- LAUTECH's governing council and Senate announced a significant hike in tuition fees for 300-600 level students for the 2024/2025 academic session, with indigene students paying ₦168,000 and non-indigenes paying ₦204,000
- The announcement triggered widespread reactions, particularly on social media, as students and the public criticised the increase amid Nigeria's rising cost of living, questioning the rationale and timing of the decision
- TheRadar compiled some reactions from students and Nigerians alike regarding the increased fees
Oyo-based Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has announced a sharp increase in tuition fees for its 300-600 level students, a decision that has sparked widespread reactions across social media and beyond. According to a release from the university's Governing Council and Senate, dated Thursday, November 7, 2024, the new fee structure sets the cost at ₦168,000 for indigene students and ₦204,000 for non-indigenes, to be implemented in the 2024/2025 academic session.
The timing of the fee hike has fuelled public discontent, given Nigeria's already rising cost of living. Students have taken to social media platforms to voice their frustration, lament the financial burden, and seek government intervention. The announcement has also reignited debates around the indigene versus non-indigene payment structure.
A wave of responses on social media captures the sentiments of those affected.
People react to LAUTECH fee increment
TheRadar compiled the different reactions from netizens to the increased tuition fees.
@ irislens__:
“Yesterday’s price isn’t today’s price. Person wey drop out no sabi Wetin God do for am.😂💔”
@ Sympah:
“What’s the idea behind the indigene and non indigene payment structure?”
@ em_leumas:
“Increment in tuition fee, without any significant development all-wise.”
@ _iadeolu:
“Indigene vs. Non-indigene in 2024. Nigeria is not a serious country.”
@ iam_Oyedepo:
“Good evening sir @seyiamakinde, please sir help us look into this well, this shouldn't be the right time for this increment. Please and please sir not all Parents/Guardians can afford this.. Thank you so much sir, God bless Oyo state.”
“If the we keep mute, the same thing will repeat itself at the beginning of a new session.. Disbanding the SUG is a power move by the school to pull this off. Medicine Freshers paying over 780K for school fees is wild.🤔”
@ __oluwadarey:
“My tuition was 65k before they increased it to 90.. so if I dey school now, I go dey pay 168k. God will punish APC and it's supporters.”
“Ahhh we paid ₦7,500 some years back @nerdy_deb see o.”
“For the same quality of education, lol!🫠”
@oladyussuf:
“Tribalism can't end in Nigeria, that's the truth.”
@ Abiola_AA:
“How much freshers go come pay? Lobatan o.”
“Federal govt don de loan student money now, e don reach make states de increase school fees.😏”
The diverse reactions encapsulate the challenges faced by many Nigerian students and their families as they navigate an increasingly difficult educational landscape. The LAUTECH fee hike has become a rallying point for broader conversations about affordability, transparency, and equity in education. Whether or not these public outcries will result in action remains to be seen. For now, the voices calling for change continue to amplify.
Sympathy as Nigerian students struggle as fees skyrocket, UI undergraduates resort to crowdfunding
Meanwhile, TheRadar previously reported on how UI students resort to crowdfunding to meet up with the rising school fees, especially as the school management set a time frame for the payment of the fee.
The attempt of students in raising money for the increased fees raised several reactions from netizens who sympatised with them and criticised the inflation that has hit almost every sectors in Nigeria.
