THE Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, has disclosed that students of the institution pay as low as N90 for accommodation and an additional N2,500 as charges for maintenance, making it a total of N2,590 per annum as accommodation fee.
Professor Ogunbodede disclosed this while delivering his speech at the International Campus Journalism Conference, hosted by the Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University.
He mentioned that no university will be happy to see students suffering on the grounds of poor accommodation. For this reason, he added that the University has identified the problems related to the problem and has started making moves to tackle them.
“What students pay on campus per annum is N90 plus N2,500 for maintenance fees making a total of N2,590 for a whole year and they enjoy free light and free water,” he said.
He further said that “less than 25 million naira is made from the halls of residence per year. The monthly electricity bill when students are in session is about 60 million, and when they are not in session, it is between 35-40 million”.
The Vice Chancellor admitted that although the fees paid for accommodation by students appears to be very small, it does not affect the economic standing of the University.
Professor Ogunbodede, who also was a member of ACJ OAU in 1977, said that his administration will continue to work towards ensuring the comfort of students in the halls of residence.
However, he added that campus journalists should help in sensitising students on the poor effects of squatting and overcrowding in the rooms.
“We are working on tackling the problems. We are talking to people who will come and establish hostels and they are responding,” he said.
Also, during the event, the Vice Chancellor dispelled rumours that the management of the institution is working towards increasing the tuition fee.
According to him, “the University is not increasing any fee and I can tell you that there is no reason for the University to increase fee. It is not necessary.”
The event which has as its theme, “The Proper Use Of Media: An Elixir To Terrorism Attacks In Nigeria”, had in attendance Mr Samuel Omatseye, represented by Mr Taiwo; Engineer (Mrs) Margaret Oguntala; Oba Abdul-Rasheed Akanbi, Oluwo of Iwo Land; campus journalists from various institutions, among others.
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