Voice Air Media, VAM News Update

New students resuming at the University of Ibadan (UI) this month for the new academic year will pay as high as N412,000 per session, the institution’s Union of Campus Journalist (UCJ) has gathered.

This was confirmed by the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. ‘Keye Abiona during a call with UCJUI yesterday. While confirming that the new fees displayed on the portal of freshers resuming for the 2023/24 academic session are correct, he noted that “it’s only for freshers.”

The new fees displayed on the portal of freshers vary across different faculties within the institution. Some freshers have to pay a bundle fee of N372,000 with a technology levy and utility levy of N20,000 respectively accumulating to N412,000.

However, in some faculties, the total amount they have to pay ranges from N278,000 and N203,000.

Last year, new intakes at the University of Ibadan previously paid between N64,600 to N69,600. This change amounts to a hike of 492.5 per cent, with well-sought courses like medicine paying much higher than their counterparts.

The leadership of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union in a statement signed by the President, Samson Tobiloba, and General Secretary, Olaniyi Sodeeq, condemned the hike by the management.

“We note with concern that this increment represents about 450% – 750% of the previous bundle fee which ranged from about #20,000 – #30,000. This is coming at a period when several students are finding it hard to cope with the current fees regime, and increased cost of living in the country.”

The union condemns this increment in strong terms, and request that this proposed increment be reverted to the status quo.

“We are equally requesting for a meeting with the university management to resolve this issue. Greatest fresh students, we are by this release requesting you to exercise patience while we work to resolve this,” the statement read in part.