UNILAG Reiterates Commitment To Ease Payment Of Reviewed Obligatory Fees

University of Lagos (UNILAG) management reiterates commitment to implement several measures to ease payment of reviewed obligatory fees, assures parents forum of quality service.

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Management has reiterated its commitment to implement several measures aimed at ameliorating the challenges that students and parents/guardians may face due to the recent review of the University’s obligatory fees. 

These measures include:

Payment by Instalment: the fees payment system is currently being re-configured to allow instalment payment options (three times before the closure of registration for the Second Semester).

Revitalisation of Work-Study Programme: The student work-study programme has been revitalised to accommodate increased remuneration. Interested students can access the program through the Dean, Student Affairs Division.

Scholarship Opportunities: Students have the opportunity to access various scholarship opportunities including the UNILAG Scholars Award for exceptionally brilliant students, through the office of the Dean, Student Affairs Division.

Assistance for Indigent Students: the University, with the support of its donor-partners, will continue its assistance programme for eligible indigent students. This programme includes the provision of funds, meal tickets and raw food items to indigent students. This will be accessible through the Dean, Student Affairs Division.

Triple A Project: Measures have been put in place for alumni and well-meaning Nigerians to adopt a student under the Triple A: Adopt an Akokite project.

The University has deployed the Pay for Mentors Project for smart students. Through this project, exceptionally brilliant students selected as mentors for other students will get adequate remuneration.

Partnership with Lagos Bus Rapid Transport System: To facilitate ease on transportation, the Management has acquired approval from Lagos State for additional BRT dedicated route for persons who come from Berger Bus Stop axis of Lagos State. In addition, the University is in discussions to have other routes such as Oshodi and Iyana Ipaja included.

The re-assurance was made on Thursday, August 10, 2023at an interactive meeting with a cross-section of executive officers and members of the UNILAG Parents Forum in the Senate Chamber, 2nd Floor, Senate House, UNILAG. The meeting was at the behest of the Forum, in a letter dated July 25, 2023.

While providing clarifications on issues and responding to enquiries made at the meeting, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Professor Lucian Obinna Chukwu accompanied by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), Professor Bola Oboh; Acting Registrar, MrsOlakunle Esther Makinde and Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Musa Obalola, expressed the University’s solidarity with students, and parents/guardians in view of the country’s current economic realities.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor underscored the need for an upward review of obligatory charges which was made after multiple consultative meetings with stakeholders of the university.  He recalled that the University Management had on February 16, 2023, held a consultative meeting with the Parents Forum on the proposed review in view of rising sundry expenses and high financial cost of municipal services such as electricity among others.

Professor Chukwu appreciated and acknowledged the efforts, and contributions of members of the Forum towards the many milestones recorded by the university over the years, and reiterated the University’s determination to ensure continued delivery of quality service. He also emphasized management’s willingness to meet and hold constructive discussions with its stakeholders including students and parents/guardians.

The Professor of Marine Science highlighted ongoing efforts to meet the increasing demands for students’ accommodation, as well as steps to create prospects for the acquisition of skills to prepare students for life after school. These include ongoing renovation of hostels and the introduction of online training opportunities such as Coursera courses at no cost to students of the University.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the UNILAG Parents Forum, Mr. Aderem iMoroof Olayiwola had described the meeting as a “family meeting”.  His words, “We, parents of the University of Lagos students are not oblivious of the astronomical decline in government funding while the cost of running Universities – cost of research, innovation, teaching and the provision of a conducive learning environment has skyrocketed or experienced hyperinflation. Yet, we expect a world-class university to be in place, survive and flourish. What a paradox.”

Mr. Moroof explained that the Forum requested for a meeting with management to get further clarifications on the reviewed obligatory fees and seek ways to mitigate its effect.

The UNILAG Management and Parents Forum Interactive Meeting is the latest in a series of engagements since the announcement of the upward review of the University’s Obligatory fees.

MySchoolNews reporting.