Why Varsities’ Fee Hike’ll Endanger Youth’s Future, Nat’l Devt

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

Founder and President of One Love Foundation, OLF, Dr Patrick Eholor, has stated that fee hikes by universities are endangering the future of youth and national development.

Eholor, stated on Sunday, October 8, that the fee hikes will also intensify social vices and crime in the country as many youths could be forced to drop out.

He also pleaded with the government to be considerate, saying many Nigerians cannot afford the tuition increase.

His words: “The hike implies that there will be a visible drop-down in the education sector. Some, if not the majority of students, will drop out of school.

“There will be chaos in campuses as the student unions that are closer to the students will organise a protest to oppose the school management, thereby leading to confusion as seen happening in some campuses including the University of Lagos, UNILAG. Such an unpalatable situation might result in loss of lives and property.

“In present-day Nigeria due to the increase in poverty rate, the majority of students do care and pay school fees themselves without government assistance or their family assistance. A hike in school fees will certainly spike the depression rate in Nigeria, which might lead to suicide. There is also low performance. As we know, no humans work well when their hearts are heavy.”