Students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have expressed outrage after discovering a massive, unannounced increase in tuition fees for the 2025/2026 academic session, with some programmes now attracting charges as high as ₦406,888 per session.
The university’s management reportedly uploaded the new fee structure quietly on its payment portal without any public notice or explanation, a move that students say shows “disrespect” for their struggles amid Nigeria’s worsening economic situation.
A Short Deadline and High Inflation
The new charges come at a time when inflation is at a record high, with food, rent, and transportation costs soaring. For many students, the timing couldn’t be worse.
“The worst part is the deadline,” another student complained. “The portal closes in less than two weeks, and late registration starts from October 11 to 17. How do they expect us to raise that kind of money so fast?”
Parents and guardians are also struggling to meet the new financial demands, as most students rely on small allowances or part-time work to survive.
What Students Will Now Pay
Below is a breakdown of the new tuition rates:
- Agriculture – ₦278,888
- Computer Science – ₦263,388
- Biochemistry – ₦252,000
- Food Science – ₦284,888
- Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) – ₦389,000
- Pharmacy – ₦406,888
- Physiotherapy / Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) – ₦326,084
- Optometry / Microbiology – ₦252,388
Humanities and Social Sciences students also face steep increases:
- English Education – ₦234,064
- Yoruba Language – ₦259,064
- Political Science – ₦235,000
- Criminology and Security Studies – ₦239,000
- Marketing – ₦244,064
- Linguistics – ₦259,064
- Health Education – ₦249,388
- Plant Biology – ₦255,888
- Geophysics – ₦249,000
For foreign students, tuition has skyrocketed to ₦1.2 million per session.
“Education Is Becoming a Luxury”
Students accuse the management of turning UNILORIN — once seen as one of Nigeria’s most affordable universities — into an institution for the rich.
“How can civil servants earning ₦70,000 a month afford ₦200,000 school fees?” a 300-level Education student asked. “Even private universities give proper notice before increasing fees. UNILORIN has become a business centre, not a university.”
A National Education Crisis
Observers say the development mirrors a deeper crisis in Nigeria’s public education system, where underfunding has forced many federal universities to raise tuition without adequate government oversight.
“This is not just a UNILORIN issue,” said a final-year student. “It’s happening everywhere because the government has abandoned education. They talk about youth empowerment, but how can youths learn when school fees are this high?”
Students also pointed fingers at the NELFUND loan scheme, saying university administrators now feel emboldened to raise tuition since the loan was introduced.
“Not all students qualify for NELFUND,” a student explained. “Some applications were rejected, and those approved haven’t received the money yet. So, how do we pay ₦279,000 before the deadline?”
“A Betrayal of Public Trust”
With the new rates rivaling those of private institutions, many students fear dropping out if the policy isn’t reviewed.
“This is a betrayal,” one final-year student said. “Federal universities were meant to give ordinary Nigerians access to education, not punish them for being poor.”
As protests simmer online and on campus, students are calling on the Federal Government and university authorities to urgently reverse the fee hike — warning that the cost of education in Nigeria is fast becoming unaffordable for the average family.