-By Our Reporter:

The Ambrose Alli University on Friday July 7th, 2023, slashed the tuition fees of in-coming students of the University.

This followed appeals by representatives of the AAU Alumni Association Worldwide who met with the Special Intervention Team (SIT) and the University Management at the Conference Room of the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Government House, Benin City.

The eleven-man delegation from the Alumni Association which was led by its President, Mr Clifford Omozeghian, said it had come to help resolve the issues arising from tuition fees increase for in-coming students in the University.

Briefing the press after the tripartite meeting, the Acting Vice-Chancellor (AVC), Professor Asomwan Sonnie Adagbonyin, who led the Management team, said the Management and the SIT agreed to the reduction in deference to the Association and other well-meaning individuals who had intervened in the matter. He maintained that the University’s decision to increase the tuition fees in the first place was not borne out of the desire to punish the incoming students and/or their parents, but to respond to the challenges posed by rising cost which was impacting heavily on the University.

The AVC noted that the Senate of the University had last week appealed to Management to accommodate interfaces on the school fees increase for in-coming students and encourage possible reduction. He said the University decided to re-evaluate the increase as a listening institution.

The AVC praised the Alumni Association for its genuine concern about the University and appreciated the peaceful manner it approached the issue of tuition fees increase for in-coming students in the University, noting that the University deferred to all the proposals it brought to the table on the reduction in reciprocity. Of particular interest is the slashing of tuition fees for the in-coming Law students by about 50%.

Following these downward reviews/readjustments, parents/guardians were advised to avail themselves the opportunity to pay the new approved fees as a follow-up to the acceptance fees they already paid. It was noted that despite the hues and cries raised by some non-state actors who led protests and over-heated the public space with exaggerated figures and percentages of increase, virtually every potential student who was offered admission into the University for the 2022/2023 academic session had already accepted the offers. Trouble makers, saboteurs and selfish politicians masquerading as student activists were advised to go and look for work elsewhere as Ambrose Alli University is not a haven or rallying ground for them. It was stated that Management had been patient enough and that nobody should take its calmness for weakness.

In-coming and returning students were charged to be law-abiding and not to allow themselves to be used as cannon fodder. They were also requested to be mindful of the recently approved re-adjusted academic calendar as the University Management and the Senate are ready to follow it through in full throttle. All those who want details of the approved new/slashed tuition fees were advised to visit the University website on https://aauekpoma.edu.ng/2023/07/08/2022-2023-session-newly-admitted-students-school-fees-review-anaysis/