UNIBEN Students Besiege Wema Bank

Thousands of part time students of Management Science of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) on Friday besieged all the branches of Wema Bank in Benin to pay their fees.

The large number of students that crowded the ever busy Mission Road branch of the bank as early as 7.00 am, stalled vehicular traffic, just as traffic along Akpakpava Road was at snail speed due to the long queues of the students that stretched to the busy road.

Investigations revealed that examinations in the Management Science Faculty is due to begin today, and because of the ‘no-school fees-no-examination regulation’ is enforced by the university authority, the students rushed to all the branches of Wema Bank to beat the deadline. Security personnel of the bank had a hectic time keeping the students under control as they attempted to force their way into the banking premises.

One of the students, Gideon Victor, a 200 level student of Accounting who spoke to P.M.NEWS blamed the management of UNIBEN for not informing them on time which of the banks they should pay the fees into. According to him, many of the students kept their money with them for several weeks without knowing where to pay the money into.

“Last year, we paid our school fees into First Bank, Ugbowo branch, but this time they failed to inform us on time where to go to, only to tell us last week that it will be Wema Bank.”

He said, many of them might not be able to write the exams as the few branches of Wema Bank are finding it difficult to cope with the huge influx of the more than seven thousand students in the faculty.

The University of Benin image maker, Harrison Osarenren, could not be reached for comment, as calls made to his cell phone went unanswered.

—Jethro Ibileke/Benin