Tuesday, June 30, 2026

OAU students protest, demand 50% tuition fee reduction

“We have declared that this protest will continue every day until our demands are met.”

• October 3, 2023
OAU
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun state, have embarked on a protest at the main campus premises.

They are protesting against the 15 per cent deduction of the hiked tuition fees by the management of the institution, as against their 50 per cent demand, The Nation reports.

Recall that the management of the institution had after an emergency meeting in September, announced a 300 per cent increment in school fees which was later reduced by 15 per cent to pacify the aggrieved students.

Unsatisfied with the slight fee reduction, the students stormed the main gate of the campus by 7 a.m. on Tuesday, displaying placards and chanting solidarity songs to press home their demands.

Their placards had inscriptions such as, ‘Fee must fall’, ‘Let the poor breath’, ‘Mama Dey sell full, papa Dey tide Okada where you wan make I see 90k’, ‘You Dey whine-fee must fall’, ‘Education sector is bleeding’, amongst others, as the aggrieved students barricaded the entrance of the gate, thereby restricting vehicular movement.

Insisting on the reduction by 50 per cent, the leader of the institution’s student union, Akinremi Ojo said, “Weeks before we have threatened that we would shut down activities in the school if the management refused to yield to our demands. We have declared that this protest will continue every day until our demands are met.”

Commending them for their peaceful demonstration, the institution’s public relations officer, Abiodun Olarenwaju, urged them to prevent hoodlums from hijacking the demonstration.

He said: “I expected them to channel their grievances to the appropriate authorities like the federal ministry of education, finance, even the Chief of staff to the president.

“We decided to reduce the initial chargeable fees when the leadership of their union persistently demanded re-negotiation, we considered and we held meetings with them and we told them the 50 per cent you are asking for will not be realistic in the long run.”

“We told them that we should meet but they have youthful exuberance and of course, we are allowing them to perform adult exuberance. We’ve been here since morning we are here together, they are our children and we are their local parents and nothing spoils,” he added.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

DisCos

Economy

DisCos generated N203.61 billion from electricity consumers in April: NERC

The report listed the top performing DisCos to include Eko, 102.09 per cent, Abuja, 89.77 per cent and Ikeja 88.89 per cent.

Tinubu at FEC meeting

NationWide

Nigeria urged to increase investment in brain research

Stakeholders have urged Nigeria to invest more in brain research, education and innovation to strengthen national development.

IDPs

States

Foundation advocates inclusive voter registration for IDPs

Mr Abubakar commended the camp leadership and residents for their orderly conduct and cooperation.

Osun State violence

States

Group petitions IG over rising political violence in Osun ahead of governorship poll

Mr Omotoyosi expressed concern that the killings could trigger a reprisal.

Corps members

States

Don’t jeopardise your future for temporary pleasure, Bayelsa governor tells corps members

Mr Diri commended the corps members for their discipline, resilience and active participation throughout the three-week orientation programme.

Uba Sani of Kaduna State (Credit: Twitter)

Economy

Gov Sani urges corps members to be catalysts of progress in Kaduna

Governor Uba Sani has urged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in the state to be catalysts of progress by making lasting contributions to their host communities.