University of Ilorin graduands may miss October Convocation as they can’t afford N61,500 convocation fee

Graduands of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) are lamenting the compulsory N61,500 convocation fees the school management has slapped on them.

The N61,500 covers memorabilia packages and convocation charges for fresh graduates, and some graduands say it may hinder them from attending their convocation in October, FIJ has learnt.

A compulsory payment of N35,500 is for memorabilia packages containing branded t-shirts, lapel pins, the order of proceeding, mufflers and rented convocation gowns.

Graduands will then pay an additional N26,500 as convocation charges, bringing the payments to a total of N61,500.

A screenshot of a prospective graduate’s portal.
FIJ learnt that the convocation charges on the portals was around N30,000 when the school released its graduating list, but it was eventually reduced to N26,500.

Graduands told FIJ they were delighted to see a reduction in the convocation charges and had been expecting to pay N10,000 for memorabilia based on previous fees.

Little did they know that the school had other plans.

On Thursday, the university management released a memo informing students that they would be mandated to pay N37,500 for memorabilia.

The memo.
Alex Bode (not real name), one of the prospective graduates, told FIJ that this was extortion on the part of the school.

“The convocation fee is now N26,500. Initially, it was around N30,000 on the portal, but after some weeks, they reduced it to N26,500. When students saw that, they were very happy, not knowing they had something up their sleeves,” Bode said on television

“We got a memo that we would pay N37,500 for memorabilia a week later. The package included a T-shirt, DVD, lapel pin, renting of convocation gown, order of proceedings and muffler. Even if they break down the price of all those things, it is not up to that. This is pure extortion.”

On Friday, the university management released another memo informing students that the memorabilia price had been reviewed and reduced to N35,500. This is only a N2,000 difference from the initial N37,500 compulsory payment.

The memo.
FIJ also learnt that the graduands were afraid to speak out against this directive on social media because of the school’s zero-tolerance policy to protests and public criticisms. They remain students of the school until they receive their degrees.

“Students are scared to speak up because they want to save their heads. We got another memo that the price has been reduced to N35,500. What is the difference? It is almost the same thing. The only thing they removed from the list was the DVD,” Moyo Aisha (not real name), another graduand, told FIJ.

“N35,500 for memorabilia, which should be optional, and a convocation fee of N26,500. We are mandated to pay over N61,500. This is unnecessary, but fresh graduates are scared to speak because we want to save our heads. People are just struggling in this economy and the school still demands this from them just because they want to graduate.”

Aisha also told FIJ that the country’s ailing economy would make it difficult for the graduating students and their parents to pay the fees.

“Many parents will travel to Ilorin for their children’s convocation and spend money on transport, logistics, feeding and others. Adding this to the list of their expenses is unfair. I, for instance, am already planning to begin my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year, which is about a month away, and I need money to get items for the orientation camp,” Aisha explained.

“For a school that claims to care about the mental health of students and is rated one of the best in Nigeria, I don’t think they should be doing this. This is counter-intuitive to what they stand for. If I don’t see the money, I won’t go to my convocation.”

Another graduating student who told FIJ that he was the one fending for himself in school opined that the fees were outrageous.

He said that he would be making the payment from his pocket and noted that the university management was not considerate to students like himself.

“We all understand the situation of the country. This final year has been stressful, from spending money on projects and signing clearance forms. Everyone is going through a tough time financially and the school is not being considerate enough,” he told FIJ on Friday.

“I am one of the students who have to fend for themselves. I will have to pay over N60,000 for memorabilia and convocation fees. Suits are sold for around N60,000, shoes for around 30,000, and at least N20,000 for photography. Imagine spending all this just because you want to graduate.”

This is not the first incident of graduates lamenting payments of convocation charges they considered outrageous.

In 2023, the university management compelled its graduates to pay an additional convocation fee of N17,700 after the graduates paid N38,000 as convocation charges. These students kicked and protested against the directive on social media.