5,000 UNIBEN Students Risk Exam Ban Over Unpaid Fees

No fewer than 5,000 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) may be barred from writing their second-semester examinations, which begin on Monday, for failing to pay their school charges.

In a memo signed by the Registrar, Mr. Ademola Bobola, the institution said it would strictly enforce its “no payment of school charges, no examination” policy, following repeated reminders to defaulters.

“The university management is in receipt of the list of students who have failed to pay their school charges despite repeated reminders,” Bobola stated. “These students have also failed to subscribe to the loans being provided by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).”

The Registrar said that all efforts to encourage affected students to either settle their fees or access the NELFUND facility had failed. He warned that the Senate had directed provosts, deans, directors, and heads of departments to publish the list of defaulters by 8 a.m. on Monday.

This measure, he explained, would allow students to confirm their status and make last-minute payments before examinations commence. An enforcement task force, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), has also been set up to monitor compliance.

Bobola stressed that management expected “full cooperation by all stakeholders” to maintain the university’s standards.

UNIBEN’s move mirrors similar measures adopted by other institutions. In April 2025, the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, enforced a “no school fees, no exam” policy, with its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, cautioning students against diverting fees for gambling or frivolous activities.