Education
Students’ outrage grows as TASUED raises tuition fees, criticise management team for ‘inhumane decision’
…N65,000 a year can’t pay staff salaries or run on diesel 24 hours — TASUED Management
By Sodiq Adelakun
Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, was thrown into chaos on Monday as students gathered to protest against the recently announced tuition fee hike for the upcoming 2023-2024 session.
The protest was sparked by the school management’s decision to raise the tuition for new students enrolled in education courses from N76,500 to N230,000 and from N76,500 to N180,000 for returning students.
The school fees for fresh students studying pure courses were also increased from N80,500 and N90,500 to N240,000, and from N80,500 and N90,500 to 190,000 for returning students.
This development has raised concerns among students, leading to a large-scale protest.
The students, who took to the streets brandishing placards and leaf stems, congregated at various locations, including the Main Gate, the University Academic Building, and the Directorate of Students’ Affairs Building.
The students have strongly criticised the management team for their decision, labelling it as inhumane. They argue that the management team failed to take into account the current situation of the country and the potential consequences of their actions.
However, the situation has caused a disruption in the academic activities of the university, with some classes being cancelled due to the protest.
A statement released by the Students’ Union partly reads, “Our attention has been drawn to the university’s decision to increase our school fees on the portal. We firmly believe that this fee increment is unjust and places an unnecessary burden on students.
“Education is a right, and it should be accessible to all. We want to assure you that we are actively working to address this issue. We will engage in communication with the university management to express our concerns and negotiate for a fair and affordable education.
“Meanwhile, we encourage each one of you to stand together and say No to this fee increment. We must unite as a strong and collective voice to make our concerns heard.”
The Students’ Union President, Akinjetan Emmanuel, said the protest aims to send a strong message to the university management.
“We refuse to accept this burden on our shoulders. It is crucial that we continue to raise our voices and make our concerns heard. By participating in the protest, we are advocating for a fair and affordable education,” he said.
Reacting to the students’ plea, the management of Tai Solarin University of Education in Ogun State has responded to the students’ plea regarding the recent hike in school fees.
The management explained that it was unable to help with the increase due to the current economic situation in the country.
The Students’ Union President, Hammed Akinjetan, stated that the Student Union Government will continue to advocate for the interests of the student body.
“We firmly believe that this fee increment is unjust and places an unnecessary burden on students,” he said.
He maintained that education is a right, and it should be accessible to all, assuring fellow students that “we are actively working to address this issue.”
However, the university has said the increment in tuition at a time like this, is a general thing across the nation.
TASUED Registrar, Chief Dapo Oke, confirmed the protest.
Oke said, “We had a peaceful students’ protest. They have brought their grievances to the university management and we have received their grievances. We have asked them to channel their complaints through the appropriate channel, that is through their union leaders. We are going to invite them for necessary consultation.
“In the entire South West, which state university is charging as low as N100,000? We have been collecting N65,000, when some secondary school students pay N100,000 per term and there are three terms in a year. But our university students are paying as low as N65,000 for a whole year. Is that enough to buy laboratory equipment, to pay staff salaries or to run on diesel 24 hours?
“These are issues that necessitated the increase, and before we made the increase, we discussed it with the Students Union Government, and we’ve made them realise it. But definitely, they would still make their complaints. We will listen to their complaints, we will inform the government. At the end of the day, we will conclude.”
The registrar maintained that TASUED cannot afford to run inferior academic programmes, compared to what obtains in other universities.
“So, we have to charge economic fees. What we have charged is the barest minimum in reality with the existing market forces,” he emphasised.
Oke commended the students for being peaceful in their demonstration, stating that the protest did not affect the ongoing examination.
The Kwara State Government has warned principals of Junior Secondary Schools and head teachers of primary schools across the state against illegal charges for the state placement examination (Common Entrance).
Any violator will face the full wrath of the law, the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, warned on Tuesday in her office in Ilorin.
She emphasized that the common entrance is free and government will not tolerate anyone or group of people extorting money, under any guise, from the pupils because the examination is fully sponsored by the state government.
Hajia Modibbo Kawu urged the principals and head teachers to desist from all acts that could dent the image of the state government.
She also cautioned them against aiding and abetting examination malpractices, stating that the present administration has zero tolerance for examination malpractices.
