Covenant University Expels 200 Students For Not attending Church Service-VANGUARD

Posted: December 30, 2012 - 18:28

Posted by siteadmin

By Ishola Balogun

About 200 students may have been expelled by the authorities of Covenant University, Cannanland, Ota, Ogun State, recently for what was described as “disregard of paramount core values.”

Frustrated and angered by the development, some of the affected students who gave account of what happened battled emotions while narrating their situations to Saturday Vanguard recently. They however pleaded with the school authorities to tamper justice with mercy in order to save their future.

Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that out of the figure, about 126 were expelled for not attending the ‘departure service’, meant to sign off from the school after the end of the Semester and Matriculation of students on November 30. Five other students were thrown out for smoking while unconfirmed source said additional 60 got the same fate for violating other rules bordering on the University’s core values. A few others were given four weeks suspension for failure to sign the head count that was conducted a couple of weeks earlier.

A letter of expulsion signed by the Registrar, Ntia Ubong, a copy which was made available to Saturday Vanguard stated that the affected students contravened Chapter 1, section 30, page 40 of the 2010-2014 Student Handbook.

We gathered that the massive expulsion was predicated on the anger of the Chancellor, Bishop David Oyedepo who was said to have been infuriated after seeing students loitering around when they were supposed to be at the Chapel for the Departure Service.

He was said to have personally chased students to the Chapel and ordered for a search into all the halls and colleges to fish out those who did not attend the service.

Several attempts to get the school authorities comment on the issue proved abortive. The Instituion’s Corporate Affairs Head, Mr Igban Emmaunel also refused to comment as calls pulled through to him were unanswered and text messages not replied.

How it happened
A few of the affected students gave account of what happened to Saturday Vanguard at different points. The similar accounts go thus: “On November 30, the last day of the semester, preceding our December break, there was also a Matriculation for the 100 level students; in fact some students had their last semester exams on that day, some of them finished around 3:00pm while the matriculation started around 8am. Some students retired to their rooms to relax while some engaged in some other activities jubilating the end of the semester.

“Some also got drinks from the matriculating students. Even as these were going on, some students who finished around 3pm retired to their halls. By 5pm, they announced that we should get prepared for the ‘Departure service’ which was to start by 8pm. Some students were already seeing their parents off while some of us were just trying to relax to get off the stress of the exams.

“Most of us hadn’t gotten through the tiredness of the sleepless nights of the exams; so, some us stayed back in our rooms. The departure service is usually a day before we go home and it is usually presided over by the Chancellor. Before the commencement of the service, they used to lock up the main doors of the halls so as to prevent cases of theft. I was not bothered since there were a lot of us in the hall. Some minutes past 8pm, they switched off the light and all of us in the hall went into our rooms. Because of the darkness and the cold, I slept off immediately.”

He continued: “The persistent knocks on the door woke me up and I realised that they had come to search for people who had not come to service. Before I realised what was going on, I found myself with other students numbering about 30. They took down our names and counted us to make sure that no one was omitted. They said the Chancellor was at the service and we refused to come. I heard them talking about other halls and they asked us to wait. I didn’t take it seriously because I never believed in my widest imagination that we would be expelled. We were later asked to go to our various halls.

“Some of those who went into hiding were lucky as they were not found. Shortly, those who went for the service returned and told us there was poor attendance at the Chapel and how students were diving in through the windows, scampering for seats. In fact, one narrated to us how the Chancellor jumped through the window to vent his anger on some students who had jumped in,” he stated.

Another expelled student also gave similar account of the incident. “I couldn’t go to the service because, I was not feeling well which was as a result of the stress of the exams we had just finished. After a while, I managed to go but I heard that they started driving people back around 7:30pm while the service was to start around 8pm. I was surprised because the rule was that you’ve got to be seated 15minutes to the service. Again, it was never made compulsory, but they tried to get students out of the halls to prevent cases of theft. So, because I was not feeling well, I went back to my room because I needed to rest for a while.

“I thought it was a joke when they said we are in for expulsion because we failed to come for departure service. I have never done anything contrary to the school laws. I have never faced any panel before and neither did I have any unpleasant case in my file. I never thought it was real until letters were handed to me the following morning.”

Giving account of how letters were handed out to them, the visibly troubled student said: “By 6am, they announced the names of those who were caught in halls and colleges. Usually after the departure service, one can sign out from there and go but because it ended late and no one could travel, students had to wait till the following morning. But the hall officer told those of us whose names were written down that if we leave, we should be considered gone from the university forever. That gave us an insight into what was likely to come as punishment. By 7:45am, we were called once again to go downstairs for our letters. Those who collected theirs before mine were crying and I wondered what the punishment could be until I read the letter stating I was expelled from the university.”

