The attention of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has been drawn to a cruel and inhumane statement credited to the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, wherein she reportedly stated that universities seeking financial stability must charge students not less than ₦1 million in tuition.

As the President of NANS, representing and advancing the interests of millions of Nigerian students, I find her position deeply disturbing and completely out of touch with economic realities. NANS states without hesitation that Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello goofed.

It is deeply regrettable that a former Vice-Chancellor, a parent, and a mother who should embody empathy, could publicly advocate for pricing public education out of the reach of average Nigerians.

The Irony of Commercializing Public Education

It is unfortunate to witness beneficiaries of accessible public education become advocates for its commercialization:

"Many of those who enjoyed free or heavily subsidized education are the ones now standing at the forefront of commercializing it. One must ask Prof. Olatunji-Bello how much she paid during her undergraduate days. Was the education that prepared her for her career commercialized or priced at such exorbitant rates?"

Education is a public good and cannot be commercialized. Students must not be forced to bear the burden of administrative and financial deficits confronting tertiary institutions.

Innovation Over Fee Hikes and Safeguarding NELFUND

While universities require adequate funding, the solution lies in administrative innovation, not shifting financial burdens onto students:

  1. Federal Government Interventions: The Federal Government continues to invest heavily in public education and established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to make education accessible to all students regardless of background.
  2. Institutional Innovation: University management—particularly Vice-Chancellors—must think outside the box and innovate revenue-generating ventures rather than resorting to arbitrary tuition hikes.
  3. No Exploitation of NELFUND: Managements must refrain from viewing the availability of NELFUND as a license to inflate tuition fees.

Demand for Retraction and Call on Institutional Leaders

NANS calls on Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello to immediately retract her statement. Public office and academic leadership demand empathy and visionary problem-solving, not policies that disenfranchise students.

Furthermore, NANS urges the management of tertiary institutions nationwide to completely discard her proposal. The student movement remains resolute: education must remain accessible to every Nigerian, and NANS will resist any attempt to price students out of classrooms.

Signed:

Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, GCNS

President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)