The University of Calabar, Unical, recently declared a significant surge in undergraduate tuition fees, surpassing the 100% mark. This development, as conveyed in a statement by the university’s spokesperson, Effiong Eyo, was formally announced on Monday in Calabar.
The decision to revise the fees was reached during an emergency meeting of the university’s Senate convened on Friday, as highlighted in the released statement.
This adjustment is slated to be implemented starting from the academic sessions of 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.
Breaking down the specifics of the fee restructuring, students in non-science courses, including freshers, returning students, and final-year students, will now be required to pay N111,000, N91,500, and N114,000, respectively.
Additionally, third-party dues of N36,500, N21,500, and N21,500 are stipulated for these respective categories.
Meanwhile, students enrolled in science courses will experience an uptick in fees to N155,000, N125,000, and N148,000 for freshers, returning students, and final-year students. Correspondingly, third-party dues of N38,500, N21,500, and N21,500 are mandated.
Prior to this adjustment, the tuition fees for an average student varied depending on the department, standing at N64,050 for freshers, N52,050 for final-year students, and N49,500 for returning students.
The university’s management rationalized this increase by citing prevailing economic challenges and emphasized the necessity to uphold the institution’s academic standards.
The move reflects a commitment to ensuring the quality of education despite the financial constraints posed by current economic realities.
The rise in tuition fees at Nigerian universities and higher institutions has sparked concerns among analysts who view it as an injustice.
Many fear that, over time, this escalating cost may render higher education inaccessible to economically disadvantaged Nigerians. The steadily increasing fees are seen as a potential barrier, creating a situation where individuals from lower-income backgrounds may find it increasingly challenging to pursue studies within the country.
This issue has raised discussions about the potential long-term consequences of such financial barriers and their impact on the educational opportunities available to the less affluent population in Nigeria.
