The University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State, has dismissed reports of a tuition hike for returning students, describing the claims as a misrepresentation of facts.

The institution also refuted claims of parental protests over the alleged increase.

The controversy arose from reports suggesting that fees for indigenous medical students in medicine, surgery, and dentistry had risen from ₦1,683,500 to ₦2,000,000, while non-indigenes would now pay ₦2,600,000, up from ₦2,245,000, prompting alleged protests from concerned parents.

According to UNIMED’s Public Relations Officer, Isaac Oluyi, using the fees for medicine to generalize the tuition of other programs is “mischievous.”

He clarified that any fee adjustment only affects newly admitted students in professional programs and does not apply to returning undergraduates.

Oluyi said, “It is pertinent to put the records straight that the university did not increase fees for returning students as reported. All returning undergraduates are to pay the old fees.

“UNIMED will not implement policies designed to inflict financial strain on students and their families. The slight adjustment only affects newly admitted students in professional programs.”

He emphasized that UNIMED’s fees are transparent and vary across programs, ranging from ₦150,000 to ₦450,000, and urged the public to verify facts directly with the university.

“We are aware of the economic realities of the country and will never deliberately compound the situation with our decisions,” he added.