Chief Adekunle Funmilayo, a lawyer, has threatened legal action against the University of Lagos (UNILAG) over a compulsory study abroad program that requires second-year students in the Russian language department to spend a year in Russia. Funmilayo has also called for intervention from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The controversy centers around a university policy that mandates 17 second-year Russian language students, admitted in the 2021/2022 academic year, to study in Russia as a condition for advancing to the 300-level. Funmilayo argues that this requirement is problematic due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which he says poses a significant risk to the students.
In his petition, Funmilayo highlighted concerns over the safety of traveling to Russia amidst the conflict and criticized the university for not considering the economic burden and psychological impact on the students and their families. He claimed that students face the choice of either traveling to Russia or facing expulsion, a situation exacerbated by the current economic hardships and unstable foreign exchange rates in Nigeria.
“The anticipated cost for this program could exceed N20 million, an amount that is beyond the reach of many Nigerian families,” Funmilayo stated. “The university did not inform students of this requirement at the time of admission, and the policy should not remain inflexible given the current circumstances.”
Funmilayo has urged President Tinubu to intervene and reassess the mandate, suggesting alternatives such as allowing students to switch to different courses or complete their studies without traveling to Russia. He has copied his petition to the National Assembly, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and various UNILAG officials.
If UNILAG does not address the issue within a week, Funmilayo has vowed to pursue legal action to challenge the university’s decision.
