Graduates of Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, in Ondo State, have issued a stern warning to the institution’s management over recent increments in convocation and certificate-related fees, threatening to disrupt the university’s forthcoming convocation ceremony with a mass protest if their demands are not met.
In an open protest letter addressed to the university authorities and signed by members of the graduating Class of 2022, the aggrieved graduates described the fee increases as “unjustified” and “oppressive,” calling for an immediate reversal of the policy.
According to the letter, the convocation gown and booklet fee was raised from ₦10,000 to ₦30,000, while the certificate collection fee climbed from ₦15,000 to ₦25,000. Most contentious, however, is a new policy stipulating that graduates must pay the convocation fee before receiving their statement of results — a vital document required for job applications, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) enrolment, and further studies — even if they do not intend to participate in the convocation ceremony.
The protesting graduates condemned the development, arguing that education should not be used as a tool for exploitation. They demanded transparency from the university management regarding the rationale behind the increments and requested that students and alumni representatives be included in financial decision-making processes moving forward.
“We are not asking for favours; we are demanding fairness,” the letter reads. “Education is a right, not a luxury, and students should not be punished for being unable to afford extras unrelated to their academic qualifications.”
The graduates warned that failure by the university to address their grievances would lead to public demonstrations, media campaigns, and legal action. They also advised members of the Class of 2022 to suspend any payments related to the increased fees until the issues are resolved.
In their list of demands, the protesters called for the reversal of the fee hikes, the decoupling of academic document release from convocation-related charges, a transparent breakdown of service costs, and the involvement of student and alumni bodies in future financial decisions.
As tensions mount ahead of the scheduled convocation ceremony, the university management is yet to publicly respond to the concerns raised by the graduates.
