‘We spend N1.3bn on electricity yearly’ — UNILORIN VC laments funding challenges

Wahab Egbewole, the vice-chancellor (VC) of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), says the institution spends about N1.3 billion annually on electricity despite its financial challenges.

Egbewole spoke on Monday in his office during a meeting between the management of the university  and the leaders of the students’ union.

The VC said the university pays between N120 million and N130 million on electricity every month.

He noted that the bill  amounts to about N1.3 billion annually.

Egbewole said UNILORIN bears the financial burden while striving to provide other crucial services like water, internet, laboratory, classroom equipment, and health facilities, among others.

The vice chancellor said the leadership of the students’ union must convey the management’s vision to the their colleagues for better understanding.

He underscored the significance of comprehending the university’s vision by the students to facilitate effective communication and collaboration.

Much of the government funding for federal universities in Nigeria covers personnel costs/salaries.

Supplementary sources like the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFund) address gaps in critical infrastructure, training, and research.

Over time, TTETFund has become the only major source of funding available for those activities.

Public tertiary institutions have, as a result, continued to lament struggles in covering their running costs.

This had, in late 2023, resulted in a wave of fee hikes across public universities.