-By Joseph Obaro Ikupa, Worldwide Publicity Secretary, AAU Alumni Association:

The impasse created by the purported astronomical increase in fees at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State has been laid to rest. This was disclosed by the Worldwide President of the Ambrose Alli University Alumni Association, Dr. Clifford Omozeghian and the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Asomwan Sonnie Adagbonyin in a joint press conference at the SSG Conference Room, Government House, Benin City, Edo State.

This followed a tripartite meeting held at the government house Benin City by the Special Intervention Team (SIT), the University Management and the 11 Man Intervention Committee set up by the Alumni Association to resolve the imbroglio.

Addressing a Press Conference after the meeting, Dr. Omozeghian said that they have just risen from a fruitful deliberation, which saw to a drastic reduction in the fees. He stated that the amount he and his team suggested was accepted by the SIT and the university management without any argument.

–From right Clifford Omozeghian, WWP, AAU Alumni Association, Pst. Obaro Ikupa WWP PRO, Barr. Arierhie Odiete, Chairman Sapele branch AAU Alumni and Mrs. Ingrid Atseyuku, Chairperson Asaba branch, AAU Alumni Association

According to Worldwide President of the Alumni Association, the highest amount of fees in the university now is 371,750, as against 558,500 earlier proposed by the university management and SIT for the faculty of Basic Medical Sciences. This is followed by 361,500 for Law as against 661,500 which was earlier proposed.

Next is Accountancy which was reduced from 316,500 to 240,750. This is followed by the Faculty of Engineering which was reduced from 316,500 to 237,500, Departments of Anatomy from 285,000 to 225,000, Computer Science reduced from 278,500 to 218,500, Business Administration and Public Administration which were reduced from 286,500 to 216,250, Chemistry from 268,000 to 208,000, Architecture and Building from228,500 to 193,500, Mass Communication from 252,250 to 192,250 Economics from 236,000 to 191,000, Microbiology from 228,000 to 188,000.

Others are: Faculty of Education and Life Sciences from 218,000 to 183,000, Physiology from 208,000 to 178,000, faculty of Agriculture from 188,000 to 168,000, faculty of Arts and faculty of Social Sciences from 202,250 to 167,250.

Also speaking at the press conference, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Asomwan Sonnie Adagbonyin said that the above fees apply only to incoming students, as old students are still paying the same fees they paid in the 2021/2022 academic session.

To this end, the President of the Alumni Association, Dr. Clifford Omozeghian, appealed to the students to be law abiding and to cooperate with the management of the institution when they resume school next week. Below is the table showing the old and new fees payable in the institution.

–A cross section of SIT, Management of AAU and the Alumni Association after the meeting in Government House Benin City on Friday.