Federal and state universities were originally established to make higher education accessible to every Nigerian child, regardless of social class. Unfortunately, that vision is fast slipping away. The steady increase in tuition fees has placed unbearable pressure on parents and students.
A closer look at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), formerly Anambra State University, tells a sad story of how education is gradually being priced beyond the reach of the average family. The question that begs for urgent attention is this, can students still afford to learn?
In the past, UNIZIK was widely regarded as affordable. Before 2023, returning students paid between ₦30,000 and ₦60,000, while freshers paid about ₦60,000 – ₦70,000 depending on the faculty. But the 2023/2024 session brought a new reality: fresh students began paying ₦95,000-102,000, while returning students paid ₦65,000 – ₦75,000. By the 2024/2025 session, the situation worsened. New students were charged a uniform ₦165,500, while returning students were billed about ₦95,000. The acceptance fee alone now stands at ₦65,000.
COOU, a state university, tells an even harsher tale. Before, indigenes could study with fees ranging from ₦80,000 – ₦100,000, but in the 2023/2024 session, fees skyrocketed. Students in Arts and Social Sciences were charged ₦127,465 – ₦137,465, while those in Law, Engineering, and Environmental Sciences paid about ₦187,465. Medical students bore the heaviest burden with fees around ₦402,300. Even returning students paid no less than ₦99,000 – ₦127,000, depending on their department.
This sharp rise defeats the very essence of establishing public universities. When federal universities like UNIZIK and state universities like COOU begin to charge fees close to private institutions, the children of poor and middle-class families are shut out. The dream of education as a right for all is being replaced by the reality of education as a privilege for the wealthy individuals alone.
The Federal and Anambra State Governments must act swiftly. More funding should be allocated to public universities, while scholarships, bursaries, and grants should be expanded to cover more students in need. Authorities of both institutions must also ensure transparency in fee increments and eliminate unnecessary charges that further strain families.
If urgent steps are not taken, Nigeria risks raising a generation of youths denied access to higher education simply because they cannot afford it. The nation cannot afford to gamble with its future.
