The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has retracted its earlier statement accusing the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, of advocating a minimum tuition fee of N1 million for Nigerian university students.
NANS, in a statement signed by its President, Dist. Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, said further clarification from Olatunji-Bello and additional fact-finding showed that her position had been misconstrued.
The association had previously published a statement titled, “#1 Million Minimum Tuition Fees: Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello Goofed,” in which it condemned what it understood as a call for students to pay at least N1 million in tuition.
It subsequently described the position as an attempt to commercialise education and increase students’ financial burden.
NANS has now withdrawn the statement and its conclusions, saying Olatunji-Bello did not advocate a N1 million minimum tuition fee or the commercialisation of public universities.
According to the association, her position was that quality university education requires adequate funding and that the cost of providing it is significantly higher than what public universities currently charge.
It said she also advocated financial self-sustainability through innovation and diversified revenue sources.
NANS expressed regret for the earlier misrepresentation and said it remained committed to accessible and affordable education while recognising the need for sustainable funding of universities.
The students’ body urged university managements to explore alternative and innovative revenue-generation mechanisms that would improve funding without imposing additional financial burdens on students.
It also called on media organisations to verify information before publishing reports on sensitive national issues, particularly education.
NANS said it would continue to engage stakeholders through constructive dialogue and intellectual engagement in pursuit of the interests of Nigerian students.