EKSU VC Defends Tuition Structure, Says Fees Remain Among Lowest Nationwide

The Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, Professor Babatola Ayodele, has defended the institution’s tuition framework, stating that current charges remain relatively affordable when compared with the actual cost of delivering quality university education in Nigeria.

He made this known during a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti, where he addressed concerns surrounding tuition levels amid rising economic pressures.

According to him, internal cost assessments indicate that the real cost of training students far exceeds what is currently charged, with substantial government and institutional subsidies bridging the gap.

He disclosed that it costs approximately ₦6 million to train a medical student, while programmes such as law and neuroscience require about ₦3 million per student. Education-related courses, he added, cost roughly ₦800,000 per academic session.

Professor Ayodele warned that without realistic adjustments to funding structures, the university system could face sustainability challenges. “Something must be done, otherwise the system will finally collapse,” he said.

He further argued that EKSU’s fees remain significantly lower than those charged by private universities, where medical training can range between ₦7 million and ₦8 million per session. He added that programmes such as law, nursing, and other science-related disciplines often cost between ₦5 million and ₦6 million in private institutions, while EKSU charges between ₦500,000 and ₦600,000 for comparable programmes.

“When you compare what we are doing here with other universities, our fees are still very cheap,” he noted.

In a clarification aimed at addressing student and parent concerns, the Vice-Chancellor confirmed that tuition fees for the 2025/2026 academic session remain unchanged, maintaining the same rates as the previous session.

The statement underscores ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s public university funding model, as institutions continue to balance affordability with rising operational costs.