Tag: UDUS

A graduate of Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto(UDUS) is committed to ridding his environment of waste and recycling same. His focus is on converting plastic waste into reusable items through a tech-driven approach,while creating public awareness on the importance of recycling. WONDERFUL ADEGOKE (UDUS) reports.

Amidu Muhammad felt the prickle on his skin when he had fallen into a drainage filled deep to the surface (ground) level with nylon and plastic waste materials. Pressed and desirous of urinating at night (on his way to Abuja), he had stopped by, knowing that it could have been a different story, had a child been involved.

It was hard  explaining to people as confused as he was that he had fallen into a ditch far-away from the surrounding gutters. But there he was,  facing reality by what has become the norm on roads in local and urban communities across Nigeria.

“I didn’t realise I was six feet down,” he recalled. This was a push behind a grim truth, painful than the  memory it evokes.

His experience, though one among many, embodies the mission of PlatiBuilds Creative Solutions Limited, a youth-led innovation incorporated on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in October 2023, and focused on converting plastic waste into reusable items through a tech-driven approach, innovative climate solutions, and public awareness.

According to the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LASMA), 10,000 tonnes of waste is churned our from his state of primary residence. The agency places the figure at even more severe risks, reporting that only 40 percent of daily waste is collected by municipal government.

A Personal Conviction Turned Advocacy

26-year-old Amidu Muhammad founded PlastiBuilds in 2018 after witnessing a surge  in  plastic management and recycling in sub-urban communities in Lagos State.

That it was common knowledge that the waste crisis he experienced while growing up in Bariga was  actually worse, as the young ones who lived there earned below the minimum wage or not even close to it, and all that could be prioritised, in the moment, was surviving on their shoestring budget, barely sustainable.

The organisation now explores possible ways of putting some of the trash to good use, providing residents with not only a variety of options at their disposal but also ensuring the waste no longer clogs drainages whenever there’s a heavy rain.

“Instead of pouring the heaps of waste (at midnight) into drainages or the tip of canals that gets flooded,”  Amidu told CAMPUS LIFE, “since we can’t live with them, why can’t we use the waste materials for something else?”

“Our approach as a tech-driven waste transformation company aligns with the standard ways of exploring the waste economy all over the world. We transform waste into functional products such as footwears, furniture, interior decoration items, among many others, to create wealth in megacities like Abuja, Kano, Lagos.”

Read Also: World Customs hails Nigeria’s report on ports efficiency

A climate activist and wastepreneur, Amidu holds a B.Sc degree in Education and Extension Services from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS). His diverse training has enabled him to transform personal conviction into structured advocacy.

Beyond field interventions, his firm  has streamlined waste sorting, collection, and disposal to ensure compliance with the Environmental Permanence Index for improved sustainability and to lessen the scale of waste draining.

As a social venture, part of its  preventive strategy involves building the confidence of investors in the recycling industry. Through its diversification, not only does the group supports SDG 12, but it also reduces the risks linked to exposure to the pollutants that weakens the immune systems, increases the rate of birth defects, among many other health deficiencies found in people living in a garbage-filled environment.

Through his contacts and the newfound need for investment to curtail the public health implications, he said: “People need to understand that technology makes waste debris more functional. Integrating tech into products helps people out of emergency; it offers more values to customers and guarantees safety, as a single product could be integrated to serve other purposes.”

Persistent Challenges

Over the years, PlastiBuilds has gained recognition for its widespread impact, securing grants such as the Nigeria Youth Academy’s N1million start-up grant.

Despite its achievements, the public perception seemed to have made their efforts look like idle promises. “From the onset, our communities have gotten it all wrong about waste management,” he lamented.

Amidu, seeking to launch Nigeria’s first Digital Waste Upcycling Hub and Makerspace in Lagos, urged the government and education stakeholders at all levels to integrate the information into the realm of public awareness.

“Till today, plastic is still the cheapest form of packaging; it’s inevitable. The question shouldn’t be about the problem but what could be done to manage the problem,” he explained.

To reach more people through persistent advocacy, PlastiBuilds hopes to instill one truth: This—plastic is a product that can remain in the system for years—is a problem to be shared to avoid its ripple effects bouncing back.

