By Williams Amofokhai
Critic, Reno Omokri has defended the University of Lagos’ (UNILAG) hike in school fees amidst biting economic hardship in the country.
UNILAG had increased school fees between N100,000 to N190,000 from N20,000, representing over 400 per cent hike.
Omokri, on his Twitter handle on Saturday said the average tuition fees at Nigerian public universities is ₦50,000 or $65.
He said the average tuition fees at Ghanaian public universities stood at GHS17,145 or $1503, while the sverage tuition fees at British public universities is £9,250 or $11,900.
Omokri added that the average tuition fees at European public universities is €10,000 or $11,128, while the average tuition fees at American public universities is $10,400.
“Yet, you are here saying ‘Nigeria is finished’, ‘Nigeria is useless’ because of an increase of tuition fees from ₦19,000 to ₦190,250 at one university?
“Ghana has a minimum wage of GHS446, or $40 per month. Yet, Ghanaians pay twenty five times what we pay in tuition. Do Ghanaians earn twenty five times what Nigerians earn in minimum wage?
“Is fuel cheaper in Ghana than in Nigeria? I was in Ghana two months ago. Believe me when I say that you would fare better economically in Nigeria than in Ghana. Is Nigeria as wealthy as the UK, US, and the EU? Nigeria is not such a bad country. If you think the cost of education is too high, then try the cost of illiteracy,’ he said.