How Increase in Tuition Will Affect Our Studies: UNILAG Students Tell Neusroom
Amid the rising cost of living driven by inflation and the removal of petrol subsidies, which have caused severe hardship for Nigerians, particularly students, the recent increase in tuition fees by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) management has incited outrage among the students.
On September 6, 2023, a heavy presence of security personnel was observed at the main gate of the university, where students had planned to protest against the tuition fee hike.
UNILAG, one of Nigeria’s leading universities, founded in 1962, boasts notable alumni such as Tony Elumelu, former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the immediate past Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, and is ranked as Nigeria’s second-best university in 2023.
While there has been debate regarding subsidised fees for Nigerian undergraduates in tertiary institutions when compared with other countries, both current and prospective students have voiced their concerns and frustrations over how this policy change will impact their educational pursuits.
“The increment will personally affect me. The increase is tenfold the initial amount. From my 200 level to my 300 level, I paid ₦16,500 Naira as my school fees, but now I’ll be required to pay ₦200,000 Naira,” said Fejiro Sagua, a final-year Mass Communication student, in an interview with Neusroom.
One of the primary concerns raised by students is the potential impact on enrollment and accessibility to higher education. The previous tuition fees at UNILAG made it an affordable option for many aspiring students from diverse backgrounds. However, with fees now set at ₦200,000 Naira, many fear that higher education will become an unattainable dream for those from low-income families.
Sagua also expressed concerns that the increase might disrupt her studies.
Sagua, whose younger siblings recently gained admission to universities, including one in UNILAG, is contemplating ways to assist her parents in covering her educational expenses and alleviate the burden that the fee increase is about to impose on them.
“Two of my siblings were recently admitted to the university. Since they are freshmen, more attention will be focused on them. This means I am expected to find ways to support my educational needs, and I believe this will negatively affect my academics because I will need to allocate more time and effort to finding funds rather than studying.”
The tuition hike comes at a time when students are already grappling with significant financial challenges. Recent increases in petrol prices and the overall high cost of living in Nigeria have stretched students’ budgets to the breaking point.
“I believe this hike will impact almost everybody. While some can readily afford to pay, others may find it financially burdensome,” remarked Seyifunmi Soremekun, another student.
Soremekun believes that the increase may influence how some students learn and subsequently affect their academic results.
“For those who can pay, they have friends who cannot. Imagine someone like me who might have only two friends, and none of them can pay. This means I will attend classes alone, study alone, and I believe it will negatively impact my studies,” he added.
For Boluwatife Oyewole, the tuition hike means ensuring that she does not fail any course during her final year.
“It’s not like I’ve been failing before, but I can’t afford to fail even one course now.”
In UNILAG, failing a course during the final year automatically results in an additional year of study.
While Sagua believes that some students may drop out due to the fee hike, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka Ogunsola, assured during a press briefing held via Zoom on Saturday that no student of the institution, whether fresh or returning, will be forced to leave the university due to the tuition fee increase.
