Students of the University of Ibadan in Oyo State staged a peaceful protest on Friday in response to the recent tuition fee hike approved by the institution’s management. The students expressed their discontent by carrying placards with messages such as “We Say No Tuition Hikes,” “The Management Is Insensitive To Our Plights,” and “Our Parents Cannot Afford The New Hikes,” as they blocked roads leading to the university campus.
The protest caused significant disruption, with the main entrance to the university being blocked, forcing many people to walk long distances to reach their destinations.
The tuition fee hike, approved by the university’s governing council on Thursday, has been met with strong opposition from the student body, who argue that the increase is unjustified given the current economic challenges in the country. The students have vowed to halt academic activities until the management reverses its decision.
One student from the Department of Human Nutrition, who spoke anonymously due to fear of victimization, shared that the tuition fee had more than doubled. “During the 2022/2023 session, we paid N58,000, and now for the 2023/2024 session, we were asked to pay N138,350,” she lamented.
Another student from the Department of Animal Science reported a similar increase. “In the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, we paid N70,000 for the 2022/2023 session, and now for the 2023/2024 session, it has been increased to N150,000,” he said, noting that many students have yet to pay the new fees due to financial difficulties.
The protest comes amid growing concerns over the affordability of higher education in Nigeria, with students calling for the university management to reconsider the fee hike to avoid further disruptions to their education.
