News

Tough Economy: Schools Now Accept Payments In Esusu Style

Published

2 years ago

October 23, 2023

The time many schools grandstand that no student is allowed to stay in class without having paid their fees fully is over.

Such schools, particularly those located in areas populated by low-income earners, will fold up immediately.

The present economy does not support such hard-stances school administration anymore. And, most schools that actually understand the environment they are operating in, have improvised accordingly.

Like we say in local parlance, the situation Nigerians find themselves now, warrants that everybody must borrow sense.

Some sharp schools have just done that. They have introduced the Esusu method of paying school fees, Vanguard reports.

It sounds funny, but they are getting by, pretty well with it.

Esusu is a local Nigerian word for thrift.

It is a system where particularly, low-income earners, market women and artisans pool together their meagre resources for a period of time and draw it when it must have accumulated, to be able to carry out a project or solve a problem.

That is the method some schools have adopted to help parents cope with fees payment in an economy where average income earners are living from hand to mouth.

Some parents who spoke to Economy&Lifestyle painted pathetic pictures of what they go through to see their wards through schools, and a few schools they approached seemed to understand.

Mrs. Met Omosefunmi, a private school teacher, said: “Some schools accept school fees daily.

“As the child is coming to school, and the parents know they cannot afford termly payment of school fees.

“In a school I served in Muwo, when the management saw the predicaments of parents due to what the economy had become. They introduced the Esusu style of collecting school fees.

“They made small cards with months and days available to parents.

“The wards come to school with the cards and their amount they are paying for the day and it is ticked to show parents.

“The children are given the cards when going home to avoid misplacing them.

“If such a means is not adopted parents will move their wards to other schools, you know things are very difficult and they cannot really afford paying the fees so they take such a child to a public school.

“There is also a new school in my area that is runned like a public school. The fees are very low. As low as N3500 per term for a child in primary level and N5,000 for the Secondary level. The population is very large and their branches as well.

“They also use the esusu method.”

However not all that is good for the goose is good for the gander.

A parent without an up to date Tax Clearance certificate might not be able to register the child or children in public schools in some states as part of the school requirements.

Mrs Ogbonna Victoria, a senior secondary school teacher said: “The rate at which parents are withdrawing their children because of increased school fees is alarming.

“Most of them take the children to public schools where they pay no school fees but register with basic requirements like tax clearance certificates among other things.

“If a parent can afford the school fees, but can meet up with payment only thrice he informs the school management.

“My son’s school for instance after losing over 15 pupils, the management had to reconsider esusu after a parent introduced it in one of the Parents Teacher Association meetings.

“The high cost of living is making everyone cut costs, including in areas of education.

“Gone are the days when parents sought good and expensive schools for their wards.

“Now, the children should just leave home to study.

“It doesn’t matter whether it is a private or public school.”

Mrs. Amanda Lawrence, a hair stylist, said she had to change the school of her two-year-old daughter after the fees was raised ti N50,000 per term from N35,000 and the management insisted on termly payment.

“The way things are heading in this economy is alarming.

“When I attended school, I was paying N5,000 per term in primary school. Now our education system has degraded and the schools are still increasing school fees.

“My sister had to take her children to a government secondary school in Surulere, when their school fees were increased to N60,000 per term from N45,000 and the school refused the Esusu method.

“This term I changed the school of my two year old daughter when her old school increased her school fees to N50,000 per term from N35,000 and refused the Esusu method.

“In her new school you can pay four to five times or weekly like esusu in a term but you will sign a legal agreement on such terms.

“This is what many schools are doing now to ease the burden of debt and avoid less patronage in the case of insisting on full payment at once .

On her part, Mrs. Grace Ohaleke, a public school teacher said: “My children are in public schools today because I had to convince my husband to withdraw them from their former school that was a private school because they refused the Esusu method of fees payment without considering the amount of children I had.

“Many schools are coming up with school fee payment methods to keep and increase their students.

“The esusu is the most adopted style which also enables them to pay teachers on time too.

“My son was in Junior Secondary School three (JSS3) then.

“I told him I cannot pay ridiculous fees to a school that doesn’t even have quality teachers.

“In public schools, you can never see a teacher that is not qualified in teaching.
“We have the best and no one can deny that.

“My son was first ashamed when they started but as time went by he got used to it and is happy.

“Parents in this present economy, no longer look at what people will say or do for their actions.

“They go for what will give them peace of mind and enable them to save for other expenses.”
VANGUARD

News

Cherryland, Unifield, Divine Pattern Schools Shine At ITV 2025 Quiz, Debate And Essay Competition

Published

8 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

Winners in the various categories.

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin

Cherryland Royal School, Divine Pattern Schools, and Unifield International School, on Friday, 4th July, 2025 won the Independent Radio and Television 2025 Interschool Quiz, Debate and Essay Competition in their respective categories.

The Essay Competition, with the topic: ‘There has Been a Growing Incidence of Gambling Amongst Youth in Your Country. Write an Article Suitable for Publication in a National Newspaper Stating Three Probable Causes, and Suggesting how this Problem can be Cured,’ was won by Oghogho Triumph of Divine Pattern Schools, while Eczema Praise of Cherryland Royal School emerged winner in the debate category with the topic: ‘The Youths of Today Are More Interested in the Pursuit of Pleasure than in Academic Work.’

