The University of Ibadan (UI) has worked out what appears to be an upward review of the fees for its fresh students.

Multiple student sources confirmed to Our Correspondent on Thursday that the rates, hiked by up to 480%, were published on their online portals.

Keye Abiona, the UI dean of student affairs, was quoted as initially confirming the hike to a media publication at the university campus.

The dean however declined further comment on the matter when contacted by TheCable.

Adejoke Akinpelu, the university PRO, told TheCable that the portal will, in due time, give a full picture of what the 2024 rates should be.

“The fees are personalised for the students based on their courses of study and will be uploaded on their platforms from tomorrow or later. Kindly wait until the fees are uploaded and you have the facts,” the university public relations person stated in a text.

Student sources who spoke to TheCable on the matter shared screenshots of the new rates displayed on their respective portals.

One such shows a base fee of N372,000 with an additional N40,000 to be incurred in utility and technology fees, amounting to N412,000.

Another shows N203,500 in total university fees payable by the fresh student, including both utility and technology fees.

Some in other departments clarified that they’re not able to access their studentship portal.

A student admitted in 2023 confirmed that new intakes at the University of Ibadan previously paid between N64,600 to N69,600.

This change amounts to a hike of 492.5 percent, with well-sought courses like medicine paying much higher than their counterparts.

In 2023, several federal universities raised their fees by over 100%, citing a rising cost of living that impacted operational expenditure.

Among the federal universities that upped their rate are the University of Lagos (UNILAG) which amounted to a hike of about 800 percent, the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), and the University of Nigeria (UNN) Nsukka.

The hikes resulted in a nationwide protest across campuses, with students forcing university management into negotiating a drop.

The management of UI, at around that time, also moved to raise the total fees payable by its fresh intakes to N175,000 on average in a proposal that remained unapproved due to the nationwide dissolution of public university governing councils by the federal government.

THEY say that size isn’t everything – but when it comes to the NBA, it certainly helps.

Every year, the league seems to get taller, with 7ft6 Cavalier Tacko Fall currently the biggest player plying his trade on the circuit.

But even Tacko’s great height pales in comparison to Nigerian giant Abiodun Adegoke, who in 2021 caught the eye of NBA great Shaquille O’Neal.

A towering center, Adegoke stands at a staggering 7ft9 (2.36 meters), two inches taller than ANY player who has ever featured in the NBA.

That’s level with Sun Mingming, a former Harlem Globetrotter who holds the Guinness World Record for being the tallest professional basketball player of all time.

Adegoke’s incredible frame has captured the imagination of the internet, with his Instagram videos going viral under the name ‘Big Naija’.

In the clips, he lines up against 5ft6 teammates, catches balls with just one clench of his mighty hands and dunks without his size-53 feet even leaving the ground.

Not a lot is known of Adegoke’s roots, but his story can be traced back to the streets of Nigeria’s third-biggest city Ibadan.

He attended the Segun Odegbami International College (SOCA) on a sports scholarship, with reports in Nigeria suggesting he was 7ft2 at the age of 17.

The Nigerian Guardian reveals how Adegoke arrived at SOCA with shoes made from truck tires and was forced to play basketball barefoot because his sneaker size was not available.

He reportedly became a local celebrity within the campus and wanted to emulate Nigerian-American NBA star Hakeem Olajuwon.

Since leaving Nigeria several years ago, Adegoke lived in relative obscurity until his skills went viral in early 2021.

And he jokes on his social media bio that he is STILL growing, stating: “Standing at TBA (I have GROWN)”

Adegoke currently plays at MPAC Sports in the UAE, appearing in Dubai’s Elite Youth League last year after being picked 9th in the first round of the draft.

But there continues to be speculation about Adegoke’s real age, with conflicting reports placing him between 18 and 23.

The Nigerian has teased his followers online who are keen to know his real age, insisting in 2021 that he was still a teenager.

While reports in Nigeria in 2016 suggested he was already 17 by that year.

So far there has been no move from NBA scouts on the prospect, but he has caught the eye of some basketball royalty in the last two years.

Former LA Laker Shaq shared a clip of Adegoke showing off his surprising agility and lay-ups in March 2021.

O’Neal stands at 7ft1 and was known for his rebounding ability at both ends of the court – but Adegoke towers a stunning EIGHT inches above the NBA great.

Exceptionally tall athletes often struggle with injuries throughout their career and many of Adegoke’s fans are keen for him to protect his body at all costs.

One wrote: “This kid should be with a proper strength trainer doing yoga and stabilization exercises to protect his hips, knees and lower back.

“Hopefully he gets the attention and the coaching he needs to stay healthy.”

This article was first published in 2022

-Sun US

 Nigerian actress and producer Rita Dominic has opened up on how she gave up stardom to becoming a caregiver in London, United Kingdom.

During her address at the second edition of the Women of Valour Conference in Ghana on Friday, Dominic disclosed that she halted her acting career in 2002, a “dark period” for her.

Dominic said her decision to stop acting and leave Nigeria resulted from personal struggles that resulted in falling out with friends.

“I  had these issues, and I just fell out with some friends I considered family, and I needed to get out of that space for a minute,” she said.

The actress added, “And then I moved to London and then gave up stardom, and then, you won’t believe it. This is something I never told people before, but while in London, I was trying to make ends meet, so I started working in a care home as a caregiver for adults with special needs.”

However, the 48-year-old actress said her role as a caregiver gave her joy during her dark moments, having cared for her parents, who battled illness.

She added, “While some view it as a step-down, I don’t. Taking care of others brought me joy and purpose at a time I needed it most because I took care of my mother and father when they were ill.”

Dominic has graced the screen in countless films that earned her multiple awards for her outstanding performances.