…NAUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Joseph Ugboaja, confirmed the fee increase but described the revised fees as still affordable compared with other nursing schools in the region.
ANAMBRA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Students of the School of Nursing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, staged a protest on Tuesday against a significant hike in tuition fees, which reportedly rose from ₦90,000 to ₦580,000.
The increase was communicated via an internal memo dated January 23, issued by the chairman of the NAUTH College of Nursing board, announcing a review of student fees.
Angry over the development, the students marched with placards and blocked the school gate to voice their dissatisfaction. They also expressed concerns about the rising cost of accommodation around the institution, which compounded their frustration.
In response, NAUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Joseph Ugboaja, confirmed the fee increase but described the revised fees as still affordable compared with other nursing schools in the region. He explained that the college’s new board proposed the adjustment to enhance institutional standards.
“We will meet with the board members who proposed the new tuition and with the students’ union leadership to address the concerns,” Ugboaja said. He noted that the ₦580,000 fee was approved by management, but there is room for further review through dialogue with relevant stakeholders.
“Our fees have historically been low, and even with this increment, we remain among the lowest in the South-East. While students previously paying ₦90,000 may see the increase as significant, the intention is to maintain quality standards,” he added.
Regarding accommodation, Ugboaja clarified that the institution does not own hostels, as most are privately run and arranged directly between students and operators.
Also weighing in, NAUTH’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Chunyere Onwuka, said the students’ union leadership was not involved in organizing the protest. “I do not know who organized the protest, but the fee adjustment is moderate,” she stated.
Onwuka further explained that the revised fees cover additional services such as feeding and transportation for clinical postings to Enugu. She emphasized that, compared with other nursing schools in the South-East, NAUTH’s fees remain relatively lower, with some institutions charging up to ₦800,000.
