FORMER LASU VC CLARIFIES N1M EDUCATION COST REMARK

The media aide to the immediate-past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has clarified her recent comments concerning the cost of university education in Nigeria.

Emmanuel Adeyemi said the former vice-chancellor’s remarks about N1m had been misinterpreted after excerpts from her interview circulated widely on social media.

According to him, Olatunji-Bello was not proposing that students or their parents should pay N1m annually as tuition. Rather, she was explaining the estimated cost of providing quality undergraduate education at a standard comparable with institutions in other parts of the world.

Adeyemi said the former VC estimated that delivering such quality education costs about N1m per student annually. However, he stressed that she did not suggest transferring the entire amount to students.

He explained that Olatunji-Bello was advocating innovation and diversified revenue sources to help public universities achieve financial sustainability.

Adeyemi also said her comments were intended to highlight the financial requirements of maintaining quality education and encourage shared responsibility among universities, government and parents.

He urged the public and education stakeholders to consider the former VC’s complete remarks rather than relying on isolated excerpts.

Olatunji-Bello served as LASU vice-chancellor for five years before completing her tenure on September 19, 2026.