Renike, who uses the X handle @renny_theVA, claimed in a follow-up post that “they are looking for me” after her earlier criticism of the event, warning that there was “no freedom of speech again” and asking the public to hold the government responsible if anything happened to her.
The student had earlier criticised the Renewed Hope Students’ Leaders’ Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme for the South-West Zone, held at EKSU on Wednesday, September 30, saying students had been led to expect laptops, money and bags but that the event did not match those expectations.
According to Renike’s account, the programme was scheduled to begin at 10am but did not start until around midday after a prolonged registration process. She said organisers later announced that only “nominees” would receive laptops and required them to submit explanations on official school letterhead stating why they needed a computer.
Renike questioned why the nomination requirement had not been communicated to students beforehand, saying she left the venue after becoming dissatisfied with the process. She subsequently posted photographs and commentary about the event, drawing attention to the materials distributed to participants.
She said students received branded shirts, caps, jotters, table water and rice, while she estimated that fewer than 50 laptops were visible at the venue. Renike questioned the emphasis on branded materials and other items, arguing that the programme should have prioritised the provision of computers if its central purpose was digital empowerment.
Her criticism, however, came as reports from the event stated that no fewer than 50 students received free laptops as part of the Federal Government’s digital acceleration programme. The Presidency’s Senior Special Assistant on Students’ Engagement, Sunday Asefon, also promoted the initiative as part of Tinubu’s digital education agenda.
In her latest post, Renike claimed that her criticism had now attracted pressure from APC and Federal Government-linked individuals and that she was being sought over the post. She urged Nigerians to pay attention to her safety, although the claim of an official directive or direct involvement by Tinubu, the APC or the Federal Government has not been independently established.
Renike’s allegation comes as the controversy surrounding the EKSU event continues online, with competing accounts over the number of students who received laptops and the way the programme was organised. No formal response from the APC, the Presidency or the organisers specifically addressing Renike’s allegation of threats had been established at the time of publication.
Ekiti, Nigeria
