Twenty-four students, expelled by the university management for various misconducts, have now been given the chance to finish their academic studies, according to Bells University of Technology in Ota, Ogun State.

Prof. Jeremiah Ojerinde, the Vice Chancellor of the university, stated this in an interview with Daily Independent in his office on the sidelines of the institution’s 17th convocation and 20th anni­versary celebration.

Speaking on how the universi­ty has fared in the last years under his watch, Prof. Ojerinde, whose tenure will end in 2026, said as part of the institution’s welfare approaches to issues and chal­lenges facing students and staff, the institution embarked on the amnesty to give erring students a second chance to return to the school and complete their aca­demic programmes under strict conditions.

He stated, “Our amnesty pro­gramme was initiated based on our welfare-oriented approach to issues.

“Some students were expelled in their final year, and for the anni­versary, we asked what we can do to alleviate the suffering of the af­fected students. We said that if you are expelled in your final year, you can come back, but with the caveat that you must obey our rules.

“A few of the students who are affected have almost finished their programmes.”

According to Prof. Ojerinde, one of the students who was grant­ed amnesty has finished his final year thesis.

“One of them even finished his project at that time before he brutalised somebody. Considering our zero-tolerance and welfare ap­proach to issues, approximately 24 of them are now receiving amnes­ty from the university.”

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the promoter of the uni­versity and former president, was commended by the vice chancel­lor for enduring 17 uninterrupt­ed convocations and 20 years of establishment as the first private university of technology in the country and a hub of academic excellence.

“He showed gratitude to the en­tire academic staff of the univer­sity for their unimpeded journey for 20 years, despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s global shutdown”, the VC said.

He stated that he anticipates Bells to acquire patents for de­signing and owning things in his aspirations.

“That is on my mind. Bells has started doing things that can be mass produced as entrepreneurs”, he said.