For students at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), it is a battle for survival with mosquitoes turning the nights into a battle ground. Thus, they  wear multiple layers of clothing  to protect themselves from the bloodthirsty mosquitoes. HASSAN TEMITAYO(UDUS) reports.

Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) is situated in the heart of the northwestern part of Nigeria, a region known for its intense heat and extreme cold. For residents, the rainy season is more bearable compared to other seasons. Sadly, they, alongside students have to contend with  bloodthirsty mosquitoes.

The reason for this seasonal fluctuation in mosquitoes population is not far to seek. There are  tall millet crops planted around student residential areas during rainy seasons, providing more breeding sites for insects.    

Olagunju Kabir Oladeji, a final-year Law student, has observed a troubling rise in mosquito activity around the millet fields during the rainy season. He avoids the area completely, believing it increases the risk of malaria.

 “The mosquitoes are unbearable. They disrupt night classes and make studying at night almost impossible. I’ve had to use insecticide and sleep under a mosquito net, but even that doesn’t fully help,” he said.

Kabir noted that either he or his friends have recently suffered from mosquito-borne illnesses. He firmly believes that the university should remove or relocate the millet fields.

“It would be a welcome development. Walking near the millet field at night is dangerous. The tall crops make it easy for mosquitoes and even criminals to hide,” he added.

Olatunji Yusuf of  the Department of Public Administration, said  students residing near the millet fields in the Benji area, are experiencing a significant and alarming increase in mosquito activity during this rainy season.

Yusuf significantly noted that the  situation is severely disrupting their daily routines and poses a serious health risk to the community.

He stressed that the prevalence of mosquitoes has created an environment that is not conducive to academic pursuits or personal well-being.

Jamiu Oloyin, an Accounting student confirmed that there is usually a significant increase in mosquito activity around the millet fields during the rainy season.

Jamiu stated that to protect himself, he has taken personal measures such as using a mosquito net and applying mosquito repellent to his body. However, these precautions proved insufficient, as he personally contracted malaria and was sick for approximately five days.

Given his experience, he believes that removing the millet crop from the area would be a suitable course of action by the university.

According to a report by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), people get malaria when bitten by an infective mosquito carrying the malaria parasite. This means an already infected anopheles (female mosquito) spreads malaria by biting a perfectly healthy person.

Maryam Umar Ayomide, a 400-Level Law student, also avoids the millet fields entirely not only because of the mosquitoes but because she believes the area has become a hideout for criminals.

“I don’t go to night classes anymore.The area is too risky. The mosquitoes are terrible, and the crops provide cover for people with bad intentions,” she said.

Maryam protects herself by wearing socks and covering her body completely. She, too, has experienced or witnessed malaria among her peers and believes the university must act quickly.

Lamaz Arisekola, another 400-Level Law student, expressed displeasure over the situation.

“Avoiding the millet fields is impossible; the crops surround the hostels and even reach their entrances,” he said.

Lamaz said this affects students’ academic life significantly, as they cannot read or study for long without being bitten by mosquitoes. He noted that despite wearing nylon socks, thick trousers, and long sleeves, the mosquitoes persist.

 “I’ve been here for three years.

No protection can stop these mosquitoes completely. The school clinic is full of sick students. I’m also a victim,” he said.

According to the Severe Malaria Observatory (2024 World Malaria Report), Nigeria bears the highest global burden of malaria  accounting for 25.9 per cent of all estimated cases and 30.9 per cent of global malaria deaths. This is an adverse impact of farming in residential areas which brought mosquitoes and subsequently-malaria.

Lamaz urged the university to remove the millet fields, emphasising that “different settings require different purposes; a residential area cannot serve as farmland.”

He also warned that walking through the fields at night is unsafe, as the tall millet stalks give cover to criminals who often rob students of their phones and valuables.

Rofiah Abdullah, a 400-Level Agriculture student, has also noticed the growing mosquito menace.

 “The problem worsens during the rainy season,” she explained. “The millet fields attract mosquitoes, and they’ve also become a hiding place for ‘Yaro boys’ young men who rob and harass students.”

The threat, she added, has discouraged many students from attending night tutorials.

“My roommate and I recently recovered from malaria,” she said. “This isn’t just about comfort, it’s about health and safety. The university should really assess the situation and consider moving the crops or creating better safety measures.”

