Students of Rivers State University have declared plans to stage a peaceful protest on Thursday, October 2, 2025, in response to what they describe as an “outrageous and insensitive” hike in convocation fees by the university management.
According to a statement issued by a coalition of concerned students and conscious comrades, the planned demonstration is intended to draw attention to what they see as an unjust burden placed on final-year students who have already endured years of financial strain. The group noted that the convocation, which should symbolise triumph and unity, is now being turned into an exclusive event accessible only to those who can afford the newly imposed charges.
The students argued that the decision by management is particularly harsh given the economic realities faced by young people. They pointed out that many of their colleagues had already been forced to abandon their studies due to rising tuition fees, accommodation costs, feeding challenges, and other survival pressures. For those who managed to persist, the imposition of steep convocation charges represents yet another stumbling block at the finish line of their academic journey.
“Must education always be priced beyond the reach of the poor? Must convocation—the very symbol of triumph—be turned into a privilege only for the wealthy?” the group queried in its statement.
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They further condemned what they described as the failure of the Student Union Government to advocate for students, insisting that its silence proved it had long been compromised. In their words, the protest is a necessary step to reclaim fairness and justice on campus.
The students are calling on the Rivers State Government, stakeholders, and alumni of the institution to intervene, insisting that convocation should not become a source of humiliation or exclusion. They pledged to continue raising their voices whenever students are subjected to what they view as oppressive policies.
“Education is a right, not a privilege. And we will defend that right,” the statement concluded.
Furthermore, the University management outlined the approved convocation fees for the 37th and
38th combined Convocation Ceremony as follows:
1. Bachelor’s Degree: ₦97,000
2. Professional/Certificate Programmes: ₦68,000
3. Postgraduate Diploma (PGD): ₦145,000
4. Master’s Degree: ₦145,000
5. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): ₦220,000 (including gown to be kept)
