₦1M TUITION DEBATE: EX-LASU VC IBIYEMI OLATUNJI-BELLO CALLS FOR HIGHER FEES TO SUSTAIN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

A fresh debate over the cost and funding of public university education in Nigeria has emerged following comments by Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU).Olatunji-Bello, who completed her five-year tenure as LASU Vice-Chancellor on September 19, 2026, said public universities seeking financial independence would need to substantially increase their tuition fees. �Punch Newspapers +1Speaking in an interview with The Punch while reflecting on her tenure, the former LASU VC argued that universities face significant financial pressures, including salaries and other operational costs.According to reports of the interview, LASU’s monthly payroll is currently above ₦1 billion, while the institution’s internally generated revenue, which rose from about ₦3 billion to ₦13 billion during her tenure, remains insufficient to cover its salary obligations. �TheCableOlatunji-Bello stated that public universities seeking financial self-sustainability would have to charge at least ₦1 million per student.“Good quality education needs money,” she said, according to the report. �Trending NewsHer comments have placed the long-running question of university funding back in the spotlight, particularly around how Nigerian public universities can maintain infrastructure, academic programmes, staff salaries and other services while dealing with rising operational costs.The former vice-chancellor also pointed to the financial demands of running LASU during her administration, while highlighting developments recorded during her five-year tenure.Among the achievements she discussed was LASU’s position as the most subscribed university among UTME candidates in 2025 and its continued position in 2026, for which the institution received a ₦25 million award for compliance with JAMB regulations, according to reports. �TheCableHowever, the ₦1 million tuition suggestion has also intensified the broader conversation about affordability and access to public higher education in Nigeria, with questions over how families and students would cope with substantially higher fees.It is important to note that Olatunji-Bello’s comments were presented as a position on what universities would need to achieve financial independence; they do not amount to an announcement that every Nigerian public university has adopted a ₦1 million tuition fee.The discussion comes at a time when government officials have also been encouraging public universities to diversify their funding sources through alumni contributions, research grants, philanthropy, endowments and partnerships with the private sector. �Trending NewsAs the debate continues, the central issue remains how Nigeria can provide adequately funded public universities while keeping higher education within reach of students from different economic backgrounds.#XanderXO #IbiyemiOlatunjiBello #LASU #UniversityEducation #NigeriaEducation #PublicUniversities #TuitionFees #HigherEducation #EducationNews #NigeriaNews