Eniola Olagunju 

The students of the University of Ibadan have come out in multitudes to protest against the fee hike, electricity rationing, and victimisation of students. While speaking with NASELS Press, the students cried out for help and pleaded with the management to make a total reversal of every hike in fee.

 Esther-200 level, Faculty of Education:

My fee is above 80,000 naira with other fees like departmental and faculty fees. The hike in fees is not comfortable and it is so sad to think about. It is not everybody that can afford this fee. Some people are self-sponsored, some were persuaded by their parents to come here because it is a federal school and now, it is so sad these parents cannot afford these fees. The economy is already hard and the school management is not being considerate at all. The fee must fall. The school management should reconsider and reverse the fee.

Anonymous – 100 level, Faculty of Public Health. 

My bundle fee is 238,500 naira, and technology and utility fees are 40,000 naira. The fee has affected me in many ways and I have not been able to pay. My parents are teachers and the fee is such a huge amount for them to pay. And it is not just the fee, you get to classes and find out you have to pay for some manuals and other miscellaneous items. To call home most times to inform my parent about these fees is inconvenient because they still haven’t found money for school fees yet. I am paying roughly 300k minus the acceptance fee and other fees and they have not gathered all that and I will still have to call for other fees in between. The management should please reverse the fees. Even if there will be an increment it should be reasonable. It is really unfair and suffocating. This protest is really needed and I hope the school hears our cries. My parent are not bankers, they should please reconsider. 

Moses- 400 level, Faculty of Arts.

My bundle fee is around 80,000. It has really affected me and not in a good way. I do not know how to get the money yet. The fee is over 100% of what I was paying when I got admitted to UI. It is really unbearable. As a finalist, it is expected of you to start taking some responsibilities for yourself in preparation for the outside world. So, I cannot put every burden on my parent. My parent are traders and I have siblings they cater for as well. It has not been easy combining studies with worries about the search for school fees. The management needs to do something about this fee hike. The fee must fall.

Following the reactions from students which had led to the start of a protest at the Trenchard Hall, their requests are centered across the below agendas as they reconvene for another round of protest after the School Management had earlier promised to give feedback after their meeting. 

1. A memo was passed addressing the information that stated that power supply be rationed. The information has been debunked.
2. About the hike in fee. The school management and the Student community will be reconveying again this afternoon for a resolution.
3. On the issue of GES and handouts. The students community has decided to boycott the statement that if students do not pay for GES fees and textbooks they will not be allowed to do registrations.
4. The fourth one is the issue of victimisation of students who protested peacefully. The student community resolved that they stop victimising them.
5. The last one is that there should be an independent union without any interference from the school management.