UNIOSUN Bans Cooking In Hostels

The management of Osun State University has banned cooking by students in the university’s hostels across all campuses. The university, which has been a non-residential institution, made hostel accommodation compulsory for all new students at the beginning of the current 2020/2021 academic session.

In a memo signed by the University Registrar, Gafar Shittu, and addressed to all students, the management stated that the policy is not unique to the university. The management then directed occupants of the hostels to hand over their cooking utensils to the porters for safekeeping.

The memo titled: Prohibition of Cooking inside University’s Halls of Residence reads in part: “I write to inform all Students of the “No Cooking Policy” in the university halls of residence and as such Students are expected to abide by this policy. The policy is not unique to Osun State University.”

The memo continued: “Consequent upon the above, any student who contravenes the no cooking policy of the university will be evicted from the hall and may face the Students’ Disciplinary Committee for appropriate sanction.” 

The university has since directed the hall wardens to enforce the policy and ensure compliance of students.

However, students have continued to express their dissatisfaction with the policy, citing economic hardship, which makes buying food unsuitable. In an interview with a fresh student of Osogbo Campus who spoke anonymously, the student claimed that pleas for a reversal of the policy made to the university management fell on deaf ears. 

“They said they wanted to prevent fire accidents whereas we have been cooking since, without a single fire accident, the policy is more than meets the ordinary eye. Starvation of Students is the only thing I see that will result from the policy,” the student said.