Oyedepo's Covenant University bumps up its fees for 2019/20 session to about N1m per student

BISHOP David Oyedepo's Covenant University has significantly increased the fees payable by new students admitted for the 2019/20 academic session pumping up the overall package some pupils have to pay to as much as N1m ($2,750).

Owned by the millionaire clergyman, Covenant University is a faith-based tertiary institution affiliated with Bishop Oyedepo's Living Faith Church Worldwide. In the past, the wealthy pastorpruener has been criticised because the members of his church whose tithe contributions have made him wealthy  cannot afford to send their children to his university.

In a development certain to generate more debate, the university has published a document announcing the new regime titled School Fees Structure for 100 Level 2019/2020 Academic Session. It details the overall fee structure including tuition, examination registration, accommodation, utility usage and i9nformation and an communication technology (ICT) development fund.

Other areas of coverage include laboratory usage, workshop and studio use, ICT training, virtual library fees and wireless Internet connectivity.  Other fees that come under the regime include academic support service, matriculation, identity cards, results verification and TMC & Vision 10-2022 kit.

There are also charges for EDS, college dues, field trips, caution fees, books and medical deposits, as well as payments for medical tests and laboratory coat and tools as applicable. According to the document, all students at Covent University will pay a uniform tuition/exam/registration fee of N472,000 per session.

They also pay uniform accommodation fee of N185,000 per session, as well as utility fee of N75,000 over the academic year. Other uniform fees include an ICT development fund of N25,000, lab/workshop/studio fee of N40,000 and ICT training of N30,000.

Virtual library and wireless Internet each costs N15,000, while matriculation and ID card fees are N15,000 each. Results verification is N5,000, while TMC & Vision 10-2022 kit will cost students N15,000.

EDS fees are N6,000 across board, while college due come to N2,000. Field trips will cost students N7,500, while caution fees, book and medical deposits are N25,000, N15,000 and N10,000 respectively.

Medical test costs N15,000, lab coat/tool is N25,000 for engineering students, while Biochemistry, Microbiology and Industrial Physics/Maths students will pay N7,000 apiece. Overall, newly admitted engineering students are expected to pay the highest tuition at N1,002,500 per session.

Those studying Industrial Physics/Mathematics, Microbiology, and Biochemistry are to pay N984,500 each. Students in Accounting, International Relations, Policy & Strategic Studies, Political Science and English Language are to pay N977,500 each.

Others in the N977,500 bracket are those studying Psychology/Counselling, Architecture, Computer Science, Industrial Chemistry, Building Technology, Estate Management, Biology and Management Information Science. Students admitted for Banking & Finance, Business Administration, Demography & Social Statistics, Economics, Industrial Relations & Human Resources and Sociology are required to pay N937,500 per session.