COVID-19: Unilorin gives palliative items to international students

The University of Ilorin has distributed relief items to international students of the institution who were caught in the lockdown occasioned by Coronavirus Disease pandemic and could not travel back home.
Presenting the items, the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Lanre Ajibade, disclosed that the relief was borne out of making life easy and meaningful for the foreign students, whom he said the university understood that they were home away from home.
Ajibade, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem, said the items would be handy and go a long way to assist them in addressing their wellbeing throughout the lockdown period.
The dean disclosed that the items include rice, beans, pepper, oil, garri, yams and beverages as well as games material for their leisure times, urging them to stay safe always.
Ajibade emphasised the commitment of the university’s management to take care of their health and wellbeing on the campus.
He advised them to respect existing rules guiding them as students of the university and enjoined them to always call on the unit for advice.
He warned them of the danger of COVID-19 pandemic, adding that it can be prevented with social distancing, hand washing and hygiene.
Prof. Felicia Olasheinde-Williams, the Director Centre for International Education, commended the management for the relief materials.
“Please see the training given to you by the university as a real privilege and consider other students as your brothers and sisters,” she said.
Olasheinde-Williams urged them to always respect each other at all times, abide by set rules, which she said would help them to greater heights, and see the university and Nigerians as their brothers.
On COVID-19, she urged the students not to panic, advising them to always call home weekly to keep their parents up to date on their plights.
She promised that the university would try as much as possible to make their stay pleasant and stress free.
The Director, University Health Services, Dr. Rasheed Odunola, advised them to always maintain high level of hygiene at all times and in case of any health issues they should always contact the school clinic and avoid self-medication.
He equally advised that those that smoke or drink should stop the habit as this constitute danger to people during COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chairman, Unilorin COVID-19 Committee, Dr. Idayat Durotoye, wished them good health, while urging them to always seek medical advice in case of any unpleasant symptoms.