Read Also: ‘Nigeria can leverage Islamic finance to deepen inclusive economic growth’

Night classes that once buzzed with activity are now nearly empty. Sellers around Benji close their shops early, unable to bear the evening swarm of mosquitoes.

Ridwanullahi Ayobami of the Education and Chemistry Department noted that the mosquito problem around the millet fields has become too much, to the extent that you can’t even sit down outside.

He said : “I absolutely avoid the area, primarily because the bushy environment creates a perfect habitat for dangerous animals like snakes, which now have a higher chance of being there”.

This situation has directly affected his studies. He makes sure to read inside the school in the afternoon whenever he doesn’t have lectures, as he has completely stopped reading at night.

He also said to protect himself from mosquitoes in his room, he uses a mosquito net and sprays insecticides regularly.

A statement by Zakariyau Dauda, Founder of UDUS Antimicrobial Resistance Stewards, said the situation poses both direct and indirect risks to students.

“The direct risks include a high incidence of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases, leading to symptoms like severe fatigue, anemia, and various skin and allergic reactions. The indirect effects are a significant economic and social burden due to frequent illness and healthcare costs, coupled with reduced focus, comfort, and productivity that impairs cognitive function and academic performance.

“However, from the perspective of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) stewardship, this issue presents an even more insidious threat. The high frequency of malaria infections leads to a corresponding increase in the consumption of antimalarial drugs.

“In an environment of self-medication and incomplete treatment courses common among students seeking a quick return to classes we create perfect conditions for the selection of drug-resistant malaria parasites. This misuse and overuse of antimalarials is a primary driver of AMR, rendering first-line treatments ineffective and escalating the risk of severe complications and mortality. “Therefore, the millet fields are not merely a nuisance but a significant public health challenge. They act as an epidemiological trigger for a cascade of negative outcomes, from immediate academic disruption to the long-term, global threat of fostering drug-resistant strains of disease. Addressing this breeding ground is not just about student comfort; it is a critical intervention for disease prevention and a vital act of antimicrobial stewardship to protect the efficacy of our essential medicines.”

The only student at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) with dysarthria, Murtsla Umar Isa is in dire straits. He has spent so much on treatment. The 500-Level student has called on the state government and school authorities to assist him. WONDERFUL ADEGOKE (UDUS) reports.

Life for Murtsla Umar Isa took a drastic turn in 2023 after a ghastly motor  accident in Sokoto left him unconscious in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for six months.  Closed to tears and slightly inured to the satirical jokes he’s now exposed to, he sheds light on what he’s coming to terms with.

27-year-old Umar,  an indigene of Isa Local Government Area (LGA) in Sokoto State, had gone to buy items for Iftar during the globally observed Ramadan fast.

However, had he known what the day held, and been more observant, he would have banished all thoughts of going along the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) axis on that particular day.

According to him, the accident happened around 5:30 pm that fateful day. That was all he could recall before being drenched in a pool of cold blood. Umar had been in the company of someone whose identity he withheld.

Most striking was his repeated emphasis on one word: “twice.” “The vehicle ran over us twice. After that, we were all unconscious,” he said.

Speaking through hiccuped sobs in the silence that followed, Umar pouted, reflecting on how life constantly reminds one of his mortality: death by motor accident.

“No,”  he said when asked about the driver. “The driver, after this very bad act, quickly left,” he added.

He wore  a disdainful look — enough to explain why no complaint was filed with the police. “The driver thought I was dead, or that I would die,”  he said.

Umar began receiving medical treatment at UDUTH. But soon after, the supposed joy that came with responding to care and having close relatives around began to shrink into a mix of sniffles.

“Most of the expenses were from family,” he lamented, unsure if the word he planned to use — ‘suffering’— truly captured ‘jarabawa’, the Hausa word he earlier said best described his situation.

Life before the accident

With burning zeal, Umar, the third child in a family of seven, graduated from Unity Secondary School, Karaye, Kano State, in 2014, dreamt of becoming a medical doctor, hot like fire in his bones.

He had memories of gaining admission to study Human Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), in 2016, coming in a dreamlike burst.

Narrating his early days, he laughs: “All my colleagues and juniors know me.”

