The 2022 graduates of the University of Ilorin, Kwara state Nigeria are protesting alleged extortion by the university’s management.
Gatekeepers News reports that some of the alumni are seen on X formerly known as Twitter calling out the university on the extortion.
Background of the story
The 2022 graduates of the University of Ilorin, who were initially supposed to graduate in October 2021, experienced significant delays in receiving their certificates and having their convocation ceremony.
This was due to the university’s decision to participate in an industrial strike, which disrupted the academic calendar.
As a result, these graduates graduated in December 2021, leaving the university without a formal convocation ceremony or their hard-earned certificates.
As a requirement for clearance, the 2021 graduates were required to pay a convocation fee of 20,800 Naira, which they promptly fulfilled in November and December of the same year.
In January 2023, they were mobilized for the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and have been serving their nation since then.
However, their journey to obtaining their certificates took another unexpected turn when a recent memo from the university management declared that the graduates must pay an additional compulsory fee of 10,000 Naira for memorabilia, and they were also required to top up the convocation fee paid last year with an additional 17,000 Naira.
This announcement effectively nullified the agreement that the university had with the graduates, who are already struggling with financial constraints.
It is crucial to note that these recent graduates are earning a monthly stipend of only 33,000 Naira through the NYSC program, which is barely enough to meet their basic needs in the current economic reality of Nigeria.
Adding a new financial burden with only ten days’ notice before the convocation ceremony has left many graduates outraged and financially stressed.
In response to this sudden financial demand, the 2022 graduates of the University of Ilorin have taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their displeasure and mobilize against the university’s decision.
They are using hashtags such as #NoTopUp, #NotoCompulsoryMemorabilia, and #NoToExtortion to draw attention to their cause and seek support from the public.
The graduates argue that the university’s demand for additional fees contradicts the initial agreement, and they are now demanding transparency and fairness in the convocation process.
As the online protest gains momentum, it remains to be seen how the University of Ilorin will respond to the concerns raised by its recent graduates.
Gatekeepers News will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as the situation unfolds.
