Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The management of Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin has suspended a lecturer who was captured in a viral video physically assaulting candidates of the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) programme for arriving late to their examinations, a disciplinary action that has ignited widespread condemnation and renewed debate over the use of corporal punishment in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The video, which surfaced on social media on Monday, June 22, 2026, showed the lecturer caning several candidates who were kneeling with their hands raised while taking turns to receive strokes of the cane on their palms, according to a statement by the institution's Public Relations Officer, Hajia Halimat Garba.
The footage quickly drew sharp criticism from Nigerians across the country, with many questioning the use of physical punishment in an academic environment and calling for disciplinary action against the lecturer involved. The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde, condemned the lecturer's conduct in strong terms, insisting that students should not be subjected to physical abuse under any circumstance. "A lecturer in Kwara State Polytechnic asked IJMB students to kneel down and he beat them up with a cane. Such act is condemnable. Students are not animals and should never be treated as such. There are different ways to punish erring students, not beating them up," he wrote in a statement. NANS also acknowledged the rights of lecturers and students, adding: "As much as students must never assault lecturers or act rudely to them, lecturers don't also have the right to assault students. I hereby call on the Kwara State Polytechnic management to investigate this issue and sanctions should be made where necessary."
Reacting to the development, the institution, in a statement issued on Monday by its Public Relations Officer, Halimat Garba, clarified that the individuals seen in the video were not students of the polytechnic but candidates of the Interim Joint Matriculation Board programme who arrived late for their ongoing examinations. While noting that the reason behind the lecturer's action was yet to be fully established, the institution condemned the method adopted, describing it as wholly inappropriate and contrary to the values of the institution. "The Polytechnic stands firmly against any form of violence or physical punishment as a means of discipline," the statement read. "We believe that education should be rooted in respect, understanding, and constructive guidance, and that there are far more effective and humane ways to instil important values in students."
The management also announced that the lecturer had been relieved of his duties pending the outcome of an investigation into the incident. "The Polytechnic Management therefore suspends the concerned lecturer from his duties pending the outcome of the findings on this matter," the statement said. "We appreciate the concerns raised by stakeholders regarding this incident and assure the public that the matter is being taken very seriously." The institution further expressed its commitment to preventing a recurrence of such incidents in the future, reaffirming its confidence in the integrity and values for which Kwara State Polytechnic is known.
The incident has sparked widespread debate about the use of corporal punishment in Nigerian schools, with many Nigerians calling for its complete abolition in tertiary institutions. While some have argued that the lecturer's actions were a heavy-handed attempt to enforce discipline, others have condemned the use of violence as a disciplinary tool, pointing out that there are more effective and humane ways to address lateness and other forms of misconduct. The National Association of Nigerian Students has reiterated its position that physical punishment has no place in modern education, and has called on the management of Kwara State Polytechnic to ensure that appropriate sanctions are imposed on the lecturer if found culpable.
As of the time of this report, the investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the lecturer remains suspended. The polytechnic management has assured the public that it will take all necessary steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur again, while also upholding the rights and dignity of all students and candidates within its academic community.
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