What he remembers most is the surprise on people’s faces at his academic performance. “I was being considered a Professor of Medicine,” he said.

Things, however, took a downturn during his clinicals — 500-Level.

The main issue of concern for Umar is his education. He remains committed to salvaging what’s left, though at a cost.

“This thing happened when I was in 500-level,”  he said.

Umar is still in the same class simply because he was away for two years receiving medical treatment.

“Not a repeat. It’s just now that I’ve returned to studying,” he said.

Read Also: NCAA launches sports week to boost staff productivity

‘Still receiving care, but focused on my studies’

“Treatment cost a lot. We spent N4.6 million before I even regained consciousness,” he said.

All expenses, he said, were sourced from within the family, not a single kobo was raised through fundraising.

He spoke highly of his elder brother, Yaha Aminu Umar Isa, a married man who works as a secondary school teacher with five years of experience.

Umar, however, found himself ensconced within the four walls of the hospital.

Though recuperating, Umar is still battling dysarthria and now attends speech therapy at  the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Ward at UDUTH.

CAMPUS LIFE understands from medical report that dysarthria is a condition resulting from injury or damage to organs involved in speech production.

Being developed in adulthood makes it difficult for the person to be understood by others, leading to speech that may be distorted, omitted, substituted, or include accessory sounds.

Further observations by our reporter reveal that dysarthria also affects the ability to control voice volume and even influence the pace at which the person walks.

When speaking, he is one of about 600,000 adults in Nigeria that experience some difficulty, including tremors of the lips or jaw, rapid eye blinks — involuntary actions that can’t be controlled.

Umar’s expression confirms that stammering comes with a sense of grief because the country’s educational system has no place for anyone who will take at least two minutes or more to say a word than their contemporaries.

When probed about stigmatisation from classmates or whether he avoids speaking, asking, or answering questions in class, which he admits affects his academic life, Umar simply responds: “Everything is life.”

Umar is glad that after enduring the early stage of treatment, he’s now seeing signs of improvement.

“They are stimulating and vibrating my tongue and throat with the phonetics of the alphabet. I’m improving now. Just a few letters remain that I still struggle with. I don’t pronounce them properly, sometimes, I mix them up. But even the ENT unit commended my progress,” he said

Umar now uses a vibrator and stimulator to improve control and mobility of his lips and tongue to produce sounds accurately.

He’s half excited, though improvement has come at a cost. “Yes, I’m still on treatment. I’m finding it difficult to speak in public,” he said, speaking of the present challenges.

As a clinical student required to attend routine ward postings, Umar said the speech difficulty also affects his ability to study and engage with patients.

Appeal for support

Umar acknowledges the efforts of universities that support studying and learning and appeals to the management of UDUS and the state government for assistance. He seeks funding for treatment, support with learning materials, and the ability to continue his care while pursuing his studies.

“Yes, most universities support studying and learning. Because of this illness, I need support and help to continue studying and learning, to become a good doctor,” Umar added.

Student leader wades in

When contacted, Aminu Muhammad Zurmi, a final-year student of Human Medicine and President of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Medical Students’ Association (UDUMSA), acknowledged the challenges faced by students with special needs.

“Exams are in written formats, but medical students also have compulsory oral assessments they must take,” Muhammad explained.

However, when asked about UDUMSA’s role in advocating for such students, Muhammad feigned ignorance.

“Technically, we haven’t identified any till now, so we haven’t derived measures to be carried out,” he said.

The delay in the processing of results of final-year students at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), has cost them many opportunities. The distraught students have urged school authorities to address the issue. WONDERFUL ADEGOKE (UDUS) reports.

“They requested my statement of result, but I couldn’t provide it,” recalls Wahab Afolabi, a graduate of Computer Science at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS). The disappointment welled up months after writing his final-year exams, excited about kick-starting his career, but held back, waiting for the school management to release his statement of result.

Afolabi held back  tears when he discovered that he had lost the competitive graduate training job he once hoped for and had earlier applied for  in March 2025.

Read Also: Senate moves to amend procurement law to support local contractors

“I wrote the CBT assessment in May 2025 and was shortlisted among the successful candidates,” he told CAMPUS LIFE, his voice heavy with sadness. “I received a short interview mail but could only submit the form without filling in the notification of result section.”

