Former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, says public universities in Nigeria may need to charge at least N1 million per student annually to achieve financial independence.
Olatunji-Bello, who completed her five-year tenure as LASU’s ninth Vice-Chancellor on September 19, 2026, made the remarks in an interview with The PUNCH, where she reviewed her administration’s achievements and challenges.
She explained that although LASU’s internally generated revenue increased significantly during her tenure, the university still faced substantial financial obligations, particularly salaries and operational expenses.
According to her, LASU’s monthly salary bill is now above N1 billion, while the university spends about N140 million every month on electricity. She added that the institution still needs an additional N240 million monthly to augment salary payments.
Olatunji-Bello therefore argued that public universities seeking financial self-sustainability would have to substantially increase tuition fees, noting that quality education comes with significant costs.
She said LASU’s internally generated revenue rose from about N3 billion when she assumed office to N13 billion, attributing the growth to new academic programmes, digital innovations, postgraduate courses, consultancy services, short-term programmes and other ventures.
The former vice-chancellor said the university introduced more than 75 new postgraduate programmes and expanded its digital operations, which helped generate additional revenue.
On LASU’s development during her tenure, Olatunji-Bello said the administration addressed several infrastructure and environmental challenges, including inadequate toilet facilities and recurring flooding.
She said drainage channels were cleared and improved, while toilet facilities were provided across faculties at the Ojo and Epe campuses.
She also said the administration worked with the TETFund and relevant government authorities to complete projects inherited from her predecessor, including hostel accommodation.
Olatunji-Bello identified the 2024 students’ protest over Computer-Based Test arrangements as the lowest point of her tenure. She said the university eventually cancelled a proposed N10,000 payment for affected students and allowed them to take the examination through the pen-and-paper method.
According to her, the situation was particularly concerning because management feared that the protest could escalate into destruction of property.
She, however, described LASU’s recognition as Nigeria’s most subscribed university by UTME candidates in 2025 as the high point of her tenure. She said the university retained the position in 2026 and received N25 million for maintaining compliance with JAMB regulations.
Olatunji-Bello said the popularity of LASU created significant pressure during admission periods, but the university continued to follow JAMB’s admission guidelines.
She explained that 70 per cent of admissions are based on merit, while 10 per cent is allocated to the catchment area, another 10 per cent is at the discretion of the Vice-Chancellor, and 10 per cent is reserved for direct entry candidates.
On student accommodation, she said LASU has about 85,000 students when postgraduate and part-time students are included, although roughly 12,000 students are on campus at any given time.
She said the university currently accommodates about 8,000 students through its own hostels and facilities provided through public-private partnerships.
On industrial relations, the former VC said she relied on regular discussions with the university’s four major unions to prevent disputes from developing into major strikes.
She noted that she had previously researched industrial actions at LASU while at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies and used the findings to guide her administration’s approach to labour relations.
Olatunji-Bello also highlighted research and innovation as another area of focus during her tenure. She said LASU established a N5 million competitive internal research grant for academic staff, while seven members of staff secured more than N29 million in grants from the Lagos State Research and Innovation Council between 2022 and 2025.
She added that the university secured a N3 billion TETFund Centre of Excellence in 2026, which she described as the only one of its kind in the South-West.
According to her, LASU also digitised several processes, including admission, screening and certificate collection. She said graduates can now obtain certificates online within about 10 minutes, with an instant verification system also introduced.
The former vice-chancellor said the university has an Artificial Intelligence policy approved by its Senate, encouraging ethical use and proper citation of AI-assisted work.
She said LASU adopted the policy following a Senate decision in July 2022 and that it complements the institution’s existing anti-plagiarism policy.
Olatunji-Bello said one of the major projects she could not complete was the proposed Central Research Laboratory, which she envisioned on a large scale similar to facilities at the University of Illinois.
She urged the Lagos State Government to complete the university’s Innovation Hub and other outstanding infrastructure projects, while also improving the environment around the Badagry gate.
On her ambition to make LASU the best university in West Africa, Olatunji-Bello said the institution achieved that objective through the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings.
She said LASU maintained the top position in West Africa in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and continued to hold the position into 2026. She added that the university also received the vice-chairmanship of the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking.
Source: PUNCH
