On July 14, 2025, the University of Ibadan suspended Ayodele Aduwo, a history undergraduate, and Mide Gbadegesin, a postgraduate student in African studies, for four semesters as a result of their participation in a 2024 protest over the university’s tuition costs.

During the inauguration of the Students’ Union Executive Committee and Students’ Representative Council on May 13, 2024, Aduwo and Gbadegesin held a demonstration against rising tuition costs. Video footage from the event showed the students peacefully holding placards that read “No to Fee Hike.” Shortly thereafter, university authorities reported the students to the police, who removed them from the event.

Following the incident, the Central Students Disciplinary Committee accused the students of “insubordination/unruly behavior” and summoned them to three disciplinary hearings between July 2024 and July 2025. The final hearing on July 14, 2025 resulted in the suspension of Aduwo and Gbadegesin.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the arrests and temporary suspension of students for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression – conduct which is expressly protected under international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Universities have a responsibility to refrain from wrongful disciplinary action taken against students for exercising their rights to academic freedom, freedom of expression, and freedom of association.

Sources: 

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/808031-nigerian-university-suspends-students-over-fee-hike-protest.html
https://www.icirnigeria.org/ui-faces-backlash-over-suspension-of-student-activists-as-group-demands-reinstatement/?tztc=1
https://fij.ng/article/ui-management-resumes-persecution-of-students-who-protested-fee-hike/