Being a go-getter, Afolabi remained optimistic, though his expectations were short-lived.

Recalling the aftermath, he explained sadly: “Till now, I have not gotten any response from them, and I know it’s because I couldn’t provide my statement of result, that’s why they didn’t get in touch with me.”

Afolabi’s experience is not new. Imamshafi Lukman, also a graduate of Education Biology at UDUS is a  witness.

Lukman said he had to stop applying for some scholarship programmes because of one major requirement he deserved but couldn’t produce: “my evidence of graduation, which is the notification of result.”

The Unicaf Scholarship, among the many opportunities he has missed, still brings him to tears.

“If I should count, the first one is Unicaf Scholarship that I stopped the application when it reached the stage of uploading documents that required my notification of result or certificate,” said Lukman, silently brooding over the stakes he had, provided transcripts were also available at that moment.

However, Lukman said it all occurred even after he reached out to Malam A. M. Jibo, his research project supervisor. Jibo explained that the delay was due to the time required for results compilation and assured him it would be out in a few weeks. He waited  in vain; the Unicaf Scholarship had slipped far beyond his reach.

Graduates  of UDUS, an institution established in 1975 and known for character and learning, go through a bureaucratic process to obtain their results.

It’s worth noting that results are only issued when several documents are submitted to the school through the appropriate channels. These include the school ID card, Form 02, verified Remita payment receipt, verification certificate, and the end-of-course clearance form.

Before these can be submitted, each document must be signed at various offices, starting with the student’s faculty, the Students’ Affairs Division, the Bursary Unit (where documents are submitted at the accountant’s office for clearance and verification), the school clinic, the library, and then, the Student Union.

Though worried about what’s lost, his concern over the delay raises questions about the backlash many face when asked which National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) batch they’ll register for.

A graduate, who wouldn’t want to be named for fear of being accused of denting the school’s image, said  both the institution and  its graduates suffer from the delays

The graduate, who completed his final-year exams in November 2024, had to wait until last month  equivalent to an academic session in some universities — before his result was released.

“Oh yes, I got so many gigs. One of them was for an Academic Research Editor role in Lagos,” he said, his enthusiasm reclining at the remembrance of a missed target.

“The Opportunity Funds Nigeria was also a program I was supposed to have top hands on. But I couldn’t because it required notification of results,” he said.

According to the graduate, the varsity’s slow system of processing results is costing them prospects.

 “The pattern of issuing results in UDUS is limiting so many opportunities for graduates. It also prevents the school from being represented on bigger platforms,” he said.

‘I just have to accept it’

When asked why she settled for her present job when she could have gone for something better, Veronica Aanuoluwa Ajibola, a graduate of Science and Vocational Studies, bluntly confessed: “I don’t like staying at home doing nothing.”

Aanuoluwa, now based in Lagos State, earns N65,000 for a job she does as a degree holder. “It is  not as if I like it. But I just accepted it just to be doing something with my time,” she said.

Two months ago, she also worked as an adhoc staff during the 2025 JAMB registration exercise because despite having access to job opportunities, she could neither proceed nor join the first batch of the mandatory youth service.

“You may want to go with the first batch (for NYSC) but when the notification of result is not out, what can I do?” she inquired.

Another source, who sought identity protection, said the delay is most likely due to lateness in marking.

The source said: “Once your faculty sends your result to Senate, Senate will approve it. It usually takes a week or two. Once that’s done, within a few days, you’ll be allowed to collect your result from Permanent Site (the main campus).”

The source further explained that graduates at the School of Medical Laboratory Science (SMLS) began collecting theirs a week before their induction, though it came months after writing their final-year exams. Some collected on behalf of others, some a day after the ceremony, and some on the very day.

The delay, the source added, affected their applications for internship placements. “Some of us nearly missed chances at ABU,” the source noted.

“Even the ‘To Whom’ letter used during internship applications wasn’t helpful. We were given ‘To Whom’, which isn’t acceptable in most places. Even Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) didn’t accept it,” he said.

However, the source believes more should be done. While he appreciates the school’s efforts, he cites the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), which releases notification of results within two months of graduation, as an example UDUS can follow to fasten the process and better support its students.