The commissioner implored the parents and guardians of the pupils to report any principal or head teacher with suspicious acts to her office directly, reiterating that her office is open to everyone.
By Saka Laaro, Ilorin
The University of Ilorin has announced the promotion of 40 of its senior academics to the rank of Professor.
The elevation, which was approved by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, was sequel to the recommendations of the University Appointment and Promotion Committee.
A statement from the Office of the Registrar said that the 40 distinguished scholars were found to have excelled in the realms of teaching, research and community service and subsequently promoted to the highest rank obtainable in the academia.
The breakdown of the beneficiaries of the promotion exercise shows that 11 of the new Professors are produced by the Faculty of Agriculture and they are Prof. Sidiqat A. Aderinoye-Abdulwahab, Prof. L. L. Adefalu,Prof. F. O. Takim and Prof. A. A. Badmos.
Others are Prof. Foluke E. Sola-Ojo, Prof. W. A. Jimoh, Prof. M. I. Abubakar, Prof. T. H. Aliyu, Prof. R. O. Uddin II, Prof. T. O. Amusa and Prof. Mutiat A. Balogun.
From the Faculty of Arts are Prof. K. M. U. Gbodofu, Prof. Y. A. Abdullahi, Prof. Abosede R. O. Babatunde, Prof. Bolanle E. Arokoyo, and Prof. P. U. Nwosu while the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences produced Prof. A. S. Alabi, who teaches at the Department of Anatomy.
Two Lecturers from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences were also elevated to the rank of Professor and they are Prof. T. O. Olanrewaju and Prof. O. A. M. Adesiyun.
The Faculty of Communication & Information Science also produced two new Professors through Prof. Tinuke O. Oladele and Prof. Saudat S. Abdulbaqi while those promoted from the Faculty of Education are Prof. O. O. Okoji, Prof. Folakemi O. Adeniyi-Egbeola and Prof. Florence O. Daramola
From the Faculty of Engineering and Technology are Prof. A. T. Ajiboye, Prof. A. Y. Abdulrahman, Prof. M. O. Sumonu, Prof. Rasheedat M. Mahamood and Prof. T. K. Ajiboye.
The Faculty of Law produced one new Professor in the person of Prof. A. C. Onuora-Oguno.
The Faculty of Life Sciences produced four new professors. They are Prof. M. O. Nafiu, Prof. Faoziyat A. Sulaiman, Prof. Risikat Nike Ahmed, and Prof. I. O. Sule.
Those promoted from the Faculty of Management Sciences are Prof. M. A. Ajayi and Prof. Rihanat I. Abdulkadir as the Faculty of Physical Sciences also produced two new professors through Prof. Haleemat I. Adegoke and Prof. O. A. Abidoye.
The promotion of Prof. Monisola A. Tunde of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management was also confirmed while the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine also produced one of the new Professors in the person of Prof. Z. Jaji from the Department of Veterinary Anatomy.
Education
Student Union election turns deadly: One student flees for life, parents killed in tragic attack
In the quiet town of Ekiadolor, the College of Education became a battleground as student politics turned deadly. Odunuga Gbenga, a promising student, found himself thrust into the chaos of campus conflict.
It all began innocently enough when Gbenga was nominated as a contestant for the Student Union presidency. Little did he know that this simple act would plunge him into a nightmare.
During the election, tensions ran high as rival factions clashed violently. What was supposed to be a democratic process spiraled into chaos, with reports of killings, rapes, and riots echoing across the school grounds.
In fear for his life, Gbenga fled the campus, seeking refuge in the familiar embrace of his parents’ home in Edo State. But safety eluded him as darkness fell on that fateful night.
Under the cover of midnight, a group of assailants descended upon Gbenga’s home, shattering the peace of the night. In a desperate bid for survival, Gbenga fought bravely, but the odds were against him.
Tragically, Gbenga’s valiant efforts were in vain. Though he managed to escape, his beloved parents were not as fortunate. The attackers, driven by unknown motives, mercilessly took the lives of Mr. Samuel Odunuga and Mrs. Taiwo Odunuga, leaving a family shattered and a community reeling in shock.
Since that harrowing night in 2023, the search for Gbenga has consumed the hearts and minds of his grieving family. Their plea echoes through the pages of this newspaper, a desperate cry for justice and closure in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
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