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  • UNILAG reduces fees after NANS meeting

    UNILAG reduces fees after NANS meeting

    Authorities at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), have announced a reduction in the institution’s fees.

    This followed Thursday’s meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, met with student union led by the President of NANS, Usman Barambu to address the crisis over the hike in fees.

    In July, the university increased tuition fees. Previously students of the institution paid N19,000 but management fixed new fees at N190,250 for students studying medicine while for courses that require laboratory and studio, they are to pay N140, 250.

    Programmes that do not require lab and studio were fixed at N100, 750.

    The university in a statement on Friday morning by its spokesperson, Adejoke Alaga-Ibrahim, announced reduction of the obligatory fees for students, utility bills, convocation fees, hostel fees, among others.

    It noted that utility charges for all students have been reduced to N15,000 from N20,000 and convocation fees to be paid by all final-year students were reduced to N27,000 from N30,000.

    Read Also: Increased school fees: Police deploy officers to UNILAG

    The obligatory fees for new undergraduate students were reviewed from N126,325 to N116,325 for courses without lab/studio and N176,325 to N166,325 for courses with lab/studio.

    Also, the obligatory fees for returning undergraduate students were reviewed from N100,750 to N80,750 for courses without lab/studio; N140,250 to N120,250 for courses with lab/studio; and from N190,250 to N170,250 for medical / pharmacy students and students in health professions.

    The same goes for hostel fees for undergraduate hostels in the Akoka and Yaba campuses as students would now pay N43,000 instead of N90,000; for hostels in Idi-Araba campus, they would pay N 65,000 instead of N120,000 while the fees for Sodeinde Hall were reduced to N135,000 from N250,000.

    The VC also noted that plans were underway to reinstate students’ union activities.

    Ogunsola reiterated that no student would drop out , adding that measures to ease the payment of fees include an instalment payment option, scholarship, revitalisation of a work-study programme, assistance to indigent students, and partnership with Lagos Bus Rapid Transport System.

  • Increased school fees: Police deploy officers to UNILAG

    Increased school fees: Police deploy officers to UNILAG

    The police command in Lagos State has deployed its men to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to maintain law and order as students express dissatisfaction with an increase in their school fees.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the deployment on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said that the policemen were deployed to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    “The policemen were only posted to the campus to maintain peace and order.

    “They are not meant to restrict movement in and out of the school. People are going in and coming out freely,” he said.

    Hundeyin said that the students and the school authorities were discussing the increase in fees and working together to ensure that both parties would be satisfied at the end.

    Read Also: Fee hike: UNILAG spends N1.7b on electricity annually, says VC

    NAN reports that on Aug. 8, the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Council (NANS JCC), Lagos State Chapter, suspended its planned protest against increase in UNILAG school fees due to intervention by the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Idowu Owohunwa.

    According to Hundeyin, the commissioner met with the students’ leaders over the planned protest and assured them that he would meet with the university’s vice-chancellor to discuss their grievances.

    “One of the students (name withheld) in the delegation, who is an indigent student, was given a scholarship by the CP throughout his university education.

    “Based on this and others, the students’ leaders agreed to suspend the protest,” he said. (NAN)

  • UNILAG dons proffer solution to poverty 

    UNILAG dons proffer solution to poverty 

    Scholars from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) were among scholars from many parts of the world who took part in the China Forum hosted by the China-Africa Institute with the theme: “Achievements in Economic, Social and Cultural Development of Xizang in the New Era”. 

    The event was attended by scholars from universities in Sierra Leone, South Africa and business concerns from many parts of the world. 

    Read Also:Fee hike: UNILAG spends N1.7b on electricity annually, says VC

    The Vice-President of the China-Africa Research Institute, Beijing, Prof. Wang Xiaoming, who presided over the forum, observed that the central government, through President Xi Jinping, attached great importance to Tibet work to achieve all-round progress and historic achievements. 

    She said Tibet in recent times had enjoyed political and social stability, economic development, ethnic unity, religious harmony, solid border defence, and people living and working in peace and contentment. 

  • Fee hike: UNILAG spends N1.7b on electricity annually, says VC

    Fee hike: UNILAG spends N1.7b on electricity annually, says VC

    Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, has said the university spends N1.7 billion on electricity per annum.

