Ex-Ondo Polytechnic Students Protest Delay in Certificate Issuance 12 Years After Graduation
Some former students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), in Ondo State have staged a protest over the prolonged delay in the issuance of their academic certificates.
The affected graduates said the delay has significantly hindered their academic pursuits and career advancement.
According to the protesters, some of them completed their programmes as far back as 2014, while others graduated in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Despite repeated efforts to obtain their certificates, they said the institution has yet to release the documents.
Several graduates said the situation has prevented them from taking advantage of employment and further education opportunities.
Adeniyi Fadeyi, one of the affected graduates, described the situation as increasingly frustrating. He said he had already completed all required clearance processes.
“I graduated in 2019 and finished my clearance long ago. In April 2025, I visited the school to collect my certificate, but I was told there was no paper available to print it. Since then, nothing has changed, and we are still waiting,” Fadeyi said.
Another protester, Aina Waremi, said she had travelled from Lagos to the institution more than five times in an attempt to collect her certificate.
“Each time I go, I am given a different explanation, but I still return home without the certificate. It is frustrating and exhausting, especially considering the cost and effort involved in making these trips,” she said.
Olawale Julius, another affected graduate, appealed to the Ondo State Government to urgently intervene in the matter, describing the situation as a growing concern among the institution’s alumni.
Reacting to the protest, Olumide Olugosi, spokesperson for the polytechnic, said the delay was caused by the exhaustion of previously printed certificate materials.
He clarified that the issue was not due to a lack of paper but because the available stock of printed certificates had been fully used.
“The last batch of printed certificates has been exhausted,” Olugosi explained.
He added that the institution had already ordered new batches of certificate materials and that they were expected to arrive soon.
“Once the materials arrive, all outstanding certificates will be processed and issued accordingly,” he said.