Education
Controversial Hike in School Fees and Delta State Government
By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi
Even though previous opinion articles, commentaries and interventions by this author favoured/supported policies and decisions of the Delta State Government, it will, however, for reasons, be considered very logical, rational and practical to say that the same state government will definitely feel hesitant as to why they should read this present piece or accept the content of solution it proffers as beneficial and helpful to the real development in the state education sector as the piece stoutly opposes the state government’s inconsiderate decision and describes as ill-timed the recent hikes in students’ fees in virtually all the state-owned institutions of higher learning.
Aside from the belief that in Nigeria, once a direction is chosen by an average Nigerian leader, instead of examining the process meticulously and setting the right course, many obstinately persist with the execution of such plans regardless of a minor or major shift in circumstance.
I have also in the past few weeks read with dismay, so many articles, commentaries and analyses that scantly suggest why the Delta State Government should not be blamed for the thoughtless hike in schools fees across Delta State-owned institutions of higher learning.
Synoptically, while some argued that this was not the time to hold our state government accountable for the hike in school fees because there are more important matters confronting the state, others argued that the only remedy for this problem is simply to encourage parents to accept the fate as across the world, education is neither easy nor cheap.
Indeed, while this scant and slanted reasoning may have been allowed to fly on the faces of Deltans, the truth must be told to the effect that the state leadership is bound to face confusion in their minds if they allow these new fee regimes to stand.
Before proceeding to critical analysis, it is important to underline some unpalatable actions that recently spread out its wings in the state education sector and have as a consequence caused concern for the students and brought dropping spirits among parents.
The management of Ogwuashi Uku Polytechnic, one of the state-owned institutions of higher learning, in a statement released on January 10, 2022, stated that all new students of Delta State origin undertaking the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) are to pay the sum of N75,500, while non-Deltans are to pay N99,180.
Also, new Delta State students in Higher National Diploma (HND) would pay N80,500, while non-Deltans are to pay N99,180. Moreover, the old OND students would pay N60,400 for Deltans, while non-Deltans would payN72,900. As for the HND, non- Deltans would pay N71, 650, while Deltans are to pay N60, 400.
Alarmingly, before the dust raised by such a thoughtless increase in fees could settle, that of the Delta State University, Abraka, another state-owned university was up. A peep into the university fees structure reveals that a new intake in the Law faculty has to cough out N242,000, among others.
As if that was not enough woes for the knowledge-hungry students and their parents, the Delta State University of Science and Technology (DSUST), Ozoro, came up with another fee regime that requires indigenes of the state to pay N185,000 as school fees while non-indigenes are expected to pay N225,000.
Looking above, it is evident in my view that the state has defined leaning too narrowly in a manner devoid of process and outcome fairness by getting preoccupied with revenue generation without consideration to the students’ comfort or wellbeing.
From the shocking phenomenon of declining standards of physical infrastructures and the near-total collapse of basic facilities that ought to be functional in a tertiary institution, to thoughtless demand for fees of varying amounts proposed by the school authorities ahead of logic-a development that is financially squeezing the life out of the innocent students and their parents.
At this point, this piece will cast a glance at the scary consequences of the present hike in school fees if allowed.
Fundamentally, there are a large number of youths in the state that are knowledge/education hungry and daily project vividly and openly their potential, nature, character, behaviour, performance skills and talent that needs to be nurtured in a conducive environment and fairest fees.
As we know, any developmental plan in the state without youth education delivered in a well-structured learning environment and fair fees will amount to a mere waste of time and effort.
The second point/concern is that with this increment, Deltans and the world at large are bound to feel and validate as true that education in the state is in shambles simply because of the government’s progressive non-recognition of the right to education as a human right despite Nigeria’s membership of a number of international conventions, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights where the right is respected.
It also exemplifies the fact that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s led administration has not adopted a different, practical, factual, base level and offbeat approach to this highly important and sensitive sector.
More than anything else, the development projects a realistic picture, a different scenario and exposes the factual situation which is the ground-level reality of the poor education sector in the state.
This piece is not alone in this belief system.
Recently, a well-respected community newspaper in the state, in one of its weekly editorial comments, described/considered as ill-timed, thoughtless and a decision reached in bad light the recent upward review of students’ school fees by the management/authority of Ogwuashi-Uku Polytechnic.
A development the newspaper added has fuelled a disquiet relationship between the students and the school management with the students threatening massive protest if the management of the school insists on implementing the new school fees/service charge regime introduced recently.
While the news organization called on the school management to halt the present move, particularly as their argument that the increment was necessitated by the need to sustain qualitative education and a conducive environment for learning in line with the global best standard can no longer hold water when faced with the embarrassing fact, it essentially urged the Delta State government to immediately call on the Rector and of course the governing board of the institution to rescind this decision/thoughtless hike in school fees.
Likewise, this piece on the final note underlines that if providing quality education is the interest of the state government, the state should make effort to increase state budgetary allocation to education and not by taxing the students or their parents of which majority of them are either without jobs or are retirees whose pensions are not promptly paid.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s led administration must also not forget that education is the right of our children and the bedrock of development. That ‘with sound educational institutions, society is as good as made -as the institutions will turn out all rounded manpower to continue with the development of the society driven by well thought out ideas, policies, programmes, and projects’.
The state governor urgently needs to find a new approach to demonstrate that he truly loves education via a reduction in the fees of these students. Taking such action will in the opinion of this piece offer him an edge over others in the leadership corridor.
This is the way to go.
Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy) of Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), a Lagos-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and can be reached via Je*********@***oo.com/08032725374
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has granted another extension for its Student Loan Application Portal to accommodate institutions that requested additional time for the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to the statement signed by NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Ms Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, on Thursday, the extension applies only to institutions that submitted formal requests, allowing eligible students extra time to complete their applications.
“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved an extension of its Student Loan Application Portal for institutions that have formally requested additional time for the 2025/2026 academic session,” the statement read.
Business Post reports that at the beginning of March, NELFUND announced an extension to the deadline by a week for its student loan application portal following a notable rise in nationwide interest driven by ongoing awareness campaigns.
Speaking on the development, NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, reiterated the Fund’s commitment to ensuring that eligible students at participating institutions can access the student loan programme.
“NELFUND remains committed to ensuring that eligible students across participating institutions have the opportunity to access the student loan programme,” he said.
The Fund urges students in affected institutions to take advantage of the extension and submit their applications through the official portal.
It also emphasised its dedication to transparency, accountability, and providing sustainable financing solutions to remove financial barriers to higher education in Nigeria.
Established to administer the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, NELFUND was enacted into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024.
The initiative provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition and living expenses.
Beneficiaries are required to repay the loans after completing their education and securing employment, aiming to increase access to higher education for students from low-income backgrounds.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has inaugurated a Curriculum Review Committee aimed at strengthening taxation education in Nigerian academic institutions and improving the country’s tax administration system.
According to a statement, the committee was inaugurated on February 24, at the NRS Academy in Durumi as part of the agency’s broader efforts to modernise tax education and align academic training with the evolving demands of contemporary tax administration.
Speaking during the inauguration, the Director of the NRS Academy, Mr Adeolu Akinyemi, said the review exercise would involve collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) to develop a more structured and relevant curriculum for the academy.
He emphasised that the initiative seeks to ensure that taxation programmes taught in Nigerian institutions reflect current developments in tax policy and practice, while also equipping students with the practical knowledge required in today’s tax administration environment.
The committee has been tasked with examining existing taxation curricula across Nigerian institutions and proposing updates that incorporate modern tax policies, recent legislative changes, and emerging areas such as digital taxation and global tax practices.
Officials say the review is also designed to close the gap between theoretical classroom instruction and the practical realities of tax administration.
By strengthening the link between academic learning and professional practice, the revised curriculum is expected to better prepare graduates for careers in the tax sector.
The effort is further expected to enhance tax awareness among citizens, encourage voluntary tax compliance, and support the development of skilled tax professionals who can contribute to national revenue generation and economic growth.
The committee is chaired by Mrs Aisha Hamman Mahmoud, Special Adviser to the Executive Chairman of the NRS on Research and Statistics. Its membership includes representatives from the service as well as academic experts in taxation and fiscal policy, alongside professionals with experience in tax administration, policy formulation, and tax education.
The committee will work with relevant educational regulatory agencies and professional bodies to ensure that the proposed curriculum aligns with national academic standards while addressing the practical needs of Nigeria’s tax system.
The NRS stated that the initiative forms part of its ongoing commitment to expanding tax knowledge, strengthening professional capacity, and promoting responsible tax practices across the country.
The curriculum review exercise is expected to be completed within 60 days, after which the Service plans to provide further updates on the implementation of the revised programme.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The first batch of Nigerian undergraduates to enjoy fully paid scholarships for studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses across the continent has been chosen by Airtel Africa Foundation.
Business Post gathered that 70 students from universities across Nigeria were selected from thousands of applicants through an independently managed process, which took nearly six months.
It was learned that most of the undergraduates were from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), the University of Ilorin, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU Zaria), and the University of Nigeria (UNN).
The scholarship covers tuition, laptop computers, living expenses, and essential learning resources, a statement from Airtel Africa Foundation disclosed.
The chairman of the foundation, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, speaking at the presentation of the scholarships to the beneficiaries at the Lagos headquarters of Airtel Nigeria, emphasised the need for initiatives such as the Airtel Africa Foundation’s undergraduate tech scholarship for the future of the continent.
“True legacy is not measured by the awards we win or the volume of SIM cards we sell; it is measured by the lives we save, the people we feed, and the students we support when the line between success and failure is at its thinnest.
“At the Airtel Africa Foundation, we believe that lifting people out of poverty is the ultimate benchmark of a great company. Today, we are writing that legacy by tilting the balance in favour of the brilliant but underserved, ensuring that the fourth industrial revolution, driven by AI and Data Science, is built by African talent for the African continent,” he stated.
Mr Ogunsanya further revealed that this fellowship, executed through Airtel Nigeria, is designed to bridge the gap where funding, skills, and opportunity often fail to meet.
In addition to the N500,000 yearly budget for the fellows’ four-year or five-year courses, each fellow would be integrated into a structured support system for academic guidance and career mentorship, intended to ultimately transition students from the classroom to the global tech workforce.
Addressing the students, the chief executive of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Dinesh Balsingh, stressed that youth development is a strategic imperative for Airtel.
“At Airtel Nigeria, we view youth development as essential nation-building. When young people succeed, innovation accelerates, and social stability improves.
“By connecting these brilliant scholars to knowledge, skills, and confidence, we are fulfilling our core mission to connect people to opportunity. To our recipients: you earned your place here through merit and discipline. You are now ambassadors of excellence, and we expect your leadership to be defined by your conduct as you help shape a more inclusive digital future for Nigeria,” the Airtel Nigeria chief said.
The Nigerian cohort joins a prestigious network of Airtel Africa Foundation fellows currently studying in Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, and India.
The initiative underscores a broader commitment to technology education, youth development, and Nigeria’s digital economy.
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