    Speaking at a virtual meeting with reporters on Saturday evening, Ogunsola noted that the institution was also struggling with huge debts and under pressure to survive, hence it was imperative to increase fees.

    The VC said it was necessary to let the public know the state of affairs in the university following the outcry and recent protest that greeted the increment.

    In July, the university increased tuition fees. Previously, students of the institution paid N19,000,but the management  fixed  new fees at N190,250 for students studying Medicine, while courses that require laboratory and studio,  are to pay N140, 250.

    Programmes that do not require lab and studio were fixed at  N100, 750.

    Ogunsola said the university had maintained its fees for 15 years without increment, but “with the harsh economic climate in the nation,it was imperative to increase,”she said.

    Read AlsoFee hike: UNILAG spends N1.7b on electricity annually, says VC

    She added that parents, students, university unions and other stakeholders were briefed in January on the need to increase fees.

    She said even with the hike, there was still subsidy for students.

    “We spend N1.7 billion on electricity per annum, despite the fact that our street lights are solar-powered and we use low-energy  bulbs. Also, we have huge debts to pay. The harsh economic climate of the nation has affected the university, we should have been increasing our fees every year. We are under pressure to produce quality education,” she said.

    The VC said despite getting N150 million every year for overhead running costs, maintenance of the university gulps huge amount of money.

    “Maintenance of the university is where money is sinking. Hostel maintenance alone costs N500 million. The extra charges are to shore up dwindling government funds,” she said.

    Ogunsola reiterated the university’s commitment to excellent service delivery, adding that no student will drop out because of the fee hike.

    ” The revitalisation of our Work Study Programme  is ongoing. Students can now earn N500 per hour and they can work for 10 hours. Before,it was N200 per hour.Students can also register for the Indigent Student Package. Last year 600 students registered, over 200 were adopted. No student will drop out. We have made adequate provisions for indigent students,” she added.

    On Wednesday,  students of the university  took to the streets to protest the hike in fees by the authorities.

  • Fee hike: UNILAG spends N1.7b on electricity annually, says VC

    Fee hike: UNILAG spends N1.7b on electricity annually, says VC

    Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos(UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola has said the institution spends N1.7 billion on electricity per annum.

    Speaking at a virtual meeting with reporters on Saturday evening, Ogunsola noted that the institution was also struggling with huge debts and under pressure to survive,hence it was imperative to increase fees.

    The VC said it was necessary to let the public know the state of affairs in the university following the outcry and recent protest that greeted the increment.

    In July, the university increased tuition fees.Previously students of the institution paid N19,000,but management fixed new fees at N190,250 for students studying medicine, while for courses that require laboratory and studio, they are to pay N140, 250.
    Programmes that do not require lab and studio were fixed at N100, 750.

    Ogunsola said the university had maintained its fees for 15 years without increment,but with the harsh economic climate of the nation,it was imperative to increase.

    She added that parents, students, university unions and other stakeholders were briefed in January on the need to increase fees.

    Read Also: UNILAG denies claims of additional increment in fees

    She said even with the hike,there was still subsidy for students.

    “We spend N1.7 billion on electricity per annum, despite the fact that our street lights are solar-powered and we use low-energy bulbs. Also we have huge debts to pay . The harsh economic climate of the nation has affected the university,we should have been increasing our fees every year.We are under pressure to produce quality education,” she said.

    The VC said despite getting N150 million every year for overhead running costs, maintenance of the university gulps huge amount of money.

    “Maintenance of the university is where money is sinking. Hostel maintenance alone costs N500 million. The extra charges is to shore up dwindling government funds,” she said.

    Ogunsola reiterated the university’s commitment to excellent service delivery,adding that no student will drop out because of the fee hike.

    ” The revitalisation of our Work Study Programme is ongoing. Students can now earn N500 per hour and they can work for 10 hours. Before,it was N200 per hour.Students can also register for the Indigent Student package. Last year 600 students registered,over 200 were adopted. No student will drop out. We have made adequate provisions for indigent students,” she added.

    On Wednesday, students of the university took to the streets to protest the hike in fees by authorities.

  • Police teargas, disperse protesting UNILAG students 

    Police teargas, disperse protesting UNILAG students 

    Public outrage has greeted the firing of teargas canisters and rubber bullets on University of Lagos (UNILAG) students who stormed the streets to protest the hike in school fees.

