Sixteen years ago, Lanre Akinola completed academic
requirements to receive a degree in statistics from the University of
Ilorin. But Akinola had taken on extracurricular activities: protesting against
military dictatorship and filthy dorms.
The University of Ilorin withheld his degree, and did the
same two years later to Rasheedat Adesina, another protester.
Last month, 15 months after Nigeria's Supreme Court ruled
that the withholding was "capricious, oppressive, illegal"- the
university finally awarded Akinola and Adesina their degrees.
While Nigeria is now ruled by an elected, civilian
government, universities continue to punish activists and conditions on
campuses in Africa's most populous nation have reportedly gotten no better.
"Conditions have only changed for the worse," said
Hassan Taiwo Soweto, national coordinator with the local Education Rights
Campaign. He pointed to a recent protest at the University of Lagos, where
students complained mattresses are infested with bed bugs and toilets are
stopped up.
Akinola told The Associated Press that the university's
actions hurt him. He had always wanted to be a statistician but could not get
work without a degree.
"It was a struggle. I got by with help from family and
friends," he said.
In 2006, he finally qualified with the Institute of
Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN and now works for an accounting firm.
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