By Daniel Whyte
The students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti say the poor state of mobile network in the university’s host community, Oye-Ekiti, is affecting the state of affairs in the school and its environs.
According to the students, the strength of the respective mobile networks available began to decline following the increase in the number of admitted students over the years specifically from 2017.
Some of the students have likened the state of things to the pre-GSM era of 1999 when it was impossible to reach their friends, families, and business partners via mobile telephony.
The issue of poor network coupled with poor power has been heartrending for the students as many of them claim it reduces productivity and frustrates efforts geared towards undertaking rigorous research.
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Speaking to TheCable, a student identified as Iretomiwa Dele-Yusuff, a third-year student of English and literary studies, said the “network issue is alarming and devastating” and it affects the students academically, financially, emotionally among others.
She said the rate at which the poor network leads to wastage of data subscription and in turn delays the rate at which assignment and group presentation is done as well.
She also recounted how she almost missed goods of about N40,000 on her popcorn business being sent from Ibadan because the driver couldn’t get in touch.
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“He complained that my phone was off while it was glaringly on,” she said.
Another student identified as Fagbamila James, a third-year student of Library and Information Science asked: “how can students be called leaders of tomorrow when they don’t have access to things they are supposed to have today?”
He also said the network issue makes it “very difficult to get in touch with your parents, your loved ones” among others.
He complained that assignments can only be done by midnight when students have to spend hours researching.
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He said the network issues have affected student businesses on Campus.
“Business wise, it has been a big problem for people calling from outside to reach me. I would gladly say MTN should come back to campus to give us back life because network is life for us,” he added while concluding that a good network service will simultaneously be of benefit to the service provider(s).
Students had earlier launched a social media campaign on Twitter tagged #MTNRescueFUOYE on March 1, 2018, with no positive change in the state of things.
The student again resorted to social media to query and notify the service providers of their pain. One of the students tweeted:
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It high time @MTNNG do something about our network… Over 15 thousand student has failed their duty just because of network within Oye Ekiti. Need to travel to Ado Ekiti to get things done like assignment and check some things online#RescueOyeStudent#MtnBringOurNetwork
— Bankole (@Mr_Fbj) May 9, 2019
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MTN responded by saying it was sorry about the network issue, promising that the same is being resolved.
Hello James, We are sorry about the network issue being experienced at Oye Ekiti. The issue is receiving attention. Feedback will be provided once available. ^SL
Advertisement— MTN Nigeria Support (@MTN180) May 9, 2019
We are are working towards having this issue resolved. Please bear with us. ^SL
— MTN Nigeria Support (@MTN180) May 9, 2019
Some of the students also called on other service providers to rescue the students in dire need of good mobile network reception.
Save Oye students
We have assignments to do
We have things to download@MTNNG @GloWorld @GlobacomNigeria @airtelnigeria please help fuoye students by helping Oye community in Ekiti state. Thanks. @IfeBolu01 @oapaynigeria @PremiumTimesng https://t.co/Poo02c250b— IfeBolu🇳🇬#EndFGM (@IfeBolu01) May 10, 2019
Hello, we would love to sort this out. Please share your mobile number via DM for checks and assistance. Thank you. ^Paul
— airtel_care (@airtel_care) May 10, 2019
Further Reactions
The aggrieved students among other persons who suffer the same plight have however used this medium to further express their agitations and to also call out on the other network providers.
If we are in the 21st Century and you really do want the students of #FUOYE perform and be leaders of tomorrow… Good service should be your priority.
Provide goods network
— Adaraniwon Oluwatosin (@iamadaratosin) May 10, 2019
It is very important that you address this issue. MTN used to be the pre-eminent network in the Oye-Ikole axis. Now it is distinguished for the terrible nature of its service.#EverywhereYouDontGo
— Harry Olufunwa (@holufunwa) May 10, 2019
Save Oye students
We have assignments to do
We have things to download@MTNNG @GloWorld @GlobacomNigeria @airtelnigeria please help fuoye students by helping Oye community in Ekiti state. Thanks. @IfeBolu01 @oapaynigeria @PremiumTimesng https://t.co/Poo02c250b— IfeBolu🇳🇬#EndFGM (@IfeBolu01) May 10, 2019
A network that cannot make calls conveniently, I wonder if it will surf the internet, no doubt . . Fix Oye community and serve the best service @MTNNG @GlobacomNigeria @AirtelNigeria @csm_ng @9mobileng @thevoicenaija #rescueOyeCommunity#saveFuoyeStudents#weDeservebetter
— 𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝘼𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙞 (@Sir_Rexpect) May 10, 2019
SUG Speaks
Oluwaseun Awodola, the students union president, told TheCable that the student leaders are working on efforts to salvage the situation.
He said series of meetings have been held with the management and calls have been placed to the network providers.
“MTN once came around when we were doing Fresher’s orientation”, he said.
He said the telecoms giant told the school authority that the masts in the region were in specific locations and reception has been good in these areas.
He also affirmed that the Globacom are currently installing a campus-wide Wi-Fi in the university and expressed hope that they would attend to the mobile network service as well.
Awodola assured the students that Glo network will be good in the region.
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