    A solidarity group against the fee hike had called for the protest in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) following the 100 per cent increment in school fees.

    The university’s management in July increased fees citing “prevailing economic realities” as a reason for the hike.

    Angered by the development, the students who felt the school was being insensitive to their plights and those of their sponsors, staged a peaceful protest in front of the university’s gate at Akoka, Yaba, yesterday.

    They later marched towards the Atan cemetery where there was confrontation with police operatives.

    Although the police had claimed they dispersed the students to prevent the protest from being hijacked by criminal elements giving the alarm earlier raised by the Department of State Services (DSS) on plans by misguided individuals to cause instability in the country; Nigerians on the social media who came hard on the authorities, said the student’s constitutional rights to peaceful protest were violated.

    Read Also: Oyo Assembly clears Makinde’s commissioners

    Our Correspondent who monitored the protest, observed that the students bore placards with various inscriptions and chanted anti-government songs.

    It was also observed that police patrol vehicles were stationed with their operatives along strategic routes leading to the university.

    The Nation learnt that four protesters including Femi Adeyeye, Philip Olatinwo  and Ayodele Aduwo, were whisked away in a police van.

    Condemning the use of force on the protesting students, the  Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last general election, Omoyele Sowore, in a terse tweet said: “The Management of @UnilagNigeria and the @policeng must ensure immediate release of @activistfemi and others illegally arrested during #FeesMustFall protests that commenced at the university today.

    “The VC must know that these cowardly acts cannot stop the resistance against the newly introduced school fees.”

    Another Tweep, @Chukssowore, wrote: “Shame on VC of UNILAG for shooting at students peacefully protesting for their rights and future.

    Shame @jidesanwoolu Shame on @PoliceNG  

    “Education is a human right. Hike in fees is criminal, unconstitutional and an attack on the majority of masses to get an education. Democracy has failed.”

    Another user, Daniel, said: “Protest is a fundamental right, what the Unilag management is doing is oppressive and nothing short of evil. Chase poor students out of school and attack them for saying/ expressing their displeasure.”

  • PHOTOS: UNILAG students protest fee hike

    PHOTOS: UNILAG students protest fee hike

    UNILAG students protest fee hike

    Read Also: BREAKING: Police teargas, disperse protesting UNILAG students

  • BREAKING: Police teargas, disperse protesting UNILAG students

    BREAKING: Police teargas, disperse protesting UNILAG students

    A detachment of officers from Lagos State Police Command has dispersed students who converged on the University of Lagos axis over fee hike protest. 

    The operatives fired teargas to disperse the students. 

    A student solidarity group against fee hike was leading the protest in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). 

    They are protesting the astronomical fee hike at UNILAG. 

    UNILAG management in July 2023, increased fees citing “prevailing economic realities” as a reason for the hike.

    Read Also: One killed, another injured as police, youths clash in Lagos

    The Nation observed police had stationed their patrol vehicles with their operatives along strategic routes leading to the varsity. 

    With placards carrying different inscriptions, the protesters also chanted anti-government songs. 

    The Nation learnt four protesters including Femi Adeyeye and Philip Olatinwo — were whisked away in the police van. 

    The Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election Omoyele Sowore in a terse tweet said: The Management of @UnilagNigeria and the @policeng must ensure immediate release of @activistfemi and others illegally arrested during #FeesMustFall protests that commenced at the university today. 

    “The VC must know that these cowardly acts cannot stop the resistance against the newly introduced school fees.”

    Details shortly…

  • UNILAG VC prods students on N250m grant

    Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has advised students to take advantage of the N250 million grant given to the institution by the Bank of Industry to support creative and entrepreneurship ideas.

    Ogundipe spoke during this year’s Accounting and Entrepreneurship Summit for Students, organised by the Nigeria University Accounting Students Association.

    The event, with the theme: Technological advancement: The Nigerian economy and the future of the accounting profession, held at the main auditorium of the institution. It featured hundreds of students from tertiary institutions nationwide.

    Ogundipe, who noted that N50 million has been earmarked for training and renovations, added that the outstanding would be given as loans to start-ups among the students, depending on their proposal and cost required.

    He said: “We will be giving out loans between N1 to N2million to students that are able to come up with great innovative business ideas. We are also planning to register a limited liability company for our students while we will recommend experts to mentor them.”

