Recently, the registration fees of most federal universities in Nigeria have risen astronomically, constituting a huge financial burden on students.
The recent increase in fees is causing a lot of constraints on low-income earners, promoting social inequality. More so, the exclusion is based on financial circumstances. As the registration fees continue to rise, the dream of acquiring a university education slips further out of reach for many deserving individuals.
Therefore, as a bona fide resident of Kano and a great beneficiary of low and subsidised registration fees, I appeal to Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, to review the fees .
We know Abbas to be a high calibre personality, humble and modest. This sets him far above others. Thus, we believe he knows the consequences of the high increase in fees. We have been told that education is a fundamental right of every individual, and one must admit that it is the responsibility of educational institutions to provide conducive environment that fosters academic growth and development for all students. While acknowledges the various needs associated with running a university and the alleged withdrawal of government’s funding of universities, I would like to refer the vice chancellor to the difficulties many students experienced in paying their respective registration fees even before the recent increase.
The ever-increasing cost of registration fees has become a major deterrent for prospective students, leading to a potential decline in enrolment. The burden of high registration fees and other expenses, such as accommodation, and the general high cost of living is on students is huge. Potentially, it not only limits access to education but also jeopardises the overall tertiary education enrolments.
I passionately beseech the vice chancellor of Bayero University to consider the urgent need for a reduction in registration fees and initiate constructive consultations with the appropriate university stakeholders to find feasible solutions. This could involve exploring more alternative revenue generation, seeking additional funding from wealthy personalities and other intervention funds, or reallocating resources to ensure a well-rounded, balanced approach that benefits both the university and the students.
Abbas Datti,
Kano
[email protected].
