The graduating students of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) have condemned the additional charges by the management of the institution for its forthcoming combined convocation.

The students had earlier paid their convocation fees in line with the amount stipulated by the institution.

THISDAY investigations revealed that the students, especially those of the 2020/2021 academic session, had paid the sum of N20,800 as their convocation fees, only for the university to charge another fee of N38,500 in advertisements placed on national dailies Monday.

Also, all fresh graduating students have been mandated to pay the same amount as that of the 2020/2021 set.

According to a member of the management, who craved anonymity, the 2020/2021 students, who had earlier paid N20,800 as convocation fee, will now pay additional N17,700 to balance the N38,500.

However, after placing advertisements on national dailies that graduating students would pay N38,500, the institution is now compelling all graduands to pay additional N10,000 as ‘memorabilia’ fees.

In essence, all first degree graduands will now pay N48,500, master and all other post-graduate degrees graduands will pay N51,000, while PhD degree graduands will pay N33,500.

However, the graduating students are complaining about their inability to pay the additional fee being requested by the institution citing economic hardship and other families pressing commitments.

Some of the graduating students, who spoke with journalists on condition of anonymity in Ilorin on Tuesday, decried the alleged insensitivity of the management to their plights and that of their parents and guardians.

It was also learnt that some former students and other stakeholders of the institution have threatened to embark on protests to make the school management rescind its decision.

One of them said: “We have sent emissaries to the management of the institution on the need to rescind their decision as a show of understanding of the sufferings of the masses in the country.”

When contacted, the Director of Corporate Affairs of the institution, Mr. Kunle Akogun, said that the decision of the management to increase the fees was based on the economic realities of the country.

Akogun, in a statement issued in Ilorin, said: “The attention of the management of the University of Ilorin has been drawn to a social media news report on a planned protest by a group of former students of the university with respect to some convocation items they are expected to have.

“These are their personal effects and necessary commemoratory mementos for the successful completion of their programmes in the university.

“It is rather unfortunate that the generation of the concerned graduands, instead of demonstrating knowledge of the prevailing economic reality in the country and appreciating the good disposition of the university management in arriving at this rate, which is the lowest possible, chose to toe this untidy path.

“This action is rather misguided. For the avoidance of doubts and for record purpose, members of the public and our former students should note that:

“This matter is about graduands and indeed, convocation ceremonies;

“The rates attached to the items are the least and indeed the lowest available in the light of the economic realities of the country;

“It is not in our character at the University of Ilorin to exploit;

“The university has always been very considerate in fixing its charges, which remain the cheapest among public universities in the country.

“The university reserves the right to determine what materials are necessary and at the most reasonable rates for its students or graduands;

“Our graduands are worthy in character and learning, and would always live above board with the display of sound knowledge of the prevailing economic situation in the country;

“A few misguided individuals have taken to the social media and behind this unpopular protest for whatever primordial and selfish reasons while a large number of our graduands have already paid for the items and convocation.” (THISDAY)

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