“We need improvement. The delay is frustrating,” he added.

Dean stays silent

All attempts made by our reporter to reach the Dean of Students Affairs,

Prof. Umar Aliyu,  for comments  proved futile. As of press time, he had not yet responded to the messages sent via WhatsApp.

• By Wonderful Adegoke

A few years after gaining admission to study Computer Science at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) in 2021, Toluwase John Olagbile began pursuing the long-time interest he’d had in promoting environmental sustainability.

Growing up, John, an indigene of Irepodun Local Government Area, Omu Aran, Kwara State, witnessed many people burn valuable, recyclable items such as plastics, cartons, agricultural waste products, and metals. This was largely due to the lack of proper waste disposal systems in the rural region, where dustbins or baskets were scarce. When burnt, these materials release harmful air pollutants, contributing to smog and acid rain and other harmful effects. “Creating value from waste materials makes the environment clean and enhances good health, because a dirty environment causes illness,” says John. Thus, he founded Jhonks Limited, an environmental sustainability initiative established on August 8, 2024, to reduce pollution by promoting recycling and  reuse through efficient collection and responsible disposal of inorganic waste, thus preventing the billions of metric tons of human waste generated annually from polluting the  ecosystem.  John noted that the continuous dumping of heaps of refuse on the roadside and in unauthorised areas poses a huge risk to a  rapidly growing population.

The initiative  addresses this challenge by impacting the economy through an avenue created for people to make money while reducing environmental pollution and allowing them to sell their local waste in exchange for cash.

Read Also: Senate okays Rivers electoral commission chair-nominee amid protest

“Moreover, our efforts to eliminate household waste addresses the harmful effects of certain plastic products,” he added.   John noted  that some chemicals used in the  production of plastics are linked to endocrine disorders, despite their usefulness in nonstick cookware. Highlighting their waste management approach, the 21-year-old said:  “The way we transform waste into valuable products does not involve the traditional sense; we partner with manufacturing industries, then sell waste materials to them through our web and mobile application.”

Over time, Jhonks, a company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, has gained a wider audience based on its approach in the recycling sector that’s attracting foreign manufacturers and investors. However, despite plans to reach more communities, his team laments the limited access to recycling facilities.

“Though we are currently in six states and planning to scale up our operations. Getting access to adequate recycling facilities remains our biggest challenge,” he said.

Apart from securing partnerships, Jhonks creates jobs for people. From a users perspective, those who sign up as agents on its website are assigned to sellers and receive payment.

John credits the engagement with local communities to the awareness created on its  social media platforms and collaboration with organisations. He  believes that the government’s investment in waste management—such as providing tax incentives for businesses focused on recycling and waste reduction, developing recycling facilities, and offering grants to organisations using tech to reduce waste, would reduce waste pollution in Nigeria.

• By: Usman Yakubu Usman

Lateefa Bagidi, a final-year student at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), was frustrated when her school decided to increase tuition  last month. Last year, the increment was from N35,000 to N56,000. This year, the fee rose again from N56,000 to N87,000. Her mother bemoaned the situation, “You are not the only one in school, what about your siblings?” 

The student was distraught, completing her education was under threat.

“The only reason I am going back to school now is because it’s my final-year, if not, I might not even resume again,” she said.

It was no longer possible for her to resume this month for lectures, rather, March ending, close to semester examination.

According to her, there is no guarantee of resuming with the complete fees. “The fees have already diverted my attention from resuming early. And paying that kind of amount is something that is very stressful,” she said.

Also, when Durojaye Mustapha, a 200-Level student of Mass Communication saw his tuition fee, rising from N56,000 to N73,000. His attention went back to many of his coursemates that are sponsoring themselves. This could lead to students dropping out.

In all indication, after the increment of last session, Durojaye didn’t expect UDUS to join the list of tertiary institutions that increased their school fees again. According to him, some unnecessary expenses on the breakdown of the school fees can be cut out to make it affordable for students.

“The school management should reduce it by removing some avoidable items that add up to the registration fee, such as sports fee and the likes. I think the management is in the best position to provide an answer to this,” he said.

