As newly admitted students settle into the 2024/2025 academic session at Obafemi Awolowo University, conversations are already emerging around the compulsory faculty and departmental fees required from them. These fees, which all freshers must pay to their respective associations, represent one of the first financial obligations new students encounter after gaining admission.
Faculty and departmental dues are recognised as essential payments that help associations run administrative activities, provide academic support services, and organise student-related programmes. However, with no unified fee structure across the university, freshers in different departments are faced with varying amounts, leading to a wave of questions and mixed reactions.
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Concerns Get Raised
Damilare, a Part 1 student in the Arts and Social Sciences department, raised a concern about the high amount of his faculty and departmental fees, which totals ₦23,000. He stated, ‘Generally, I cannot say the money is much, but for me it is high. For those not born with a silver spoon like us, it’s high. I know how hard it is for me to pay half of my school fees, and now I am asked to pay ₦23,000 for both faculty and departmental fees, of which I know nothing regarding what they are going to do with the money. I have heard they are not paying it directly to the school, and I would like to understand the usefulness and purpose of the money.’
Similarly, Naomi from the Department of Dramatic Arts mentioned, ‘We are asked to pay ₦6,000 for faculty fees, and we are also informed we will be paying ₦20,000 for faculty dues, which I consider to be excessive. Telling my parents about this is difficult because they already feel I am adding to their burden. However, I have been told that the ₦20,000 will be used to purchase our costumes and print our scripts; for the ₦6,000, I know nothing about how it will be spent.’
Additionally, Mary from the department of Chemistry stated they are required to pay ₦13,500 for faculty registration and ₦12,000 for departmental registration. In her opinion, the total amount is not excessive. She noted that last year, she heard the fees were ₦18,000, which is higher than what is being demanded this year. However, she is still unclear about the purpose of the money.
Moreover, Nusirat and Precious, Part 1 students from the Department of Sociology and Mass Communication, shared their thoughts on the fees. Precious mentioned they are to pay ₦15,000 for faculty fees and ₦8,000 for departmental fees. She feels the amount is reasonable and assumes it will be used to repair chairs and ensure a conducive learning environment. Nusirat, on the other hand, believes the fees are high and should be reduced, despite also being unaware of what the money will be used for.
Heritage, a student from the department of Microbiology, indicated that the departmental fee stands at ₦18,000 while the faculty fee is ₦13,500. She explained that she has no clear idea of what the fees will be used for. According to her, the payments may be intended for fresher materials and packages, but the total amount still feels excessive. She added that since everyone around her is paying, she feels she has no choice.
Another fresher, Ademola Adedoyin from the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Engineering, shared a similar perspective. His department charges ₦15,000, while the faculty fee is ₦7,000. He described the total cost as too much, but said he would pay because it is a requirement for all students.
Others noted that the fees appeared unclear, while a few expressed that the payments seemed justified if the associations provided visible value during the session.
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Currently, the university does not operate a fixed price for these dues, leaving each faculty and department to determine what they consider appropriate for their members. This has created a wide range of figures across different associations, and freshers are responding variably based on their expectations, financial realities, and uncertainty regarding the utilisation of their money.
No Response from Students’ Union Executives
Speaking with the Secretary General of the Students’ Union, Habeeb Oke Isa (Opeyemi), he indicated that ACJOAU should reach out to the Vice President or the Welfare Officer for proper clarification on the issue of faculty and departmental fees. However, all attempts to contact both the Vice President and the Welfare Officer were unsuccessful at the time of writing this report. It should nonetheless be noted that on December 17, 2023, ACJOAU reported that the then Secretary General of the Great Ife Students’ Union, Akinboni Opeyemi, stated that the Union, in its meeting with faculties and departments, made efforts to ensure that the fees do not exceed 10,000 naira.
Freshers continue to call for clearer communication, a breakdown of what the dues cover, and a transparent explanation from their associations.