How Exorbitant School Fees Under Adeleke Put Osun Top Of FG Students’ Loan List – Findings

• Osun Education In Dire Straits – NANS, NAOSS

REACTIONS have trailed a revelation by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, that Osun State has the highest number of students’ data on its portal for the federal government loan scheme.

NELFUND also revealed that 115 out of the 151 state-owned tertiary institutions are yet to submit the data of their students to enable them to access the students’ loan.

The development ranks Osun top with 13 out of the 36 state-owned institutions on the list.

According to Sawyer, “I can tell you today that Osun state has the highest amount of data in our database today. What means is that if all the eligible students in Nigeria decided to apply for the loan, Osun State will have the highest number of beneficiaries”, he stated.

The institutions from Osun include Osun State University, University of Ilesa, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State Government Technical College, Ara, Osun State Government Technical College, Gbongan, Osun State Government Technical College, Ijebu-Jesa and Osun State Government Technical College, Ile-Ife.

Others are, Osun State Government Technical College, Inisa, Osun State Government Technical College, Iwo, Osun State Government Technical College, Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun and Osun State College of Education, Ilesa.

Meanwhile, findings by OSUN DEFENDER have revealed that Osun has the highest number of applications on the NELFUND portal as a result of the exorbitant school fees paid at the state-owned tertiary institutions.

A check by the medium on the University of Ilesa portal (unilesa.edu.ng), the total school fees for Nursing students is N850,500 for the 2023/2024 session. Medical laboratory Science Students are to pay the sum of N725,500, while those studying Public Health are to pay N375,500.

Also, students in Tourism & Hospitality Management are to pay N330,500 while Management Science students pay N316,000. Those in science education are to pay N320,500 with N290,500 being the amount for students in the faculty of education, Non-Science including Arts.

For the 2024/2025 academic session, the school fees released by the management of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) for all its new and returning students range from N180,000 to N752,500.

Recall that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Osun State axis had on March 28, 2024, gave Governor Ademola Adeleke a 7-day ultimatum to reverse the 100% increment in school fees for the state-owned institutions.

According to the NANS Chairman in Osun, Comrade Taiwo Ogungbe, “Despite initial hope, anti-students policies have been implemented, and we are still lagging behind other South-West states.”

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Ogungbe while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said the statistics highlight the dire situation faced by students in state-owned tertiary institutions as they are struggling to afford the exorbitant school fees.

He urged the government to engage in a comprehensive review of the tuition fee structure and implement measures to alleviate the financial strain on students.

“As a student leader, I am not fully aware of this or should I say I don’t have these statistics at hand but if true then this trend starkly highlights the dire situation faced by students in our state-owned tertiary institutions, who are struggling to afford the exorbitant school fees.

“The fact that a large number of students are resorting to loan applications underscores the urgency of the situation. This not only perpetuates inequality but also puts a significant burden on the students’ financial stability and mental well-being.

“As someone who has previously advocated for a reduction in the 100% tuition fee increment, I reiterate my call to the school management to reconsider their decision. It is crucial that we prioritize affordable education and ensure that it is accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic background.

“I urge the state government to engage in a comprehensive review of the tuition fee structure and implement measures to alleviate the financial strain on students. We must work together to create a more inclusive and equitable education system that fosters growth and opportunities for all,” he stated.

In his reaction, the National President of the National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), Comrade Miftahu Akinnibi told OSUN DEFENDER that the development underscores several critical points regarding the state of education in Osun State.

Akinnibi stressed that the statistics indicate a stark reality as many students are unable to afford the exorbitant school fees charged by state-owned and federal institutions, saying the current fee structure is unsustainable for a large portion of students in Osun.

The NAOSS President opined that the overwhelming response to the loan scheme is a cry for help and a manifestation of the desperation many students feel when confronted with the rising cost of education.

He however assured indigent students in the state that efforts are on to secure the payment of bursaries as they have actively engaged the state government to expedite the process.

In his words, “The federal government’s student loan scheme has indeed seen a significant number of applications from Osun State, and this phenomenon underscores several critical points regarding the state of education and financial accessibility.

“Firstly, the high number of applications from Osun State students highlights a stark reality: many students are unable to afford the exorbitant school fees charged by state-owned and federal tertiary institutions. 

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“The financial burden on students and their families has reached a point where taking out loans has become a necessary step to continue their education. This is a clear indication that the current fee structure is unsustainable for a large portion of our student population.

“As student leaders, we are acutely aware of the financial struggles faced by our peers. The overwhelming response to the loan scheme is a cry for help, a manifestation of the desperation many students feel when confronted with the rising cost of education. Education should be a right, not a privilege which will only be accessible to those who can afford it. 

“Therefore, we are appealing to the government to urgently review and reduce the school fees in state-owned and federal institutions.

“The government must take into consideration the economic realities of its citizens. Many families are struggling to make ends meet, and the added burden of high tuition fees only exacerbates their difficulties. 

“By reducing the school fees, the government can make education more accessible and relieve some of the financial pressures on students and their families. 

“Recently, we held a meeting with the Chief of Staff and the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Student Affairs. During the meeting, they reassured us that the bursary would be disbursed as soon as possible, hopefully before the end of July.

The Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dipo Eluwole, when contacted by OSUN DEFENDER, declined comments on the matter.