University Of Medical Sciences, Ondo Sends Students Home Over Fees

By Ayodele Oni

University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, (UNIMED), has been closed with a directive to students to vacate the campus by Thursday, just as the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Adesegun Fatusi, shed light on the new fees.

The Management claimed in a memo that it postponed students’ resumption for the academic session.

The action, it was gathered, was meant to stop a planned protest by the students against the sudden increase in their school fees by the state government.

The University had announced an increase in fees, especially for medical students, payable at the commencement of the new academic session.

The new fees indicate that medical students will pay as much as N1.3 million as against N515,000.00 payable in the previous academic session (2020/2021).

The closure or postponement of resumption was contained in a circular addressed to the staff and students of the institution and signed by Ezekiel Adeniran for the school’s registrar.

It stated that “This is to inform all staff and students of the University of medical sciences, Ondo that the University management on behalf of the Senate has approved that the resumption date for the 2021 /2022 academic session for all returning students of the University be postponed indefinitely.

“Therefore, by this circular, all returning students are directed to vacate University campus and their respective Halls of residence within the next 48 hours (I.e Thursday 11th November, 2021).

“Please note that the University management will not hesitate to invoke necessary sections on any students who defies this directive. A new date will be communicated as appropriate.”

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Fatusi explained that the increase was only meant for new intakes.

According to him, the increase was necessitated by high cost of medical equipments occassioned by high rate of foreign exchange.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had earlier condemned Governor  Rotimi Akeredolu over the increase in school fees.