At the Chapel
Another student who found his way to the Chapel also told Saturday Vanguard that while the Chancellor was being driven past, he noticed that students were loitering at about the time they were supposed to be seated at the chapel. He said that this apparently infuriated him and he alighted from his car and chased students to the chapel with knocks. “I saw him, alighted from his car and chased students to the chapel; I quickly found my way to the hall. Not quite long after, I saw students jumping in through the windows. It was a big commotion. Even the chancellor was going after those who jumped into the chapel. Later, he addressed the students saying he was very disappointed by the behaviour that the students were not seated 15 minutes before the service.”

Another account had it that while the Education Secretary, Prof. Aize Obayan was addressing the students, the students were murmuring, then the Chancellor immediately took to the microphone and said: “if I hear the voice of any student, the curse of the Lord shall fall upon that one.” The chapel immediately went dead silent.

Our source who was also late to the service stated that the Chancellor later directed that those students who did not come to the service would be purged out saying they did not belong to the school. Our source stated that at the end of the service, he prayed for the students in the hall.

Another source in the school hinted that at that point, the Vice-chancellor pleaded on behalf of those who were absent but the Chancellor insisted they must be purged from the school.

Our source told Saturday Vanguard that the Vice-Chancellor while addressing the students announced that a search would be carried out in all the halls and colleges to find out those who failed to attend the departure service, advising them to wait behind.

Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that out of the figure, about 126 were expelled for not attending the ‘departure service’, five were thrown out for smoking marijuana, twenty-five final year students and undisclosed number of lower level students were caught violating rules bothering on the University’s core values. We also gathered that a few others were given four weeks suspension for failure to sign the head count that was conducted a couple of weeks earlier. Some of the students opined that failure to sign the head count was even a greater offence which implied that the student was not in the school at the time of the exercise but yet got a four-week suspension.

The private university is known for its strict rules and discipline such as not allowing the students to use mobile phones within the school’s premises, while it is mandatory for students to always bring their bible to the chapel.

Parents react
A few parents who volunteered information spoke to us on condition of anonymity fearing that their children might be victimised in case the issue was resolved amicably. One of them said with bitterness that it is unacceptable, adding that the expulsion was not commensurate with the offence deemed to have been committed. He urged the school authorities to rescind its decision adding that the future of the students is at stake.

“For me, it is not acceptable. These students were not given fair hearing. Expulsion should not be a punishment for failure to attend service. We all agree, it is a Christian school but failure to attend church service could be due to a lot of reasons. I gathered that some of the students even finished their exams about 5pm that day. So, those people that finished at that time had barely three hours to prepare for the service. But stampeding them to congregate for service and then expelling those who did not come is a decision taken too far. For me, if there was poor attendance, I think the authorities have a responsibility. They have not been fair in putting the service so close to the examination. Even God will not do that.”

He however commended the Chancellor, Dr. Oyedepo on his vision towards the education of Nigeria children especially when the government institutions are failing, but urging him to tamper justice with mercy.

Another parent who was afraid of the press noted that he was still studying the situation and would not want to comment but noted that he was reliably informed that some group of parents made frantic efforts to meet with the Chancellor on the issue but without success. It was not clear the level of the efforts made. He further hinted that some students have not told their parents about their expulsion, still hoping that the issue would be resolved.

He lamented that his child had been having sleepless nights, going through mental torture unjustifiably. “I agree that discipline must be instilled in the students but it should not be aimed at destroying the life of the students. Expulsion is too great a punishment for non attendance of a departure service, without even a warning especially when the students hitherto, had not been found wanting,” he stated.

What the Student Handbook says
The Covenant University Core values border on Spirituality, Possibility Mentality, Capacity Building, Integrity, Responsibility, Diligence and Sacrifice. On the spirituality aspect, it states: “The Christian ethos underguard our activities and conducts at all time and every student of Covenant University is expected to exhibit character traits and dispositions of a Jesus-centered heritage. The Jesus – factor centered approach to all issues is non-negotiable and central in the pursuit of our mandate in raising a new generation of leaders and in the realization of the objectives of our purpose.

To this extent therefore, students will be committed to maintaining a high level of spirituality and shall act in such manner as to facilitate their spiritual growth as well as work out ways to evolve and implement a spiritual development plan. Attendance at Chapel Services is a compulsory part of students’ spiritual development where a bible and notebook are essential kits for the service. Students are expected to demonstrate a deep reverence for God at all times.”

