The principal of Federal Government College Maiduguri, Malam Umar Habeeb Jibril, has disclosed that the recent hike in school fees at Unity colleges in the country has affected students’ chances of enrolling in the school.
The principal said despite the 200 carrying capacity for admission into the school in the last admission session, only two students out of the 89 admitted showed up for registration due to the fee hike.
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The Federal Ministry of Education recently issued a directive to increase the school fees for new students enrolling in Federal Government Colleges, commonly known as Federal Unity Colleges, to N100,000 against N45,000.
The directive, contained in a circular with reference number ADF/120/DSSE/I, dated 25th May 2023, was addressed to all Principals of Federal Unity Colleges.
Malam Jibril disclosed the poor enrolment on the occasion of the college’s 50th anniversary held on Saturday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
He commended the Old Students Association, saying that the body has been responsible, committed and determined to see to the progress, and overall development of the college through various projects executed.
He said the 50th anniversary celebration which was at their instant have committed much resources towards physical and infrastructural development of their alma mater, adding that the projects include provision of sporting equipment; construction of lawn tennis court; provision of 400 seedlings to curb desert encroachment and an orchard; as well as provision of solar lights in all the hostels.
Similarly, an alumnus of the Federal Government College, Maiduguri, Hon. Asabe Vilita Bashir, lamented that insecurity and the high cost of living are among the challenges facing the exchange programme of the Unity colleges.
She noted that parents don’t send their children to study in distant places anymore, unlike in those days when people applied to study in schools outside their states.
A former minister of information, Mr. Frank Nweke Junior, called on the federal government to work hard towards returning the lost glory of unity colleges, which, according to him, produced highly placed Nigerians and encouraged the unity of citizens of the country through its exchange programme.
The Federal Government College Maiduguri Old Students’ Association (FEGOCOMOSA) in collaboration with the Borno State government pledged sponsorship of 69 indigent students on scholarship to the school.
Among those that pledged scholarships for indigent students are the former president of the Old Students Association, Suleiman Muhammed Dikwa, the former minister of information, Mr Frank Nweke Junior, Hon Asabe Vilita Bashir and host of others.