Ex-LASU VC, Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello Proposes N1m Tuition For Public Varsities
N1M TUITION? Ex-LASU VC Says Public Universities Need Millions to Survive
The immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has said public universities seeking financial independence may need to charge at least N1 million per student annually.
Olatunji-Bello made the disclosure in an interview with The PUNCH while reflecting on her five-year tenure, which ended on Saturday.
According to her, LASU’s monthly wage bill has risen above N1 billion, while the university’s internally generated revenue (IGR), now about N13 billion annually, remains insufficient to cover salaries.
“Universities that want to attain self-sustainability will have to increase school fees into millions,” she said.
She added: “Any public university that wants to sustain financial independence will have to charge school fees of not less than N1 million per student.”
The former VC stressed that quality education requires adequate funding and urged parents to give greater priority to their children’s education.
She said one of the lowest points of her administration was the 2024 students’ union protest over a N10,000 CBT payment, while she listed LASU becoming the most subscribed university by UTME candidates in 2025 and 2026 among the major highlights of her tenure.
Olatunji-Bello also said her administration increased LASU’s IGR from about N3 billion to N13 billion, introduced new academic programmes, expanded digital processes and explored additional revenue streams.
Her comments come amid renewed calls for Nigerian public universities to diversify their funding sources. Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, has urged vice-chancellors to explore alumni contributions, research grants,
philanthropy, endowments and private-sector partnerships, rather than relying solely on government funding.
Olatunji-Bello was succeeded by Prof. Badejo Olawumi, appointed by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on September 10.