The school declines comment
Several attempts were made to get the school authorities comment on the issue. The institution’s Corporate/Public Affairs Officer, Mr Igban Emmanuel Kalu declined comment. At first, several calls were pulled through to him but he refused to pick his calls. When the reporter persisted, he later picked but said he was driving and could not answer any question. But few hours later, other calls pulled to him were unanswered. A text message was sent to his phone and up to the time of writing this report, he did not reply.

I’m not aware —Prof Julius Okojie, NUC Executive Secretary
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof Julius Okojie said he has not been briefed on the matter.

Prof Okojie stated this during a telephone conversation Saturday Vanguard had with him a few days ago. “I am not aware of any expulsion by Covenant University; I will ask the school authorities. Right now, I am not in Abuja, I left Abuja few days ago and until I return to Abuja and find out details about the matter, I cannot comment on it,” he said.

Comments

78 comment(s)

Something like this would

Submitted by Andreea Socolov (not verified) on March 29, 2013 - 20:11.

Something like this would never be approved in my country. This cannot be possible! I was also reading about how to get ready for your career: http://www.resumetoreferral.com/blog/4-experiences-that-will-prepare-you-for-a-human-services-career/ , and it definitely doesn't say you should agree with something like this!

What ?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 25, 2013 - 16:57.

This is d most stupid piece of a life time . This country will never grow when we still have so many dull head hypocrites like u alive . Everything is just so wrong in this country, if our government is treating the federal and states universities right What do we need all this so called private universities for ? Everything about all this institution are very wrong, very very wrong . When I was in secondary school,I had more freedoms than this undergraduates......hisssss..... It's suppose to be a university not a rehab . Arrant nonsense..... Thank God I made that great decision to choose Unilag over Babcock then.... No regrets, u all so called private universities are running shit .....

A WARNING WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER TO START WITH

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 5, 2013 - 20:29.

AN EXPOLSION IS TOO MUCH FOR SUCH AN OFFENCE WITHOUT FINDING OUT WHY SUCH STUDENT DID NOT ATTEND THE DEPARTURE SERVICE. A WARNING TO BOTH STUDENT IN QUESTION AND HIS OR HER PARENT IN THAT REGARD SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE UNDERSTANDING SENDING A SIGNAL THAT WHAT FOLLOWS NEXT TIME WILL BE AN EXPOLSION. A LITTLE REGARD TO THE STUDENT FUTURE WOULD KEEP HIM CHECKED.IF YOU EXPELL THEM, WHAT BECOMES OF THEIR FUTURE. WE ALL WERE SINNERS ONCE AND WERE FORGIVEN

Hmm, if students of the

Submitted by Angel4life (not verified) on January 4, 2013 - 12:10.

Hmm, if students of the school(past and present) are complaining about the unjust treatments meted out to them all in the name of 'religious discipline', then end of story.

That man too dey show him

Submitted by izomo emmanuel (not verified) on January 1, 2013 - 16:21.

That man too dey show him self. Wetin concern ham with person wey no go church..abi na him go dictate where I mast worship my GOD? Kpalasa pastor

DESTROYING THEIR FUTURE IN THE NAME OF RULES AND REGULATION

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 1, 2013 - 15:10.

Even common Porter can end a student's career, Poters are to be feared more than the Bishop, if you are unlucky a Porter should ask you for a favour and you fail to meet up or she becomes jeleous of a student in anyway then be sure you are on your way out of the school. This happened to my daughter recently when one Porter Tope threaten that she will make sure she is sent packing and behold it happened two weeks later all in the name of not keeping rules, many of her vitims are out their and the parents will think and believe their ward is totally to be blamed. The institution needs URGENT restructuring.

Be fair to Bishop Oyedepo

Submitted by Prince Deji Daniyan (not verified) on January 1, 2013 - 11:42.

I am ashamed of many of the commentators who had descended on Bishop Oyedepo for helping to enforce the rules of Covenant University. The Bishop must have gone through a lot of self-denials to make that University happen with its core values. He was trying to plug those loose culture of "academia without morality". A few students may be of the view that because they pay a lot of money to be a member of that community, the University rules could be flouted. Our country is where it is today because several of our youths lack morals. They are not willing to obey simple rules of "dont jump the queu" or "dont enter the hall through the window". Some irresponsible adults would want to condone these maladies They blame those who want things be done rightly to reshape and build the character of our youths. The issue at hand is that some good students are also involved and have shown remorse. That is why I could seek mercy and grace for the affected students.

Are u serious? Now we all

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 1, 2013 - 09:57.

