…lampoon outgoing VC, management over neglect
The University of Uyo is facing heavy criticism following a viral Facebook post and an emotional testimony from a current student, who revealed the shocking absence of student-accessible toilets on campus—a situation that has sparked outrage and concern among students, alumni, and education observers.
The revelation came through a heartfelt message shared with a social media influencer known for engaging university-related issues with “decency and a large audience.” In the message, a male student recounted a distressing experience during a Mathematics class:
“I got really pressed and wanted to use the restroom. Sir, to cut the long story short I couldn’t find any… I quickly boarded my way home to get comfort and I couldn’t get home because I found it difficult to even walk. I had to use the nearest bush for the first time in my life. Sir guess what, I was caught and embarrassed.”
The student went on to express sympathy for female students, questioning how they manage such situations in a university with no accessible restrooms.
“I pity them because it’s difficult for them. Sir please I humbly plead that this message should be given the necessary attention.”
The post, now gaining traction online, challenges the university’s management directly: “Dear Uniuyo Management, Don’t act surprised like this guy here. Why are there no toilets on campus for students? That’s the commonest thing any public institution like a school should not lack. Or are you waiting for ex-students to come and donate as ‘Home-Coming’ appreciation?”
This comes months after a Year One student was praised for donating a whiteboard to a classroom—an act that, while generous, raises uncomfortable questions about the university’s inability to provide basic infrastructure.
In response to the post, several students have begun speaking out. A 300-level student in the Faculty of Education, who asked not to be named, confirmed the dire sanitation conditions:
“We sometimes have to use restaurants outside the school or trek to far-off faculties just to find a functioning toilet, and even those are often locked or unhygienic.”
Another female student from the Faculty of Arts lamented:
“During my period, I’ve had to leave school entirely just to clean up properly. It’s embarrassing and totally avoidable if only the school provided decent toilets.”
Beyond the lack of toilets, students and staff are raising fresh concerns about the condition of the university’s physical environment itself. According to multiple students, the Town Campus, Annex, and Permanent Site of the University have been overtaken by thick bushes and wild vegetation, creating ideal habitats for snakes, rodents, and other dangerous reptiles.
A student of the Faculty of Science described the alarming situation:
“Sometimes, we sit in class and see snakes crawl past the windows. The campus is turning into a forest, and nobody is doing anything about it.”
Students accuse the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, of complete indifference toward the deteriorating state of the university.
“Perfect. Town Campus, Annex, and Permanent Site have been turned into forests where reptiles live but the Vice Chancellor doesn’t care,” a student wrote under the viral post.
Critics are calling for immediate action, warning that this level of neglect not only endangers the health and safety of students but also brings shame to the institution’s name.
Attempts to get an official response from the university management as at press time proved abortive, as calls and emails to the school’s Public Relations Officer went unanswered.
Meanwhile, student unions and advocacy groups are reportedly preparing a formal petition to the Vice Chancellor, demanding urgent infrastructural improvements—starting with clean, functional toilets and an aggressive cleanup of the overgrown campuses.
The University of Uyo, a federal institution and one of the most prominent in southern Nigeria, is now at the center of a scandal that cuts to the heart of student dignity, public safety, and responsible leadership.
As one student bluntly put it:
“It’s not a luxury to have toilets in school. It’s a necessity. We deserve better.”
