Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), has proposed that public universities in Nigeria should charge a minimum of ₦1 million per student annually. This suggestion was made in a recent interview with Punch, following the conclusion of her five-year tenure as the ninth Vice-Chancellor of LASU on September 19, 2026. During the interview, she discussed her administration's achievements, challenges, and the university's future.
According to Professor Ibiyemi, the increasing cost of running universities, including salaries, electricity, and other overhead expenses, has made it difficult for institutions to rely solely on government funding and existing internally generated revenue (IGR). She cited LASU's monthly payroll, which currently exceeds ₦1 billion, as an example of the financial strain. Despite a significant increase in IGR during her tenure, from about ₦3 billion to ₦13 billion, the university still faces financial challenges.
Professor Ibiyemi argued that universities seeking financial self-sustainability need to significantly increase their tuition fees. She noted that some secondary schools already charge more than ₦1 million per term, while some public universities collect around ₦100,000 annually. Therefore, she suggested that public universities seeking financial independence should charge not less than ₦1 million per student annually.
The former LASU VC also emphasized that providing quality education requires substantial funding and urged parents to prioritize financing their children's education. She stated that "good quality education needs money." Her comments come after the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, called on public universities to explore alternative sources of funding, arguing that government funding alone cannot adequately sustain tertiary institutions.
Professor Ibiyemi's proposal has sparked a renewed debate about the funding of public universities in Nigeria. Many public universities in the country face financial challenges, which often affect the quality of education and infrastructure. The suggestion to increase tuition fees has been met with mixed reactions, with some stakeholders arguing that it could make education less accessible to low-income students.
During her tenure, Professor Ibiyemi implemented several reforms aimed at improving the quality of education and infrastructure at LASU. She oversaw significant improvements in the university's IGR, which grew from about ₦3 billion to ₦13 billion. However, she noted that more needs to be done to ensure the financial sustainability of the university.
The issue of funding for public universities is a pressing concern in Nigeria, with many institutions facing financial challenges. Professor Ibiyemi's suggestion to charge at least ₦1 million annually per student is one of several proposals aimed at addressing this challenge. The government, stakeholders, and the public will likely continue to debate this issue in the coming days.
Key points
- Former LASU VC Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello suggests ₦1 million annual tuition for public universities.
- Public universities face financial challenges due to rising costs and insufficient government funding.
- Increasing tuition fees could make education less accessible to low-income students.
