In a move that has sparked widespread controversy and concern, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has disclosed a substantial increment in school fees for the upcoming 2023 academic session.
The university administration has raised the fees from the previous range of 16,000 and 21,000 naira to a staggering ₦100,750 and ₦140,250 for undergraduates, respectively. College of medicine undergraduates are expected to pay ₦190,250.
The decision was revealed yesterday through an official bulletin statement from the university’s branch of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
The revelation has left students, parents and guardians shocked and dismayed. The new fee structure represents a significant fivefold increase for some programmes, leading to fears that it may hinder accessibility to higher education for many prospective students.
In the wake of the announcement, education stakeholders and students have taken to social media to express their outrage and frustration arguing that such a drastic increase will disproportionately impact students from low-income families, potentially forcing them to drop out or seek alternative, less reputable institutions.
Many fear that they may not be able to afford the new fees, putting their children’s dreams of a university education at risk.
For now, the fate of thousands of prospective UNILAG students remains uncertain as they await the university’s response to mounting pressure.
