In recent years, the cost of higher education in Nigeria’s federal universities has witnessed a dramatic surge, sparking concerns over affordability and accessibility, especially for students from low-income backgrounds. What was once an affordable route for the average Nigerian is increasingly becoming a financial burden, with fears growing that soon, only the wealthy will have access to higher education.
A glaring example is the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Uburu, in Ebonyi State, which has drawn widespread attention due to its steep tuition fees for the 2023/2024 academic session. The institution charges as much as ₦1,030,000 for Pharmacy students, while Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Optometry, and other allied health courses attract fees of ₦730,000. Courses such as Computer Science, Industrial Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering come with a slightly lower fee of ₦530,000. These fees include hostel accommodation but remain prohibitively expensive for many.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) also increased its tuition significantly in 2023. Students in the Faculties of Arts, Education, and Social Sciences now pay ₦126,325, while students in science-based and laboratory-intensive faculties such as Engineering and Law pay between ₦176,000 to ₦226,325. This marks a sharp departure from the previous flat rate of around ₦19,000 to ₦25,000, sparking protests and criticism from students and stakeholders alike.
Similarly, the University of Ibadan (UI), Nigeria’s premier university, revised its fees upward in 2023/2024. According to official releases, students now pay between ₦110,000 and ₦150,000 depending on the course. Laboratory-based programs attract higher fees due to practical sessions. Prior to this increment, UI students paid an average of ₦30,000. The management cited rising inflation and the need to sustain academic quality as reasons for the fee hike.
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) followed suit with a revised fee structure. Students in Faculties of Engineering, Agriculture, and Science now pay between ₦150,000 to ₦170,000 per session. Non-science students in Education and Management faculties pay slightly less, ranging between ₦110,000 and ₦130,000. This fee change, although controversial, was implemented without widespread consultation, further fueling tensions among the student body.
In Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, the story is no different. For the 2023/2024 session, newly admitted students pay between ₦151,000 and ₦163,000 depending on the faculty. Returning students pay slightly less, ranging between ₦89,000 and ₦128,000. Previously, students paid around ₦19,000 to ₦25,000 before this sudden adjustment. Many students have decried the hike, especially given the ongoing economic hardship in the country.
The University of Jos (UNIJOS) also adjusted its tuition fees upward in the 2023/2024 academic year. Students across various faculties now pay between ₦120,000 and ₦150,000. Management justified this increment by pointing to increased running costs, infrastructural maintenance, and the withdrawal of federal subsidies. However, the increase has placed immense pressure on parents and guardians.
Across these institutions, hostel accommodation and acceptance fees have also witnessed steep increases. At UI, for instance, acceptance fees stand at ₦50,000, while hostel accommodation can cost between ₦40,000 and ₦60,000. UNILAG charges ₦25,000 to ₦80,000 for hostel accommodation depending on the location and amenities. These additional costs further widen the affordability gap.
The impact of these hikes is already being felt nationwide. Several students have deferred their studies, while some are seeking alternative institutions, including polytechnics or private colleges offering scholarships. Those who remain enrolled have had to take on part-time jobs or resort to crowdfunding to afford their education.
Parents, especially civil servants and traders, have expressed worry over their ability to support their children through school. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have both criticized the hikes, describing them as “anti-poor” and “counterproductive” to the government’s commitment to youth empowerment.
The federal government has made limited interventions to cushion the impact of rising education costs. Although the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) continues to offer support through infrastructure and academic development grants, this does little to reduce the direct financial burden on students and their families. In an attempt to address this, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has activated the Students Loan Scheme, promising accessible credit to undergraduates in public tertiary institutions. However, concerns remain about the reach and sustainability of this initiative, especially in a country grappling with economic instability and rising poverty levels.
A key challenge surrounding the student loan scheme lies in its repayment model. With Nigeria’s worsening unemployment rate and many graduates struggling to secure jobs years after completing their education, the question of repayment becomes critical. How are students expected to repay loans when the labor market is already oversaturated and underperforming?
Without parallel economic reforms to create sustainable employment opportunities for graduates, the scheme may inadvertently deepen financial distress rather than solve it. The activation of the loan scheme, while commendable, must therefore be matched with job creation efforts if it is to truly empower the Nigerian student population.
As tuition continues to rise, the disparity between the rich and the poor in accessing tertiary education becomes more pronounced. Nigeria’s ambition to achieve inclusive development through education may suffer a major setback if urgent policies are not enacted to stem the tide of fee hikes.
Education experts warn that this trend could lead to an increase in dropout rates, youth unemployment, and social instability. They urge the government to adopt a multi-sector approach involving policy reforms, increased education funding, and fair tuition caps for public universities.
Until such interventions materialize, the fear remains: in a not-too-distant future, poor Nigerians may no longer be able to afford university education, thus shutting the door to one of the few upward mobility channels available to the country’s youth.