Are u serious? Now we all know it's not only
BokoHarams that are Bigots, the only diff is
their respective constituencies. BH's Nigeria
Oyedepo's Otta! Lol!

the day this man dies,then,

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 1, 2013 - 09:34.

the day this man dies,then, we shall know who is greater between him and Him.

WHO TOLD YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 23:30.

who told you nobody got slapped? please read the story again........better yet ask a student' oh wait, i'm a student. people got slapped, knocked and punched.

get ur facts right

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 23:12.

u obviously dint go to covenant, if not u would know that people get punished for no reason without any fair hearing all the time. get your facts right before you comment. that school is full of wicked individuals who call themselves the school management. it takes God's grace to enter and finish successfully. I pray those students affected will be reinstated.
(by the way, i am currently a student "ashamed of that fact")

ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT!

Submitted by Engr Yakis (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 22:12.

This is absolute bullshit! Covenant university restructure your rules to have a human face. Oyedepo, imagine your ward being victimised like this and thrown outta school! In Philosophy and Educational psychology, Punishment can be classified. This is purely a NEGATIVE Punishment. It doesn't help the defaulters in anyway. If the reason behind discipline is to make people cautious of what the do, even to the point of doing the right thing subconsciously, then this aim is far defeated! I am a 500 level student in University of Uyo, Uyo. I understand the rigours that goes with even a 1 credit unit course, the stress of getting past each semester, not to mention years of studying perhaps in a cold night....Only for someone claiming to be 'God sent' to pop up and shatter your calculated life,dreams,plans and future. I don't see discipline...What I see is hatred and wickedness of the highest order. I can't help wondering what NUC will do.

THIS IS ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT!

Submitted by Yakis (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 22:09.

Covenant University is a

Submitted by olu damilare (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 20:45.

Covenant University is a private institution.

Those who choose to attend it choose thereby to abide by its rules and regulations, and stand to be punished when they fail to comply.

Whether the punishment in these particular instances is appropriate or not is another matter.

Are you not afraid??

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 20:39.

Please i beg you in the name of God, do not ever speak of a man of God like this, irrespective of your view. It is not wise at all. WEven the bible condemns it.

Man u hv ur mouth, but it'll

Submitted by Vincent Ufuoma Lucky. (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 19:19.

Man u hv ur mouth, but it'll b more profitable 4 u if u use it wisely, with the way u had just talked, it potrayed dat u urself lack moral discipline and ethics, bcos if u don't u can be talking like a fool in the public.

Don't blame the bishop!

Submitted by Charles Joachim (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 18:52.

Months ago I got a mail showing how much private church universities charge and how an average tithe paying church member can not afford to send their children to these schools.Most of the students are children of elite money stealing public officers that are spoilt without proper home training.

They were sent to these schools to avoid the federal public universities that they have run down by underfunding.They violated the "laws" of a private school that they swore to abide by but went to the press for support when student union leaders in public universities get rusticated for legitimate protests.

My advice to them is be quiet and FACE THE MUSIC!.All over the world there are private institutions and governments do not interfere with their running in any way. The government cannot sack a VC or Chancellor it did not appoint.In this instance dont blame the bishop. Simply train your children the way they should go and when they grow they shall not depart from it. Chikena!

OYEDEPO IS A CON MAN

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 16:53.

I have said it before that Oyedepo is a con man. He cons people of their hard earned money and spends it on luxuries for himself and his family. Today he has four private jets and 2 personal universities. The other day he slapped a young girl in his church publicly and denied it in court. Should a man of God not say the truth that he slapped the girl? That shows he is a lying con man. His day of reckoning is near. This madness of expelling students because they did not attend his abracadabra church where he steals from poor people is only the first step towards his end. Those the gods want to destroy they first make mad. Oyedepo and his goons at covenant university are currently stark raving mad.

Madness at it's peak

Submitted by Patriotic Nigerian (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 16:53.

This man called Oyedepo is indeed a tyrant and autocratic "pastor" this rubbish must be denounced by all. Enough is enough.......imagine If a man like this was Nigerian President. Bloody hypocrite of a pastor!!!

This action is illegal and an abuse of...

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 16:49.

This action is illegal and an abuse of the right of the students to freedom of worship as enshrined in our constitution.
Even if the students signed any document forcing them to attend all church services for all semesters.
LAWYERS WILL TELL YOU THAT ANY LAW WHOSE PROVISION IS INCONSISTENT WITH CONSTITUTION. IS NULL AND TO THE EXTENT OF INCONSISTENCY.
Therefore I urge all the affected students to collectively Sue the so called university authority seeking an enforcement of their fundamental human rights.

