The immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has triggered a major conversation about university funding after saying public universities may need to charge at least ₦1 million per student to achieve financial independence.
Olatunji-Bello made the comment while reflecting on her five-year tenure as LASU vice-chancellor, which ended on September 19, 2026. She discussed the financial challenges facing public universities and the growing cost of running institutions.
According to reports of the interview, she pointed to LASU’s rising expenses, including its monthly payroll, and argued that internally generated revenue remains insufficient to cover the university’s financial obligations.
The ₦1 million figure has generated strong reactions from students, parents, graduates and other Nigerians, many of whom have questioned whether families across the country can afford such tuition fees.
Some reactions have focused on the argument that public universities require more funding to maintain infrastructure, pay workers and provide quality education. Others have warned that significantly higher fees could make university education inaccessible to many Nigerian families.
The discussion has spread across student union pages, alumni communities and other social media platforms, turning the former LASU VC’s comments into a wider debate about university funding.
The controversy has also renewed questions about whether public universities should depend mainly on government funding, increase internally generated revenue or adopt substantially higher tuition fees to meet their growing operating costs.
