Students at the University of Ibadan in Oyo State have launched a fresh protest following the university governing council’s endorsement of a recent fee hike.
The demonstrations began at midnight on Friday and were reportedly sparked by a circular issued on Thursday by the council’s secretary, G.O. Saliu.
The circular, obtained by Saving Point Media, revealed that after a meeting on Thursday, the council had “considered the reviewed schedule of levies for newly admitted and returning undergraduate students in the 2023/2024 academic session and approved it as recommended by the university Senate.”
It further urged students who had yet to pay their fees and complete registration to do so by Wednesday, September 4, 2024, to allow departments to prepare for the first semester examinations.
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The council justified the fee increase by citing the current economic conditions and encouraged students to utilize the Federal Government’s student loan fund and other scholarships offered by the university and various philanthropists to support those in financial need.
In response to the announcement, students took to the streets, gathering in large numbers from the hostels and marching around campus while chanting solidarity slogans and songs.
Videos sent to correspondents showed students expressing their discontent, with one student heard saying, “You have not paid your school fees, and you’re sleeping?”
This protest follows an earlier demonstration in May against a similar fee hike, during which three students—Olamide Gbadegeshin from the Institute of African Studies, Aduwo Ayodele from the History Department, and a female student, Nice Linus—faced a disciplinary panel for their involvement.
Speaking on Friday, Aduwo Ayodele confirmed the ongoing protest, stating, “The University of Ibadan students, as of 12:37 a.m. today (Friday), are protesting. We are protesting against the ratification of hiked fees by the council. This is in response to the Governing Council’s release.”
In April, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) condemned the fee increase for the 2023/2024 academic session, calling it “outrageous” and citing the financial strain it placed on families already struggling with economic challenges.
The new fees, ranging from N230,000 to N412,000, were deemed “unacceptable” by NANS Public Relations Officer Victor Igbudu.
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