Unilorin VC denies tuition fee increase

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, has said it is untrue that the university has increased the tuition fees.

A recent report had stated that Unilorin, among other universities, had increased its tuition fees from N16,500 to N75,000.

But a release quoting the VC and signed by the institution’s Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, on Thursday, states that Unilorin is Federal Government-owned and abides by the FG’s directive of free-tuition for its universities.

Ambali is quoted to have said, “There is no iota of truth in that online report. We never sat at the university management level to fix school fees or fees for the 2017/2018 academic session. We do not charge fees.

“We are FG tertiary institution and the FG’s directive is that it is tuition-free. Whatever we charge is just for utilities by our students. Unilorin dissociates itself from the content of that publication.”

The outgoing VC said he achieved about 85 per cent of his vision and dreams for the university during his five-year tenure.

He added that there are more infrastructure and better welfare for the employees
during his tenure.

He also said that Unilorin had maintained an uninterrupted academic calendar and had remained the most admission patronized university for consecutive four years by Nigerian university admission seekers.

He also stated that five years of one term tenure for VCs was more advisable than two terms, stating that he was praying for a successor that will perform better than he did.

He said, “While hustling is going on among the contestants, I am praying that God should give us somebody that will bring more progress and more sanity as well as someone, who most people will be happy with.

“I want somebody that will come after me to be better than me so that the university community can gain a lot.

“One term scenario is still popular and should be tried for many years to come so that we can get the best out of everybody.

“Unless we are dealing with certain peculiar situation, that is when the government can take its decision; otherwise, five years is far more than enough time for any VC to express his talents and skills in the running of university’s affairs.”