The attention of the Management of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, has been drawn to a misleading publication in an online platform, Sahara reporters of 6th August, 2021 captioned "Top Government University in Ebonyi Increases Fee from N70, 000 to N300, 000".

The University notes that the said publication and others trending online is laced with lies and half truths meant to discredit the integrity and reputation of the University as one of the most serious public Universities in Nigeria.

For the avoidance of doubt, the hostel fee for medical students in the University is N50, 000 and a refundable caution fee of N20,000, making it a total of N70, 000 for a session.

However, in September 2021, our 400 level medical students are expected to commence their Clinical studies at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

More importantly, the concerned students are expected to be resident at the teaching hospital which is about 25 kilo meters from the University campus at Ikwo. However, the Medical students' hostel at the teaching hospital is still under construction and will be completed next year.

Thus, the University had two options - one is to suspend the clinical training till the students' hostel is completed. Second, is to devise another means of providing alternative accommodation to the students.

The University, in the interest of the students, meant to ensure that their academic activities are not suspended, negotiated with a private estate owner to rent his fully furnished building, with 150 KVA standby power generating set for uninterrupted power supply, located about 200 meters from the hospital, as hostel for the student.

This is only a stop-gap mechanism, as the students are expected to move into the school hostel being constructed in the teaching hospital immediately it is completed next year. This will automatically normalize their hostel fees.

This interim measure which will cost each student N300,000 will ensure that their academic activities are not put on hold. It will also help in sustaining the accreditation of their programme by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, who are expected to come for another round of accreditation exercise by February 2022. It is also important to note that the hostel fees the students are paying are not even enough to offset the total cost of renting the building as the students are only 38 in number. Management will augment the shortfall.

It is therefore surprising that mischief makers and 5th columnists are latching on this interim decision geared towards the sustenance of the academic activities of our students, to denigrate and blackmail the University in the public domain.

Finally, the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi state, views the academic interests of our students very seriously, and has consistently made sacrifices for their good. This decision was made in their own interest.

Thank you.

Elom Iyke Ubochi
Head, Public Relations & Information

BS.