Tinubu Warns Varsities Against Arbitrary Fees’ Hike

President Bola Tinubu has warned authorities of public universities against what he termed “arbitrary increase in various fees payable by Nigerian students.”

He said such unwholesome practices have over the years been impinging negatively on the growth and development of tertiary education, preventing access to tertiary education, especially by indigent youths in the country.

While assuring Nigerians that his administration would ensure steady academic programmes under stable calendar across the country, the president tasked 14,866 first degrees‘ graduates of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) to be good ambassadors of Nigeria by bringing their ingenuity to bear in revamping the country‘s ailing economy.

Tinubu, who was represented by the minister of state for education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, spoke yesterday at the combined convocation of the UNIUYO.

He said his administration had put machinery in place towards making the university play its role effectively as centre for teaching, research and manpower development by updating the quality and standards of education across schools in the country.

He said: “Let us be reminded that the catalytic roles of universities in the economic growth of our nation cannot be overemphasized. Within this context, let me reiterate my commitment to supporting quality and standard education at all levels in the country. This administration will work to optimize our university curricula in terms of quality access and relevance to our national needs.”

Towards this end, the president explained that the need to access quality tertiary education informed his administration‘s intervention through the implementation of the loan scheme for students.

„As a vivid desire to make higher education more accessible, we have granted approval for the establishment of the students‘ loan scheme to ensure that all Nigerians, irrespective of their socio-economic status are allowed to obtain meaningful education and realize their potentials,“ he assured.

The vice chancellor, Prof Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, expressed delight being the first convocation ceremony presided by him since becoming the head of the institution about three years ago, and congratulated the graduating students for their perseverance to see through their studies successfully, urging them to be good ambassadors of the school in the larger society.

He commended the federal government, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and other stakeholders for ensuring that all hands were on deck to ensure quality infrastructure, manpower and clean bill for academic programmes through accreditations for quality assurance.

Also, the emir of Hadeija, who doubles as the chairman of the Jigawa State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness Abubakar Adamu Maje, the chancellor of the institution, urged well-meaning Nigerians to support the Tinubu-led federal government in its ongoing efforts to fix the economy.