In those days, a student of any reputable University in Nigeria enjoys a number of privileges, ranging from free feeding, free tuition, free housing and many others. The question is; where are they today? Ditto to the above, students are treated like kings and queens in those days, they are given exotic cars to drive immediately after graduation as we learnt, numerous jobs await them after the completion of their academic career. The question still remains where are those beautiful things today?

With the current dire situation faced by students, specifically undergraduates in prospective Nigerian universities today, one might come to think and ask himself that, When did students become riff-raff in the society. It is only in an insane society like Nigeria, students become subjects of social ridicule, are subjected to dehumanisation and psychological trauma all in the name of acquiring basic knowledge.

In sane societies like Saudi Arabia, the United States among others, the welfarism of students is an utmost priority to the government. This is due to the fact that, these countries' governments know fully well that, students - particularly the readers among them - are the leaders of tomorrow.

Looking at the case of Nigerian universities, one might come to conclude that Nigeria is an insane society. Education is an essential part among the different parts that made up the society. The Functionalist theory advocators therefore held that when the educational institution is affected, all other parts that hold the society, thus serving as pillars will eventually be problematic in the nearest future.

The utmost welfarism of the citizenry is a salient role to be carried out by the Government of a country. Similarly, the welfarism of the students is a compulsory task to be executed by the Management. The case of the University of Ilorin's students has revealed that students are no more worthy to the management of the institution. Students are conveyed to their various homes by trucks meant for transporting sands, granites and cows. I repeat, when did students become Cows and Sands?

Bad transportation system has been one of the challenges battling the institution in the recent past. One should expect the University authority to have overridden this problem for long because the institution is an embodiment of Sociologists, Social Workers and co who proffer solutions to social problems birthed by Social interaction and integration.

At least, the University authority should have adopted the Bottom - Up approach - consulting the students and seeking their opinions on the solution to the problem on ground - in mitigating against this social anathema and malady resulting to students' failure in the academic parlance.

Some students due to the bad transportation system were not able to attend classes fixed and slated for morning, having it in mind that this does not deter and hinder some lecturers from conducting tests when they feel the class population is scanty. Indeed, the transportation imbroglio has been a factor responsible for the array of carry overs that could be gotten in some courses.

This week, some of my colleagues and I had to wait for an hour or beyond before getting a single bus that will convey us to school. Funny enough, the amount incurred on transport expenses is a shocking and enslaving one. Buses meant for N50 are now N70, the one for N100 now N120. Spending N200 or above to just go in and out of the school is indeed alarming. This excludes the expenses incurred on feeding and some miscellaneous.

This "together we can mantra" by the Students Union officials cannot work unless you fight for our welfarism which is the main reason you are voted for. In order not to make the whole scenario appear as if this critism is destructive, I hereby proffer some solutions to the transportation system of the University.

- More buses should be bought by the University authority in order to make the number of buses available enough for the conveying of students in and out the school premises. During my 100 level days, our school buses were up to 5 or 6 if I am not mistaken, now we have just 3 available. Where are the others? Should they be decreasing or increasing?

- There should also be adjustment in the timetable in a way to make some people free for a day so as to reduce the huge number of people going to the school for a particular day.

- Freshers too should be orientated. This is Unilorin, an higher institution, not your secondary school. In secondary schools, you must be present in school everyday. But in Unilorin, if you have a lecture-free day, you can "chilax" for your house FAA!. We don't mark register here.

- More external private entrepreneurs should be allowed to venture in the business of transporting the students in and out the school. Where is Simply Move?
- The number of candidates admitted to the University should also reduce "if" their welfarism - transportation - cannot not be catered for.

By so doing, buses will be awaiting students, and the case will not be on the contrary that students will be awaiting buses to convey them. This should be the normal direction! Also, the issue of the students being treated like Cows and Sands in terms of transportation will reduce to the bearest minimum.

This is the awful situation we find ourselves in. As distant as the school gate is to the main study vicinity, some students deemed it fit to trek it after they have been perturbed by the frustrating and infuriating transportation condition of the institution.
If the solutions contained in this text are strictly followed, then together we can curb the problem of transportation in Unilorin.

From a concerned Unilorite!

Together we can!

Yesterday at 10:17a