UNN VC: Compulsory laptop Fee For All First Year Students

Does it worth it? The management of the University of Nigeria Nsukka UNN has imposed compulsory laptop fess of N70, 000 to all new fresh students. According to the school management, it

is a new ICT Empowerment Program Initiative, to boost learning and also encourage students to be
ICT-conscious, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Benjamin Ozumba met with the Students Union
Government, SUG, to resolve the issue.Vanguard Learning gathered that some of the old and new students had gone to the social media accusing the school management of not having the students’ welfare at heart. A protest was planned for Monday, against the decision of the school management to impose laptop acquisition on freshers. The protest was halted by the the action of the Union President, Nsukka campus, Comrade Orji Ekene, who released a statement on Sunday notifying students of the plan of the Union to meet the VC on Monday to resolve the issue, Vanguard Learning learnt.Parts of the statement dated 08/11/2015 read: “A powerful but well articulated delegates of the both Union chapters of Nsukka and Enugu campuses will be meeting with the Vice Chancellor tomorrow Monday 9/11/2015 at noon not Tuesday again haven spoken with him on the necessity of making haste while the sun shines”.The school management however released a statement thus: “The University Administration has arrived at the following resolution after an extensive discussion with the SUG. The laptop fee is compulsory for all first years students but there is an option to either pay once or in 3 installments.” Seventy thousand naira for those who can pay once. For those to pay over three instalments, they will make a yearly payment of N25,000 spread over three sessions. The yearly laptop installment will be added to the student’s Service charge for the affected sessions. All non first year students who want to be part of the laptop program will have to make a one-time payment of 70,000. There is no installment provision for non first year students.