Businesswoman's Old UNIZIK School Fees Document Goes Viral, Sparks Widespread Reactions
A Nigerian businesswoman has stirred significant attention on social media after sharing an old document that details the total school fees she paid while attending Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) over two decades ago. The post, made by Linda Chinemerem Paul, CEO of PDF Hairs, has prompted a flurry of comments as netizens compare historical and current educational costs.
Details of the Historic School Fees Document
Linda Chinemerem Paul posted the document on Facebook on April 15, expressing astonishment at the amounts listed. According to the document, which dates back to 2006, her total university school fees for a four-year undergraduate program in the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, under the Faculty of Natural Sciences, amounted to just N62,400. This breaks down to N9,800 for her first year and N15,650 for her second year, with similar figures for the remaining years.
In her Facebook post, Linda wrote, "This is unbelievable. I just came across a document showing that my total university school fees from first year to final year was just 62,400. And this was over 20 years ago o. How much is school fees now in Federal Universities biko?" Her reaction highlights the stark contrast between past and present fees, raising questions about affordability in today's educational landscape.
Public Reactions to the Viral Post
The post has garnered numerous responses from Facebook users, many sharing their own experiences with university fees. Onwuha Mathilda Chinelo commented, "I am currently schooling in a federal university. Just the school fees per semester is 22,500, but if you add other fees like faculty, departmental, environmental and so on, it will sum up to 95k or 98k. My last semester fees was up to 95k." This illustrates a dramatic increase, with current fees potentially exceeding N95,000 per semester, compared to the total of N62,400 for four years two decades ago.
Other users echoed similar sentiments. Chioma Ekemezie noted, "During my time, it was 20,100 per session or so, my total school fees was not up to 100k." Ofoedu Ogochukwu shared, "I went to Unizik. First year in 2015 was ₦60,920. 2nd year to Final year in 2019 was 20,100. Immediately we graduated, it increased to 90k+. I don't know how much it is now." These comments underscore the rapid inflation in educational costs over recent years.
Wisdom Juliet Mel Amy added a perspective on affordability, stating, "Funny enough, not everyone could afford it then o in as much as it looks cheap and affordable. To a lot of people, that's huge amounts o, like some were still struggling to pay those amounts. You no the kyn hustle person go hustle before e go get 62k?" This highlights that even lower fees in the past posed challenges for many students.
Treasure Emechebe remarked on the continuity of university forms, saying, "See unizik'$ bursary form 20 years ago now. Chai. This form is still in use, but modified. Currently, unizik is paying 95k across board." Adamazi Lashley Okoroh compared fees at another institution, commenting, "Mine was in the range of 42k to 48k in FUTO. Our acceptance fee was 40k, departmental fees 3k for each section, hostel fee was 12k for the whole section, but was later increased to 20k (in my 300level-2018) till I left. I be 2020 CLASS."
Context and Related University Developments
This viral story comes amid ongoing discussions about education funding and costs in Nigeria. In a related report, Legit.ng provided a complete breakdown of UNIZIK school fees as of 2025, detailing payment methods and current rates, which have seen significant hikes. Additionally, UNIZIK recently appointed Stanley Uzochukwu to lead its advancement management board, aimed at fostering institutional growth through fundraising and alumni relations. Uzochukwu, who heads Stanel Group and is associated with The Delborough Lagos, previously served on the board of the UNIZIK Business School, bringing experience to this new role.
The businesswoman's post not only serves as a nostalgic look back but also sparks a broader conversation about the economic pressures facing students and families in accessing higher education today. As fees continue to rise, such comparisons highlight the need for sustainable solutions to ensure education remains affordable and accessible for all Nigerians.
