Parents of 500 level medical students at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, have expressed concern over the prolonged delay in their children’s academic progression and the rising cost of feeding on campus.
The aggrieved parents, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Monday, called on the university management to urgently address what they described as unwarranted delays in the medical programme and a restrictive feeding policy that imposes additional financial burdens on families.
The students were admitted in September 2019 into the university’s six year MBBS programme. However, six years later, they remain in 500 level—contrary to the standard academic timeline. The development has caused anxiety among parents, who say the students should be preparing for their final year and graduation in 2025.
One of the parents, Mrs Anike Aderibigbe, said the students had completed their early academic years without interruption, even during the COVID 19 pandemic, by continuing their studies online.
“During the pandemic, they progressed academically, unlike their counterparts in some public universities. The delays only began in 400 level, and to date, no clear explanation has been given,” she said.
Another parent, Mrs Ngozi Amaechi, urged the university to be more transparent by publishing a comprehensive academic calendar for the affected students.
“We deserve to know the academic timeline. These students have been stuck in 500 level with no indication of when they will move forward. It is causing both emotional and financial strain,” she said.
Mrs Amaechi also criticised the university’s feeding arrangement, which she said limits students to a single university owned restaurant, leaving them with no access to more affordable or diverse food options.
“Students are forced to rely on the university’s eatery, where a reasonable meal can cost up to ten thousand naira daily. This is far more than what similar meals cost outside campus. Why are students being denied alternatives?” she queried.
Similarly, a guardian who identified himself simply as Yinkus described the feeding policy as exploitative and questioned the university’s silence over the delayed academic schedule.
“Why is the academic calendar for 500 level students not available to the public? Why are students restricted to only one food vendor on campus? What justifies the high cost of meals? These are legitimate concerns the university must address,” he said.
Repeated efforts to reach the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Tunde Olofintila, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages went unanswered.
