Nigeria is at a crossroads as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pushes forward ambitious reforms across various sectors, education being a central focus. However, the recent fee hikes at federal universities and the introduction of the Student Loan Act have raised serious concerns about their long-term socio-economic implications for the country’s most vulnerable citizens. Although the government claims that these policies are building a sustainable foundation for educational growth, they run the danger of widening the gap between rich and poor and preventing low-income families from accessing higher education.
As Nigeria faces broader economic challenges, the potential consequences for social mobility and economic growth cannot be ignored. Read also: Govt must prioritise investment in Nigeria education system, says Rhodes-Vivour University fee hikes: A double-edged sword The decision to increase fees at federal universities was framed as a necessary measure to improve educational infrastructure and cover rising operational costs. Yet, for many Nigerian families, these fee hikes threaten to place tertiary education out of reach.
While official tuition remains free, ancillary fees have more than doubled in many institutions, compounding the financial burden in a country already grappling with rampant inflation. Tertiary education has long been seen as a path to upward mobility in Nigeria. However, with the rising costs of higher education, students from low- and middle-income back.