Published 28th Sep, 2024

By Olayide Soaga

Graduands of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) are lamenting the compulsory N61,500 convocation fees the school management has slapped on them.

The N61,500 covers memorabilia packages and convocation charges for fresh graduates, and some graduands say it may hinder them from attending their convocation in October, FIJ has learnt.

A compulsory payment of N35,500 is for memorabilia packages containing branded t-shirts, lapel pins, the order of proceeding, mufflers and rented convocation gowns.

Graduands will then pay an additional N26,500 as convocation charges, bringing the payments to a total of N61,500.

A screenshot of a prospective graduate’s portal.

FIJ learnt that the convocation charges on the portals was around N30,000 when the school released its graduating list, but it was eventually reduced to N26,500.

Graduands told FIJ they were delighted to see a reduction in the convocation charges and had been expecting to pay N10,000 for memorabilia based on previous fees.

Little did they know that the school had other plans.

On Thursday, the university management released a memo informing students that they would be mandated to pay N37,500 for memorabilia.

Alex Bode (not real name), one of the prospective graduates, told FIJ that this was extortion on the part of the school.

“The convocation fee is now N26,500. Initially, it was around N30,000 on the portal, but after some weeks, they reduced it to N26,500. When students saw that, they were very happy, not knowing they had something up their sleeves,” Bode said on Friday.

“We got a memo that we would pay N37,500 for memorabilia a week later. The package included a T-shirt, DVD, lapel pin, renting of convocation gown, order of proceedings and muffler. Even if they break down the price of all those things, it is not up to that. This is pure extortion.”

On Friday, the university management released another memo informing students that the memorabilia price had been reviewed and reduced to N35,500. This is only a N2,000 difference from the initial N37,500 compulsory payment.

FIJ also learnt that the graduands were afraid to speak out against this directive on social media because of the school’s zero-tolerance policy to protests and public criticisms. They remain students of the school until they receive their degrees.

“Students are scared to speak up because they want to save their heads. We got another memo that the price has been reduced to N35,500. What is the difference? It is almost the same thing. The only thing they removed from the list was the DVD,” Moyo Aisha (not real name), another graduand, told FIJ.

“N35,500 for memorabilia, which should be optional, and a convocation fee of N26,500. We are mandated to pay over N61,500. This is unnecessary, but fresh graduates are scared to speak because we want to save our heads. People are just struggling in this economy and the school still demands this from them just because they want to graduate.”

Aisha also told FIJ that the country’s ailing economy would make it difficult for the graduating students and their parents to pay the fees.

“Many parents will travel to Ilorin for their children’s convocation and spend money on transport, logistics, feeding and others. Adding this to the list of their expenses is unfair. I, for instance, am already planning to begin my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year, which is about a month away, and I need money to get items for the orientation camp,” Aisha explained.

“For a school that claims to care about the mental health of students and is rated one of the best in Nigeria, I don’t think they should be doing this. This is counter-intuitive to what they stand for. If I don’t see the money, I won’t go to my convocation.”

Another graduating student who told FIJ that he was the one fending for himself in school opined that the fees were outrageous.

He said that he would be making the payment from his pocket and noted that the university management was not considerate to students like himself.

“We all understand the situation of the country. This final year has been stressful, from spending money on projects and signing clearance forms. Everyone is going through a tough time financially and the school is not being considerate enough,” he told FIJ on Friday.

“I am one of the students who have to fend for themselves. I will have to pay over N60,000 for memorabilia and convocation fees. Suits are sold for around N60,000, shoes for around 30,000, and at least N20,000 for photography. Imagine spending all this just because you want to graduate.”

This is not the first incident of graduates lamenting payments of convocation charges they considered outrageous.

In 2023, the university management compelled its graduates to pay an additional convocation fee of N17,700 after the graduates paid N38,000 as convocation charges. These students kicked and protested against the directive on social media.

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4 replies on “UNILORIN Graduands May Miss October Convocation Because They Can’t Afford N61,500 Fee”

Thanks for this post, I want to add this..
Some people paid #38500 as Convocation fee before it was reduced to 26500 so will there be a refund??

For someone like me who had two extra years with struggles of paying school fees please how do you want me to get the money on my own
This is not fair at all,they should please in God’s name remove the memorabilia cus most of us are not interested in it
😭😭

A REBUTTAL OF ‘FIJ’ REPORT:

UNILORIN’s Convocation Memorabilia charges not extortion

The attention of the management of the University of Ilorin has been drawn to your report, entitled “UNILORIN Graduands May Miss October Convocation Because They Can’t Afford N61,500 Fee”, in which you raised unnecessary issues over the recently released charges to be paid by every graduand in the build-up to our forthcoming 39th Convocation Ceremonies.

We wish to state unequivocally that the report, in its entirety, is speculative, erroneous and baseless, as its contents fly in the face of current economic realities in the country.

Contrary to what the FIJ wants its readers to believe, there is no extortion in the N35, 500 charges for Memorabilia, which has become a yearly convocation memento. We all know that prices of all materials in the country have attracted more than 300% increase, yet the addition to the cost of the Memorabilia this year is not up to 100% of what our graduands paid last year.

We want to state without any equivocation that the rates attached to the items contained in the Memorabilia are the lowest available in the light of the current economic realities of the country. Even though the University reserves the right to determine what materials are necessary for our graduands in their celebratory mood, it is not in our character to exploit them. And we don’t need FIJ or any meddlesome interloper to tell us how our Convocation Ceremonies, which have always been of world-class standard, are to be conducted.

As a golden principle, free speech is guaranteed at the University of Ilorin, and the management holds constant consultations with all stakeholders, especially the student body, before major decisions affecting them are taken. This spirit played out last year before school charges were fixed to the satisfaction of our student populace.

It is on record that the University of Ilorin has trained well-mannered and matured students who are bold, brave, logical and ever responsive.
Thank you.

E-signed
Kunle Akogun,
Director, Corporate Affairs,
UNILORIN
28th September, 2024

The point is, you’re not the only one being affected by the economic crisis! Some students are the ones catering for their expenses and your outrageous charges have put them under very unnecessary pressures. The Memorabilia shii should NOT be enforced! It’s of absolutely no usefulness to SOME students on the long run. It should be made optional.
FIJ is right in the entirety of what it has put out there. Stop extorting students.
You collected so much from the last set, only to brand a plumbing pipe for them as SCROLL.
LMFAO