UI Goes After Student Leaders, Summons Activist Over Fee Hike Protest
The management of the University of Ibadan has summoned student activist Ayodele Aduwo and two others to appear before the Student Disciplinary Committee over alleged misconduct, including obstruction of a swearing-in ceremony and unruly behaviour.
An internal memorandum dated June 25, 2025, signed by the Deputy Registrar (Students), S. O. Oyewumi, directed Aduwo, a student in the Department of History, to appear before the committee on Monday, June 30, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in the Conference Room of the Student Affairs Division.
The memo read, “The meeting is a continuation of the investigations on the allegation of misconduct bothering on insubordination/unruly behaviour to wit obstruction of the swearing-in ceremony for the 2023/2024 Newly Elected Executives of the Students Union, by you and two other students.”
It added that failure to attend “may earn you disciplinary action” and directed those invited to dress formally.
Recalls that last year, the University of Ibadan management increased school fees from an average of N20,000–N30,000 to about N200,000–N400,000. The increment sparked widespread protests that led to the suspension of the initial August deadline for payment.
Speaking to Kano Times, Aduwo described the summons as “a clear case of victimisation.”
“The ongoing victimization of my colleagues and me by the University of Ibadan management, simply for opposing the recent fee hikes, is unjust, unacceptable, and must be unequivocally condemned,” he said.
“No institution that claims to stand for academic freedom should resort to silencing dissent through intimidation. Yes, we remain undeterred. We call on students, staff, and the wider public to stand with us in demanding an immediate end to this sustained repression. Together, we must affirm that the fight for accessible education is not a crime and those who believe in it must not be punished,” Aduwo added.
The disciplinary case involving Aduwo, Olamide Gbadegeshin, and Nice Linus has drawn criticism from rights organisations, including Amnesty International.
In a statement, Amnesty International urged the university to “rescind plans to expel 3 students for exercising their human right; by participating in protest against outrageous fee hike that — so far — forced many students to withdraw from university education.”
It added, “In the face of the worst economic crisis, universities should be reducing fees, not increasing them wantonly. In utter disregard for the impact of the current economic hardship, some universities increased their fees by 1000%. This poses a threat to guaranteeing the right to quality education for all.”
As the disciplinary hearing approaches, concerns continue to mount over restrictions on student activism and the rising cost of education in Nigeria.
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