UI shuts campus for three weeks over fee hike protest

The management of the University of Ibadan (UI) has directed all students to vacate the school campus.

The directive, conveyed in a memo, follows a student protest in response to the institution’s decision to raise fees.

Earlier, the UI governing council approved new rates for all undergraduate levels and also fixed a deadline for payment.

The rates, sources revealed, ranged from N230,000 to N412,000 depending on the programme of study.

The council directed students who have not yet completed their course registration/payment for the session to do so before September 4.

This development, however, caused a stir on the university’s campus, with students boycotting lectures to express their disapproval.

The students rejected the new rates and demanded a reversal of the increase in their fees.

In a circular dated August 30, G.O. Saliu, the university’s registrar, announced a three-week break for all students.

Saliu said the decision was made following a meeting between the university’s management and the leadership of the student union.

The registrar said the directive is effective from August 31, 2024, to September 20, 2024.

He said students are required to complete their online registration during the period.

The registrar warned that the portal will not be re-opened after September 20.

“All students are to vacate the university campus by 2 pm on Saturday, August 31,” the memo reads.

“The hostel will be reopened at noon on Friday, September 20, he said.

“Students are, therefore, to note that the 2023/2024 first semester examination will now start on Monday, 23 September 2024.

“Students who do not register appropriately will not be allowed to write examinations.”

Earlier in February, the UI management was reported to have commenced an upward review of the fees for its fresh students.

The rates were said to have been hiked by up to 480 percent, prompting pockets of protest from among the student population.