The latest disbursement from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has stirred debate over the true cost of university education in Nigeria. For many, the numbers have raised more questions than answers.
3rd Batch NELFUND Numbers: UNIPORT vs. SSU
UNIPORT (University of Port Harcourt): Acknowledged ₦53.7 million for 497 students. That’s about ₦108,000 per student.
SSU (Sokoto State University): Acknowledged ₦74.7 million for 1,455 students. That’s about ₦51,000 per student.
At face value, this means federal university students in UNIPORT are attracting nearly twice the institutional charges compared to state university students in SSU.
But Aren’t State Varsities Supposed to Cost More?
By common understanding, yes.
State universities generally charge higher tuition because they receive less funding from the federal purse. Instead, they depend heavily on internally generated revenue. Mostly student fees helps to keep state varsities running. Studies show state varsity fees can run between ₦70,000 and ₦300,000 per session, while federal universities often stay below ₦100,000, depending on the faculty and school.
This is why the NELFUND figures have surprised many.
What the VCs Actually Acknowledge
The figures confirmed by Vice Chancellors are for institutional charges — the money NELFUND sends directly to schools.
Upkeep allowances, which students receive in their own bank accounts, are not part of these acknowledgements.
So the differences are not about stipends but about what the universities themselves officially charge.
Questions That Refuse to Go Away
If UNIPORT is taking in more institutional funds per student than SSU, what does this really mean?
Is the assumption that state universities are always more expensive simply outdated?
Could UNIPORT’s fee structure be significantly higher than we think?
Or is SSU charging less because of unique factors tied to its location and state policies?
A Possible Explanation: Sokoto’s Case
Here’s where it gets interesting. Sokoto State is classified as an educationally less privileged state in Nigeria. Could that status explain why Sokoto State University charges relatively lower institutional fees?
Some observers argue that the state government may be deliberately subsidizing tuition to encourage more young people to pursue higher education. Others see it as a social policy decision — a recognition that higher costs would lock many Sokoto youths out of university altogether.
If this is the case, then SSU’s lower institutional charges are less about inefficiency and more about deliberate inclusivity.
The Bigger Picture
For now, the figures leave us with a paradox: a federal university appears costlier per student than a state university.
But maybe this paradox isn’t so strange after all.
Perhaps it’s a reminder that each institution reflects not just economics, but also politics, policies, and the priorities of the governments that fund them.
Still, one pressing question remains for parents and students across the country: If federal universities are no longer the “cheaper option,” what does that mean for the future of access to higher education in Nigeria?