Electricity Tariff May Collapse Nigerian University System By 2025 – VC Raises Alarm

The Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University in Ondo State has raised concerns regarding the potential collapse of the academic system by 2025 if the government does not take immediate action to address the rising electricity supply costs to Nigerian universities.

Speaking on Wednesday during the events leading up to the upcoming 8th and 9th convocation ceremonies of Elizade University in Ilara-Mokin, Prof. Kayode Ijadunola highlighted that the financial burden of electricity on campuses is jeopardizing the sustainability of these institutions.

He noted that expenses have surged threefold over the past eighteen months under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He made these remarks on Wednesday during the events leading up to the upcoming 8th and 9th convocation ceremonies of Elizade University in Ilara-Mokin.

The university leader pointed out that the shift to a Band A electricity billing system, implemented by distribution companies, poses a significant challenge for many higher education institutions across the nation.

He revealed that the monthly electricity expenses have become increasingly unmanageable, with power supply to universities remaining inconsistent and unreliable.

According to Ijadunola, many institutions continue to rely on diesel generators for backup power, incurring substantial costs that further strain their financial resources.

“The cost of power threatens the survival of the university system in 2025 if the current challenge remains unaddressed by the relevant authorities of the government,” he said.

Explaining that the institution was ready for the combined 8th and 9th convocation ceremony, Ijadunola said a total of 51 graduates of the institution bagged first class, while 196 were in the second class upper category.

He further stated that a total of 191 were in the second class lower category and 46 in the third class category, stressing that the graduates were from the two sessions of 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic programmes.

“We shall be awarding 484 Bachelor’s degrees and 74 graduate degrees to candidates that have been trained, examined, and found worthy, both in character and in learning, to be so admitted to the various degrees of the university.

“These consist of 228 and 256 undergraduate degrees for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic session, respectively. Furthermore, we shall be awarding 16 Postgraduate diplomas, 51 Masters’ degrees, 2 Master of Philosophy degrees and 5 Doctor of Philosophy degrees.”

He added that the university would for the first time, award doctoral degrees, and by extension, honorary doctoral degrees to “two distinguished Nigerians among whom is Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, who have excelled in their personal and corporate lives, demonstrating laudable philanthropic gestures.”