There is outrage among students of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, over the demand by the Governing Council of the institution for graduating students to pay an endowment fund before the collection of results.
The Registrar of the institution, Abiodun Oloyede, had in a memo, said graduating National Diploma and Higher National Diploma students would be paying the sum of N10,000 as endowment fund.
The memo dated October 16, a copy obtained by OSUN DEFENDER on Monday, said the decision was agreed by the Governing Council at its meeting on Wednesday, 25th June, and Thursday, 26th June, 2025.
According to Oloyede, the fund will be used for the development of the institution, especially in the area of the provision of amenities and infrastructures.
He added that the payment is to be effected before all the concerned students collect their final notification of results.
The memo read in parts, “The Governing Council of the Institution at its meeting of Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th June, 2025, approved the payment of a sum of Ten Thousand Naira (#10,000:00) only by each graduating student of the institution as an endowment fund into the Institution.
“The payment of the fund by each graduating student (ND 11 and HND 11) is a viable way of contributing to the growth and development of the institution, especially in the area of the provision of amenities and infrastructures in the Polytechnic.
“The Fund is expected to be managed by a special committee made up of the officials of the Institution, the State Ministry of Education, the Alumni, and the Student Union Representative.”
However, students of the institution have condemned the directive, describing it as an act of extortion.
Reacting to the news on Facebook, a student of the institution, Debby Olaide, said, “Iree will always find a way to extort money from students, despite the increment of school fees.”
Another student, Oluwa Seyi, questioned the rationale behind the fund, adding that, “There should be a protest. This is becoming too much for students.
“Pay this, pay that, do they even think we plucked money from the tree? 10k for ordinary development fee and nothing will still happen after making the payment.”
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
