- Students protest tuition hike from ₦90,000 to ₦580,000
- Fee increase approved by NAUTH College of Nursing board
- Management cites economic realities and operational costs
- Students stage protest at hospital’s main gate in Nnewi
Students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital School of Nursing have taken to the streets to protest a sharp increase in tuition fees from ₦90,000 to ₦580,000, describing the decision as shocking and unfair.
Students of the School of Nursing at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital staged a protest on Tuesday over a steep increase in school fees announced by the hospital management.
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The protest followed an internal memo reportedly issued on January 23 by O. I. Ezejiofor, chairman of the board of the NAUTH College of Nursing, informing students about the new fee structure.
According to the memo, the management approved the increase as part of efforts to upgrade the institution into a reputable monotechnic.
“The hospital management and the board of the College of Nursing, in an ongoing effort towards upgrading the institution to a reputable monotechnic, have approved an upward review of students’ school fees across all levels,” the circular stated.
The statement also noted that the adjustment was necessary due to current economic realities and rising operational costs, and that the new fees would take effect from the 2025/2026 academic session.
A breakdown attached to the memo showed how the ₦580,000 total fee was structured:
• ₦250,000 – Tuition
• ₦50,000 – Maintenance/Caution fee
• ₦50,000 – Library fee
• ₦30,000 – Medical fee
• ₦60,000 – Examination fee
• ₦20,000 – Portal fee
• ₦30,000 – Transport fee
• ₦50,000 – Accreditation fee
• ₦40,000 – Additional maintenance charge
Management directed students to “ensure full and immediate implementation of the new school fees.”
In response to the announcement, students gathered at the main gate of the institution in Nnewi, holding placards expressing their frustration.
One of the placards read:
“From ₦90,000 to ₦580,000 – Very Bad.”
Many of the protesting students wore milk-coloured nursing uniforms, while others appeared in casual outfits such as white tops and black skirts.
They marched around the entrance of the hospital and chanted solidarity songs to draw attention to their concerns over the drastic fee increase.
As of the time of filing this report, the management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital had not issued an official response to the protest.
However, sources indicated that the student union is currently engaging the hospital authorities in discussions over the new tuition policy.