fees collection from students of the institution.
The students called out their principal in an SoS message (Save our Soul) made available to journalists on allegations bothering on undue financial charges and the high-handedness of their schools’ highest authority.
In their message, the students alleged Akinwole of imposing N77, 000, while Diploma students were forced to pay between N20,000 to N30,000 fees for project supervision under his watch.
Other allegations include payment of N15,000 to purchase Goniometers, an occupational therapist treatment instrument that students never got and an N3,500 fee for a T-shirt purchase that was provided for free in the recent time.
Clinical students also lamented the daily payment of N2,000 for the submission of projects lately, students were being denied practicals on Anatomy at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LUTH) because of fee payment; increased hostel and tuition fees with inadequate lecturers and others.
In the message sent by the students craving anonymously for the fear of their certificates, they further bemoaned their principal for singlehandedly supervising their project works and his refusal to involve others because of the illegal fee collection he charges.
“As a principal, he was supposed to involve others in project supervision. He did not do that…he made himself only the supervisor… Goniometers (occupational therapist treatment instruments) were being sold at the rate of N15,00 and we are not even getting the instrument delivered to us despite the payment…if questioned, we shall face consequences.
“We paid 3,500 for T-shirts concerning the World Occupational Therapy Day celebration. We didn’t get the T-shirt; our money is gone. Meanwhile, T-shirts were given for free in the past.
“The man is a threat to us and we can’t do anything because of our results and certificates. We are scared because Mr Akin is the only supervisor and if we refuse to pay his illegal claims, our project topics may not be approved or delayed until the unusual happens to us.”, the students lamented.
Reacting, the principal, Akinwole described the collection of the alleged fees from students as demeaning and embarrassing; adding that the news did not emanate from his students. “But we knew the information is coming from a highly misinformed person”.
He denied the collection of N77, 000, N30,000 or N20,000 fees for the project’s supervision under him and the alleged N10,000 admission fee payments by the students. On the t-shirt N3,500 fee payments, Akinwole said one of the students made it for them and not the school authority.
“All these are unheard of; those students should give names of those charging them with such fees. I’m not the one. In my position as the principal of this school, the remark is demeaning. We know where all these issues emanate from. We knew who posted it on the web and these are not new to me. I have been in that field of engagement for years and I never stooped so low to such levels”,
On the N10,000 entrance fees, “We provided the form for entrance examination while students come for the interview. If you are qualified, you will be offered provisional admission to the school on merit. How can I collect such a fee when my office does not even conduct the entrance examination to the school? An N10,000 fee for the purchase of occupational instruments is part of the school’s training programme”, Akinwole said.