How true is this narrative? Before proceeding, please note that the data provided is based on available online sources and is intended strictly for
How true is this narrative?
Before proceeding, please note that the data provided is based on available online sources and is intended strictly for explanatory purposes.
Now let’s start with the data on the top 3 most expensive private schools in Nigeria.
According to www.universitycompass.com, the top three most expensive Universities in Nigeria are:
No.1 – African University of Science and Technology.
N3.5 million ($8,760) and above.
No.2 – American University of Nigeria, Yola
N2.5 million and above.
No.3 – Nigerian Turkish Nile University
N2.5 million and above.
Covenant University, Redeemers, Babcock, Idahosa University rank from No.7 to No.16, each with fees ranging between N700,000 and N1,000,000.
Before you argue that Church-owned Universities should be free, let’s do some logical calculations.
Firstly, there is no nation in the world where quality education is free. Governments either subsidize fees or provide loans or scholarships for students.
Now, let’s look at my second point.
How much is UNILAG school fees?
About an average of N150,000, excluding some additional miscellaneous charges.
How much does it cost to provide your books for every academic session?
N50,000 to N100,000, depending on your course.
Accommodation: Based on available data, there are only 8,000 bed spaces in UNILAG, a campus with a student population of about 55,000, according to Wikipedia.
Undergraduates: 43,000+
Postgraduates: 9,000+
This means most students will have to rent accommodation privately and outside campus.
How much does it cost to rent a comfortable mini-flat around Yaba?
Between N400,000 and N600,000 per year.
Now, let’s look at other expenses.
How much does it cost to provide water, security, and power in your rented mini-flat for one academic session?
Roughly N200,000 to N250,000 per year.
Let’s do the math:
Tuition fees: N150,000
Off-campus accommodation: N500,000 (excluding two years’ agency and legal fees).
PHCN, fuel, security, water, etc.: N250,000 per year.
Textbooks, handouts, etc.: roughly N100,000 (per year depending on your course).
Total (estimated): N1,000,000
When you add other external expenses, like transport from your accommodation to school, your annual expenses could total roughly N1,500,000.
Now, isn’t this figure close to what’s obtainable in some Church-owned private universities?
The only difference is that in Church-owned private universities, you pay once, while in federal universities, you pay in trickles.
It’s like buying an item in bulk versus buying in pieces. Which do you think would be more expensive?
I schooled at Covenant University:
Power: 24 hours.
Water: 24 hours.
Security: guaranteed.
Lecturers are all on campus, each living in comfortable accommodations.
Lecturers are focused on lecturing, with challenges like power, water, shelter, and insecurity taken off the table.
The campus environment is ideal for academic learning.
The school’s library? International standard! Not a university library filled with outdated 1969 textbooks.
A four-year course means four years.
No ASUU-FG disruptions.
And guess what?
After your first or five-year course graduation, you’re more assured of getting a job due to the name and reputation of your university.
Do you know Covenant University students are among the most employable graduates in Nigeria?
So, when people argue that Church-owned universities are unaffordable, I just laugh at their ignorance and weak arguments.
When you sit down and calculate the total educational expenses you incur at a public university, you’ll realize that many private universities, especially Church-owned ones, are actually cheaper.
Daniel Adeniyi writes from Lagos
