Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), has said public universities across Nigeria may need to charge a minimum of ₦1 million in tuition per student to achieve financial self-sustainability.
Olatunji-Bello made the position while discussing the financial challenges confronting Nigeria’s public university system and the need to develop sustainable funding models for higher education.
According to her, the current financial structure of many public universities may not be sufficient to adequately support the institutions’ growing operational responsibilities, including staff costs, infrastructure development, research, maintenance and other academic requirements.
She argued that universities require more reliable and sustainable sources of revenue to maintain quality education and improve their facilities and services.
The former LASU Vice-Chancellor suggested that tuition fees of at least ₦1 million per student could provide public universities with additional resources needed to operate more effectively and reduce their dependence on government funding.
Her position comes amid ongoing national discussions over the cost and funding of tertiary education in Nigeria, particularly concerns about the ability of public universities to maintain academic standards while operating under financial constraints.
Public universities in Nigeria have traditionally relied heavily on government subventions and other sources of funding, while students contribute through tuition and various approved charges. However, rising costs of infrastructure, personnel, utilities, research and other institutional needs have intensified debates over how universities should be funded.
Any move toward significantly higher tuition fees would also raise questions about affordability and access, particularly for students from low- and middle-income households. Such considerations remain central to discussions about sustainable higher education financing.
Olatunji-Bello’s proposal therefore adds to the wider debate over how Nigeria can balance affordable access to university education with the financial resources required to maintain and improve the quality of public institutions.
The discussion is expected to continue as policymakers, university administrators, students, parents and other stakeholders consider possible funding models for the country’s higher education sector.
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