    Ogundipe added that the summit was appropriate and in tandem with his vision as he concludes his maiden Professor Ogundipe Innovative Challenge (POIC) 2019.

    He boasted that UNILAG is well equipped to mentor and provide all the needed support for students with creative business ideas.

    He challenged participants to take advantage of the summit and the lineup of facilitators on ground to speak to them, adding that as youths, the future of accounting profession is in their hands.

    Head of Tax and Corporate Advisory Services of PwC Nigeria, Taiwo Oyedele challenged participants to open their minds, networks, share opportunities and be ready to diversify.

    He reminded the students that the accounting profession is a critical sector in every nation’s life, noting that understanding the economy, its complexity, trends and its opportunities, is imperative.

    Oyedele bemoaned the lopsidedness in the nation’s tax system which he said, favours the rich that pay less at the expense of the poor that pay more.

    A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) Joseph Aborowa challenged the students to develop the art of integrity as they prepare themselves for the marketplace, saying organisations fall and rise due to the premium they place on integrity.

    Some of the sessions during the event were anchored on: tax sustainability of the Nigerian economy; leveraging technology for business growth; integrity, learning and excellence which are keys to remaining relevant in the profession: and excelling in entrepreneurship, among others.

    In his words, the President of NUASA, Opeyemi Oderinde, said the programme was aimed at helping accounting students to keep abreast of the latest trends and issues in the profession so they could be more equipped to stay ahead.

  • Woman whose school was demolished by UNILAG gets N50,000 relief

    One year after taking refuge in a church, following the loss of her school which was built on a piece of land belonging to the University of Lagos (UNILAG), sold to her by unscrupulous locals, a school owner got respite from a group of educators, reports Kofoworola Belo-Osagie.

    On Tuesday, last week, the Concerned Parents and Educators (CPE) Network, a Facebook group of over 100,000 educators and parents, founded by Mrs Yinka Ogunde, donated classroom furniture, books and other items to low-cost schools under the Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED) across Lagos.

    The donation also came with N50,000, which Mrs Ogunde requested should be given to one school truly in need of funds.

    Last Friday, AFED National President, Mr Orji Kanu, and Alphasea Consult CEO, Mrs Esther Ifejola Dada, handed over the N50,000 to the Proprietor of Solid Rock Primary School, Iwaya, Yaba, Mrs Francisca Owolabi, whose school was demolished in 2017, when the University of Lagos (UNILAG) reclaimed its land encroached upon by its host community.

    Mrs Dada, who was the immediate past AFED President, urged Mrs Owolabi to put the money to good use to justify her selection as a recipient.

    “On behalf of CPE and AFED, we are giving you this N50,000. CPE members gathered this money apart from the materials they gave us for schools. It will please us that you make good use of it and we can return to thank CPE,” she said.

    On his part, Orji thanked CPE for coming to the aid of private schools that serve low-income members of the community as a result of the low fees they charge. He expressed joy that members of the public were beginning to appreciate the work AFED-member schools were doing in the society.

    “We handed over to our member who had a growing school that was demolished so she can get a facility from the bank.  We are beginning to get attention for what we are doing.  The only thing we have promised is to ensure good use of the funds. We will come back to you in two weeks to know what you have done with it,” he said.

    Mrs Owolabi was overjoyed at the gesture, which she said would contribute towards renting a place for the school’s use as the 2019/2020 session begins next week.

    “I am so glad for this gift from Mrs Ogunde and CPE.  I say may the Almighty God bless them forever,” she said, overjoyed.

    Mrs Owolabi said after losing her property, she relocated to a church but was given quit notice as the 2018/2019 academic session ended in July.  She said the population of the school, which charges between N11,000 and N15,000 for a term, dropped from over 100 to 30/40 because of the crisis.

    “The land was sold to me by omo onile but UNILAG said it owned the land so the school was demolished in August 2017.  Since then I had to relocate to a church where I paid rent of N200,000. But they said they wanted to use the church.  At the end of the 2018/2019 session in July, they locked me out.”

    Mrs Owolabi said she would order furniture with the funds as well as complete work on securing a loan from the bank.

    “I still have a long way to go but this will help. I will start with chairs and tables.  AFED President has already linked me up with a bank to get a loan. If the bank answers me, I will be able to pay for the place we have found.  I wanted N500,000 but the bank can only give me N300,000,” she said.