‘Travel out for university if you think it is expensive in Nigeria’ - Reno Omokri descends on Nigerian youth

Popular author and social commentator, Reno Omokri has descended on Nigerian youth, specifically tertiary education students for lamenting over recent hikes in the cost of tertiary education in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a recent engagement with the media on Thursday, July 20, 2023, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) announced the decision of the university to raise tuition fees for students.

According to Professor Ogunsola, the proposed fees for undergraduate students will see a substantial increase from the previous amount of about N20,000 to over N100,000, depending on the course of study. An increase of 400 per cent.

This statement by Professor Ogunsola was met with fierce opposition as they described the increment as unjustified and unreasonable.

It is against this backdrop that Reno Omokri has advised Nigerians who feel tertiary education in Nigeria is outrageously expensive to travel out for schooling.

He explained that Nigeria ranks among countries with the cheapest cost for education, as such the calls for reduction is a clear indication that Nigerians simply love freebies and cheap things.

“In Nigeria, we are just too used to freebies and cheap things from our government. We have one of the lowest tuition fees on planet Earth, if not the lowest, yet, our doctors and nurses are some of the most sought after on Earth,” – Reno Omokri made this known in a Twitter post.

Reno Omokri added that, it is very hypocritical for students of Unilag to complain of exorbitant tuition fees when most students use electronic gadgets worth over millions of naira and even spend more than the projected fees at night clubs and on parties.

He said, “Nigerians are complaining about the increase in Unilag's tuition fees from ₦19,000 to ₦190,250. Many of those people complaining use phones that cost more than ₦190,250. How much is an iPhone 14? About ₦1.2 million. How much is a Samsung Galaxy? About ₦300,000. How can an iPhone and a Samsung cost more than your tuition, and you are complaining? Where will the money to pay lecturers come from? In that same Unilag, many students drive more luxurious cars and use better phones than their lecturers. Am I lying?”

“We can celebrate our birthdays with ₦250,000. We can flex at Obi Cubana's club with ₦500,000 (you want to pretend that you don't see the receipts flaunted on social media?) Yet, ₦190,250 tuition for one of the best public universities in Nigeria means 'Nigeria is finished!'”, he added.