Villain Oyedepo

Submitted by Anonymous1 (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 16:37.

Oyedepo will slap again if he has to, in order to get the message across to those brainwashed followers and put them in line in a split second.

He will never learn his lesson, he will persists with his uncivilized behavior, it is innate in him and you can't change nature. Nigeria opportunists are arrogant by nature, they like to tread on the less privileged.

@Oleku
Your comments make sense to me but generalization is uncivilized and that is the beef of the other commentators. We know the Yorubas and Igbos as well as their capabilities in terms of ... but just do not generalize even if statistics show they are a bunch of ... One or more are honest people in these ethnic groups, so cut them some slack.

Universities and Uncommon Ideas

Submitted by Affey (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 16:23.

Universities are meant to develop students with aberrant behaviour. Radicals, that is. That is how geniuses are made. Collective conformity is not good for any nation. These students will only end up becoming office clerks. Methinks we have enough office clerks already. In fact, Nigeria should move to the next stage of development. it should let its people loose, so that, we can start having people with uncommon ideas. Such people are not likely to come from seminaries.

@Stan Emelogu--You are uninformed!

Submitted by Jakumo (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 15:27.

@Stan Emelogu
Did you read the students' handbook portion about what happened? Your fabrication of "assumptions" rightly states the frame of your mind. Tai Solarin is eulogized today for his strict discipline of high school students in Mayflower, Ikenne. In the days when College Graduates in Nigeria have to be retrained to get a job in places like Shell Corporation, or when those who can afford it are flooding Ghana Colleges with their wards, you are condemning a school that tries to restore sanity to our educational system. Which one would you prefer, a college where lecturers are sleeping with or selling grades to students, or one that says "obeying rules" is the first step to self discipline? Do you prefer a school where all is let loose and cults of different persuasions are having sway Stan? According to you, if the Bishop is a greedy man, the reason he would tolerate any unbridled act to keep more students in the college. Stan, please get an understanding.

the bishop didnt attend either. lol

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 15:23.

If the bishop and his cohorts attended church service, how were they able to fish those guys? Golden rule

This is against the Second Commandment

Submitted by Charles (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 15:03.

The attendance of 'Church Service' is for the spiritual benefit of the attendee. It is therefore preposterous to make it compulsory for students. What will be the spiritual benefit to a student who attends a 'Church Service' againt his or her will? They are being encouraged to disobey the Second Commandment!

Academic Freedom Is the Bedrock of The Ivory Tower 7

Submitted by HJC (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 14:03.

Is this civilization? Forcing

Submitted by Adetayo Adedeji (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 14:03.

Is this civilization? Forcing adults to go to church, no freedom of religion. Only in Nigeria have I heard college students are not allowed to use cell phones while on campus. Yet they pay outrageous amounts as tuition. This is really laughable. A classical case of how we underdevelop our upcoming generation.

Academic Freedom Is the Bedrock of The Ivory Tower 6

Submitted by HJC (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 14:02.

If you 'failed fairly', you were transferred to less rigorous departments (usually from the medical sciences to biological sciences, from engineering to the physical sciences, from law to arts and the humanities etc). BUT if you 'failed badly', you were advised to withdraw. And suddenly, all these norms and valuess that shaped many Nigerian professionals in Diaspora today fizzled out of Nigerian Universities. Licensing private universities without adequate supervision has further eroded the quality of our education.

Academic Freedom Is the Bedrock of The Ivory Tower 5

Submitted by HJC (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 14:01.

It is a good idea that they have provided opportunity of higher education to those who can afford to go there, but there is a law in Nigeria under which all individual, institutional activities must be conducted: The Nigerian Constitution. So long as Oyedepo has not violated this Supreme Law of the land by his action, it is assumed that by consenting to attend Covenant University, you have accepted to play by the rules of Covenant University.But at the end of the semester, you must make 75% attendance, write the term papers, test and exams. If you 'failed well' you were placed on probation and asked to go home for 2 years, come back and repeat the level.

Academic Freedom Is the Bedrock of The Ivory Tower 4

Submitted by HJC (not verified) on December 31, 2012 - 14:00.

If you 'failed well' you were placed on probation and asked to go home for 2 years, come back and repeat the level. If you 'failed fairly', you were transferred to less rigorous departments (usually from the medical sciences to biological sciences, from engineering to the physical sciences, from law to arts and the humanities etc). BUT if you 'failed badly', you were advised to withdraw. And suddenly, all these norms and valuess that shaped many Nigerian professionals in Diaspora today fizzled out of Nigerian Universities. Licensing private universities without adequate supervision has further eroded the quality of our education.