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| Lagos State University of Education |
A significant confrontation is unfolding at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) in Ijanikin as its first cohort of degree holders rejects a newly imposed ₦118,000 convocation fee. The Class of 2026 pioneer graduands describe the charge as excessive and poorly timed amid Nigeria’s persistent economic pressures, NYSC mobilisation costs, and the realities of starting adult life after years of study.
An internal management notice instructed all pioneer degree graduands to pay the full amount via the university portal between Monday, 12 October and Friday, 30 October 2026. The official breakdown lists six components: Academic Gown – ₦20,000; Brochure and Certificate – ₦50,000; Convocation Package – ₦35,000; Online Clearance – ₦5,000; Alumni Registration – ₦5,000; and Plagiarism Check – ₦3,000. The total comes to ₦118,000.
The response was swift. Under the banner of Concerned LASUED Pioneer Graduands, the students issued a joint statement rejecting the fee structure and the short payment window. “While we recognise the importance of a convocation ceremony in celebrating our academic journey and achievements, we strongly believe that the financial burden placed on graduands must be reasonable, considerate, and reflective of the prevailing economic realities in Nigeria,” the statement read. “₦118,000 is simply too much to bear.”
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They pointed out that the mandatory university charge is only the beginning. Graduands must still fund clothing, transportation, photography, possible accommodation, and personal commitments. Many are also preparing for National Youth Service Corps orientation camps scheduled for November, adding further expenses for kits, travel, and incidentals at a time when family resources are already stretched.
The two-week deadline, they argued, offers little room to mobilise funds in the current climate.
Their four demands are clear: outright rejection of the ₦118,000 fee in its present form; an urgent review and significant reduction; an extension of the payment deadline; and postponement of the ceremony itself if an affordable solution cannot be reached. “This is not an attempt to undermine the university or the significance of its convocation ceremony. Rather, it is a sincere call for fairness, empathy, and responsible consideration of the students who have worked hard to earn their degrees,” the statement continued. “We cannot celebrate an academic milestone at the expense of our financial stability and peace of mind.”
Signed by Akinteye Babtee Babatunde on behalf of the group, the statement called on peers to withhold payment until a fair resolution is reached and promoted the hashtags
#NoTo₦118KConvocationFee, #FairConvocationFees, and #ReviewTheConvocationFee.
“Our message is simple: Review the fee, relieve the burden, and give the pioneer graduands a reason to celebrate! Our degrees should be a source of celebration, not financial distress.”
From College of Education to University: The Pioneer Context
LASUED’s story is relatively recent. Formed in 2022 through the merger and elevation of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) in Oto/Ijanikin and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education in Epe, the institution was designed to expand access to degree-level teacher education in Lagos State. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration pushed the conversion to ease pressure on the sole state university at the time, Lagos State University (LASU), and to produce more qualified educators.
The first batch of approximately 3,300 students matriculated in early 2023 after the National Universities Commission approved programmes and carrying capacity. At the time, the university had proposed ₦195,000 in school fees for pioneers; the governor reduced it to ₦68,000 (exclusive of acceptance fees) in recognition of economic pressures. Subsequent sessions have seen fees settle in the ₦101,000–₦131,000 range for many students depending on status and semester.
By mid-2026 the pioneering class had completed their studies and begun NYSC mobilisation, a milestone the university publicly celebrated. The forthcoming convocation was expected to be a landmark event marking the institution’s first full degree output. Instead, the fee announcement has turned a moment of institutional pride into a flashpoint over cost and empathy.
Putting ₦118,000 in Perspective
Nigeria’s national minimum wage stands at ₦70,000 per month. In Lagos the state figure is higher in some implementations, yet many households still operate near or below these levels. A single ₦118,000 payment exceeds one and a half months of the federal minimum wage before any other graduation or NYSC costs.
Comparisons with other institutions underscore the disparity. At LASU, first-degree and diploma graduands have recently been asked to pay around ₦27,000 to ₦30,000 for the convocation package (with higher amounts for postgraduate candidates).
The National Open University of Nigeria has charged ₦55,000 for convocation plus a separate alumni fee. Other universities list gown hire, certificate, and proceedings fees that often total far less than LASUED’s combined figure when broken down item by item.
The largest single line item at LASUED—₦50,000 for brochure and certificate—raises questions about production costs and value. Gown charges of ₦20,000 and a ₦35,000 “convocation package” further inflate the total. While universities argue that ceremonies require logistics, printing, security, and memorabilia, the scale relative to both historical LASU figures and students’ immediate financial realities has fuelled the perception of insensitivity.
Wider Pressures on Students and Institutions
The dispute occurs against a backdrop of recent industrial action at Lagos state-owned universities.
Academic and non-academic staff had been on strike over implementation of allowances and agreements; ASUU-LASUED suspended its action in early October after the state government approved certain payments, with academic activities set to resume around the same period the fee notice took effect. The timing has not gone unnoticed by students already navigating post-graduation uncertainty.
Nigerian public universities operate under tight budgets. Internally generated revenue is increasingly important as government subventions face competing demands. Inflation, currency volatility, and rising operational costs affect everything from electricity to printing. Private institutions have openly cited these pressures when justifying fee increases. Public institutions, however, carry a stronger expectation of accessibility, especially for a specialised education university whose mission centres on producing teachers for the public system.
For the pioneers themselves, the financial squeeze is multi-layered. Many come from families that stretched to cover four years of fees, transport, and living costs. The transition from student to corps member or job seeker rarely brings immediate income. Adding a high compulsory ceremony fee at the exact moment of exit creates a practical and symbolic barrier to celebration.
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What Happens Next
As of the latest reports, the university has not issued a public response or revised the fee structure. The payment window opens on 12 October. Students have signalled collective non-compliance pending dialogue. Past Nigerian campus fee protests have sometimes produced reductions, instalment options, or extended deadlines when management engaged early; in other cases they have led to standoffs that delayed ceremonies or certificates.
The outcome will matter beyond this cohort. LASUED is still building its identity and reputation. How it handles its first major student grievance over costs will shape perceptions among current undergraduates, prospective applicants, and the broader public about whether the institution prioritises accessibility alongside academic excellence.
For the pioneer graduands, the core request remains straightforward: a fee structure that allows them to mark the end of their degree journey without compromising their immediate financial stability. In an economy where every naira counts, the difference between a celebratory milestone and an additional source of distress can be measured in the thousands of naira universities choose to charge for the right to walk across a stage and collect a certificate.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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