A student at  the Physics Department, Buhari Aliyu, reflected on the  challenges he is facing trying to raise the fees. Almost 75 percent of his sponsorship lies  on him. Hence, he  begged the management to reduce the school fees.

‘‘If the school management knows how many of us are studying under hard conditions they will really cry for us. We are praying for the university to hear us out. Our hands are tight,” he said.

Aliyu added that the school should consider their situation as most of them were not like other students who enjoy scholarship from their   states.

Due to the increment, many UDUS students are likely to resume very late. While others whose parents have two or more children in the school are now facing an uphill battle trying to sponsor their wards’ education.

As raised by the students themselves, those who are just starting their undergraduate programme may abandon it  as a result of the  hike in tuition fee.

According to a report,  18 per cent of tertiary institution students in Nigeria are dropouts due to financial troubles. Whereas, with the continuous rise in tuition fee in universities, the numbers of dropouts will likely increase. 

Recently,  Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke disclosed that 50 per cent of students may drop out in two years due to  hike in tuition fees. 

Read Also: UDUS students mourn lecturer

“If nothing is done about these heavy fees being introduced by schools all over the country, in the next two or three years, more than 40 to 50 per cent of these children who are in school today will drop out,” he said.

More troubles for education students

Also, at the time of writing this report many final-year students from the Faculty of Education and Extension Service (FEES) were complaining about the unnecessary addition of Teaching Practice (TP) fee added to their fees. They said they  have paid for the exercise in the previous session.

Ganiyat Idris Olufunke, a 400-Level student of Education Economics was dumbfounded when she saw her registration portal displayed N98,000 instead of N81,000. “Before it was N81,000 but now we are seeing N98,000 in our portal which is not supposed to be like that.

“The 400-Level students are not doing TP anymore. So, why did they add the TP fee again? It shocked me seriously. Our parents will think we are trying to dupe them,” she said.

Another 400-Level student,  Yahaya Gaddafia, noticed the addition of almost N8,400 of TP fee in  the breakdown of his school fees, despite having paid last session.

“How can we pay for the TP fee again after we paid last session? We saw it on the breakdown of our final year school fees and we have  already gone for our TP last session. Please, the school should do something about it,” he pleaded.

Students call for review of tuition fee

Students have called on the university to consider a review of tuition fee. Thadeus Terna, a 400-Level student, urged the students’ union to be brave enough in finding a way out for the students.

“It’s going to cause a lot of damage to us. It’s not easy for our parents. How I wish there’s a way the students union can  bring  our plight before the school management,” he said.

“I don’t know when I am going to resume yet. The school fee is high and money is scarce. I am uncertain about my resumption. Now I have to get money for foodstuff, logistics and registration fees. It’s hard. They should reduce it please”, Aisha Abdulrasheed, a 200-Level student at the Agricultural Science Department said.

Parents beseech management

When Mal. Abdullahi Jibrin from Kaduna, whose son, Mohammad Jibrin is studying Agriculture at UDUS, realised the danger posed by the increment, as a man catering to more than 10 children in different schools, he became puzzled on how to sponsor them all at the same time.

He expected the school management to be more innovative enough in finding other sources to fund the university without overloading parents with high  fees. He urged  the Federal Government and other stakeholders to support education.

Mr. Junaidu Hamidu, a guardian to Yahaya Gaddafi of  Mathematics Department was equally agitated by the sudden increment.

His words:”We are struggling hard to get what to eat, now the school management is pushing our children back home, which one are we going to deal with?”

“Why is the school trying to stop our children’s education? The authorities should look at it and assist us by reducing it.”

UDUS management speaks

Concerning the  increment, the management through the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Umar Aliyu, said: “The management has already communicated its stand on the issue to the students’ union’’.

Also, when this reporter asked about the sudden increase of the TP fee of education students who are currently in their final year, the Dean said : “We are not aware of this. We will find out”.

We wrote  to  management — SU

In response to the management reaction, the Chairman of Students’ Union Caretaker Committee (SU-CTC), Ibrahim Sanusi said:  “The union wrote a letter to the university management, appealing on behalf of the students for the review of the school fees incremen.

“Subsequently, we were invited and deliberated on the letter. We are now waiting for their final response,” he replied.

However, when further asked on the management stance  on the issue, the SU chairman refused to reply.