Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has further reduced its e-portal access and bandwidth maintenance fee from ₦15,000 to ₦13,000 following concerns raised by students over the revised school charges and additional financial demands for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The latest adjustment comes after students questioned the justification for the ₦15,000 portal fee, which management had earlier attributed to improved security and the protection of students’ data.
The development follows the university’s announcement of its undergraduate charges on October 30, 2026, which initially reflected increases across various faculties. Fresh students in Arts and Humanities were expected to pay ₦161,000, up from ₦131,000, while returning students’ charges increased from ₦76,000 to ₦98,000.
Following discussions between the Students’ Union and university management, the proposed additional charge for returning students in Arts and Humanities was reduced from ₦22,000 to ₦7,000, bringing the total school charge to ₦83,000.
However, the introduction of the separate ₦15,000 e-portal access fee generated further criticism, with students questioning the need for the charge, particularly amid complaints about the platform’s performance.
The Great Ife Students’ Union subsequently advised students to suspend payment of the portal fee pending further clarification.
Speaking on the development, some students described the charge as excessive, citing the financial difficulties already associated with meeting other academic expenses.
Adamolekun Ayomide, a Part Three student of Literature and English, questioned the amount management proposed to collect, estimating that it could generate about ₦450 million if calculated against a conservative student population of 30,000.
He also called for greater transparency regarding how the fee was determined and the specific expenses it was intended to cover.
Similarly, other students argued that the reduction in the proposed school charge did not adequately address their concerns, as the additional portal fee brought the overall increase closer to the initial ₦22,000 adjustment.
With the latest announcement reducing the e-portal access and bandwidth maintenance fee to ₦13,000, the university has adjusted the previously announced amount by ₦2,000.
The development marks another adjustment to the financial charges that have generated reactions among students, although concerns about the affordability of university education, the portal’s performance and transparency surrounding the charges remain central to the discussion.
