Students protest fee increment at University of Ibadan, Boycotts classes

Students at the University of Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State have been protesting in the streets since the university governing council decided to raise school fees for the 2023–2024 academic session. It was reported that fees were raised from N230,000 to N412,000, which sparked reactions among the student body. The Students’ Union rejected the decision made by the governing council in a statement dated August 30, 2024, which was signed by the union president, Aweda Bolaji, and issued through the General Secretary, Ogundijo Dolapo Japheth.

“The students decided that: We reject the decision issued by the governing council,” it states in part, “during the demonstration held on August 29, 2024, from 10:20 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. “Total boycott of classes till our demands are fulfilled,” the students said. The statement claims that the children are calling for the school fees to be reversed. The students demand that unless our demands are addressed, the school fees portal be shut down in less than a day. “Until our demands are met, we will not stop the protest that started on August 29th. Students are urged to utilize social media to the fullest and are required to use the hashtags #UIFEESMUSTFALL and #SAVEUITES.

The mobilisation will begin at five o’clock on Friday, and the Students’ Union will make its resources available, he continued. The revised schedule of levies for newly admitted and returning undergraduate students for the 2023–2024 academic session, as recommended by the university Senate, was approved by the council; this was announced in a circular released by the council secretary, G.O. Saliu, on Thursday, following a meeting. According to the circular, students who still need to pay and finish their registration should do it by Wednesday, September 4, 2024, so that departments can compile lists of enrolled students for the exams in the first semester.