The management of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, has suspended a lecturer captured in a viral video physically punishing candidates of the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) programme on the institution’s premises.
Drivetvnews gathered that the video which circulated widely on social media, showed several candidates kneeling with their hands raised while the lecturer struck them with a cane. The incident generated public outrage, with many Nigerians condemning the use of corporal punishment in an academic environment.
Reacting to the development, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde, described the lecturer’s actions as unacceptable. He stressed that students should never be subjected to physical abuse, noting that there are more appropriate disciplinary measures for addressing misconduct.
In a statement issued by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Halimat Garba, the polytechnic clarified that those involved were not regular students of the institution but IJMB candidates who reportedly arrived late for their ongoing examinations.
Despite this clarification, the management condemned the lecturer’s conduct, emphasizing that violence and physical punishment have no place within the institution’s disciplinary framework.
According to the statement, the institution is committed to fostering an educational environment built on respect, understanding, and constructive guidance rather than intimidation or physical force.
As part of immediate disciplinary measures, the lecturer has been suspended pending the outcome of a full investigation into the incident.
The management assured the public that the matter is being treated with utmost seriousness and promised to implement measures that would prevent similar occurrences in the future. It also reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the values and standards for which the institution is known.
