The management of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, has defended its decision to increase tuition fees for new students in the 2024/2025 academic session, attributing the adjustment to rising operational costs and the need to augment government funding.
In a statement released on November 24, 2024, and signed by the institution’s Head of Information and Corporate Affairs, Bode Olofinmuagun, the university described the fee hike as necessary and moderate.
According to Olofinmuagun, the fees for fresh students from Ekiti State now range from N247,500 for the Faculty of Education to N982,500 for the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
For non-indigenous students, the new fees span between N307,000 for Education and N1.13 million for Medicine and Surgery.
“The decision to increase fees was taken to complement the monthly government subvention to the university, which has been raised by Governor Biodun Oyebanji,” the statement read.
Olofinmuagun highlighted the financial pressures faced by the university due to inflation and surging costs of goods and services.
“Operational costs in the university have risen by about 200 percent, yet the Governing Council only adjusted fees for fresh students by 50 percent,” he explained.
He emphasized that the fee increase was crucial for maintaining quality and upgrading facilities to ensure the institution remains competitive.
“The university needs to stay relevant among global universities, and this requires state-of-the-art facilities and quality services,” Olofinmuagun said.
The spokesperson clarified that returning students and acceptance fees for new students were not affected by the adjustments.
He noted that the fees at EKSU remain competitive compared to other state and federal universities.
“Many private secondary schools in Nigeria charge higher fees per term than what we have set as annual fees for our fresh students,” he added.
In an appeal for understanding, Olofinmuagun urged students and stakeholders to remain calm amidst reactions to the fee hike. “We ask for patience and understanding as we implement this necessary adjustment,” he said.
