By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

A socio-cultural group in Ekiti State, the Concern for Good Governance (CGG), has criticised the management of Ekiti State University (EKSU) over the recent hike in tuition fees. The group has also threatened legal action should the university fail to reverse the decision and revert to the former fee structure.

In a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend, the group’s President, Comrade Ibukun Anuoluwapo, expressed dissatisfaction with the fee increment, describing it as a burden on students and their parents. He called on the university’s management to urgently reconsider the decision, arguing that the hike contradicts the primary objective of education: providing opportunities for learning and development to all, irrespective of financial status.

“It is disheartening to see an institution meant to foster education and development become a source of hardship for the people it is supposed to serve. Education is a right, not a privilege, and making it financially inaccessible undermines the values of inclusivity and progress,” Anuoluwapo stated.

The group urged the Vice-Chancellor and other key officials at EKSU to prioritise students’ welfare and ensure education remains affordable. It also appealed to the Ekiti State Government to intervene, warning that the situation could escalate if not addressed promptly.

According to the group, education is the foundation of societal progress, and making it unaffordable risks jeopardising the future of countless young people in the state.

The National Youth Council (NYC) chairman, Aare Adedara, echoed these concerns, issuing a stern warning to the EKSU management against adopting policies that impose undue hardship on students and their families. He emphasised that the essence of leadership is to create an enabling environment for learning and growth, rather than one of exclusion.

“All hands must be on deck to prevent the financial burden of education from crippling the aspirations of young Nigerians,” Adedara noted, urging the university to embrace empathetic and inclusive policies to ensure no student is left behind.

The group also encouraged students to remain calm, assuring them of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s commitment to addressing the issue. It expressed confidence in the state government’s responsiveness and its dedication to acting in the best interest of Ekiti residents.