University of Ibadan Students Protest Fee Hike

Students at the University of Ibadan in Oyo State have launched protests against a significant increase in school fees from N230,000 to N412,000 for the 2023/2024 academic session, demanding a reversal of the fee hike. The Student Union has called for a boycott of classes until their demands are met and has mobilized students to utilize social media for awareness, using hashtags like #UIFEESMUSTFALL. The university council justified the increase by citing economic conditions and encouraged students to explore financial aid options. In Kenya, a similar situation is unfolding as a new university fee structure threatens to prevent poorer students from accessing higher education, provoking calls for protests from student leaders and lawmakers. Critics argue that the changes, which reduce government funding while increasing costs to students, will exacerbate educational inequality and discrimination against low-income families. Both scenarios illustrate the growing unrest among students over educational affordability in different regions.