By Ibrahim Netwon
Hundreds of students from the University of Ibadan (UI) staged a peaceful protest today over the ongoing 82-day power outage at the University College Hospital (UCH), a key facility for medical training. The protest, led by the President of the Students’ Union (SU), Bolaji Aweda, was fueled by frustrations over the hospital’s prolonged blackout due to unpaid electricity bills.
UCH, which is the teaching hospital for UI’s medical students, has been without power since November 2023, with the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) disconnected its supply due to outstanding debts. Despite multiple attempts to resolve the situation, IBEDC has insisted that the hospital must settle its debt before power can be restored.
Aweda emphasized the direct impact on students, particularly those in the medical field, who have faced significant disruptions in their training. The blackout has also affected students in residence halls, with many having to move to the main campus to charge their devices. Last year, a similar power failure forced doctors at UCH to perform surgeries using flashlights.
The students’ protest is a call for immediate action, urging UCH and IBEDC to find a solution to the ongoing power crisis. The situation has drawn widespread attention, as the university community continues to demand reliable electricity for both academic and health services.