The quiz, which was competed by primary pupils from various schools was won by Victory Ighotomare of
Unifield International High School.

Winners in the various categories in group photograph with the management of ITV/Radio

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Chairman of the occasion and Deputy Chief of Staff to Edo State Government (office of the deputy governor), Hon. Pius Alile, while recalling his primary school days, pledged scholarship to university level for winners in the various categories.

Alile urged the students and pupils to desist from social vices and face their studies, stressing that it’s through education that they can actualise their dreams in life.

In his short remarks, Managing Director, ITV/Radio, Engr. Elvis Obaseki, urged the students and pupils present at the event to face their studies, and above all be disciplined and well behaved.

He stressed that no matter how a student may be brilliant in life, such a student needs discipline to navigate through the journey of life, adding “no matter how intelligent you are, you must be well behaved and disciplined. This will take you far in life.”

The MD, who told the students and pupils that they cannot all be winners at the same time, said being present at the event, they are expected to take one or two lessons back home from the event.

Engr. Obaseki, who said “it’s not too good that none of our public schools are here,” promised, “next year, we will make everything humanly possible to bring our public schools so that the competition will be more interesting and fierce.”

Also speaking, Chairman, organising committee of the event, Dr. Sunny Duke, while expressing joy at the large turnout of schools in this year’s competition, thanked the management and staff of ITV/Radio for their support, and in particular the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion for creating the platform (ITV/Radio) through which young ones can actualise their dreams.

He also thanked the chairman of the occasion, Hon. Alile for offering the winners in the various categories scholarship, stressing that it has been his prayer and wish.

“Where I am today is because of the scholarship I won in JSS 2 back then. And today, that ambition and dream has been fulfilled with the scholarship for the winners of the quiz, debate and essay competition by Hon. Pius Alile, I’m overwhelmed,” Duke said.

The event was spiced up with dance competition amongst students and pupils, and on the other hand amongst teachers, and other side attractions.

News

Ex-gov Ohakim, IGP, Others Win Fundamental Rights Suit

Published

10 hours ago

July 4, 2025

Editor

In a judgment certified on 26th June 2025 and obtained by this reporter,

Hon. Justice Binta Mohammed of the High Court of the Federal Capital has dismissed a fundamental rights suit filed by one Lady Chinyere Lilian Amuchinwa on 4th May 2022 against six parties, including a former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Alaikum; and the Inspector-General of Police.

The judgment was certified on 26th June 2025 and obtained by newsmen

The suit stemmed from Lady Amechinwa’s claims that Dr Ikedi Ohakim and another party instigated the police to detain her at the Force Headquarters in Abuja in July 2021 over what was not stated in the suit.

Her claim is not unconnected with some unsubstantiated allegations she had earlier levelled against Ohakim , and for which the former Governor was exonerated.

The defendants, had in their replies, said the suit was devoid of cause of action and an abuse of the process of the court, “the suit having been filed after other similar suits were being pursued elsewhere by Lady Amuchinwa against Dr Ohakim.”

They cited the other suits as a fundamental rights suit in Imo High Court Owerri; an appeal at Owerri Division of court of appeal court; and charges filed at Federal High Court, Abuja, all of which the court noted were either dismissed or struck out against Lady Amuchinwa.

Delivering judgment on the suit Justice Mohammed held that: “From the unchallenged and uncontroverted evidence in this suit, it is established that the Applicant/Respondent, has commenced a multiplicity of action involving the same set of fact and the same persons therefore constituting an abuse of the judicial process. Therefore this issue is resolved in favour of the 1st 3rd and 4th Applicant/respondent as well as the 5th Respondents/Applicants.”

“In conclusion the preliminary objection of the 1st 3rd 4th and 5th Respondents/Applicant succeeded accordingly, the suit filed by the Applicant/Respondent for Enforcement of Fundamental Right on 4/5/22 is hereby dismissed.

“The Applicant has failed to establish a cause of action against the 6th Respondent as nothing remotely connects him to the suit of the Applicant, his name is accordingly struck out from the suit.

“There will be no need to consider and determine the Applicant suit the preliminary objections to the suit having succeeded and the suit dismissed”, the Court ordered.

News

Constitution Amendment: South-East Demands Rotational Presidency, Legislative Seats For Women

Published

10 hours ago

July 4, 2025

Editor

The people of the South-East have demanded a constitution that allows for the rotation of the presidency and grants full autonomy to Local Governments in the country.

They requested the South-East Zonal Public Hearing on Review of the 1999 Constitution, organised by the Senate on Friday in Enugu.

Speaking during the exercise, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State noted that the concept of a rotational presidency was paramount to the Southeast.

The governor said the state believed that adopting a rotational presidency among the six geopolitical zones, this would provide every region, including the Southeast, a fair chance at the nation’s highest office.

\Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, added that the idea would foster a greater sense of belonging and national unity.

Similarly, the governorship should rotate among senatorial zones, and legislative seats should be allocated among constituencies, ensuring broader representation and participation at all levels of governance.

“To further enhance inclusivity, particularly for women, we propose legislative seats. We advocate for one additional Senate seat per state for women and two additional House of Representatives seats per state.

“As a state, we advocate for three additional assembly seats per state for women.

“This measure will significantly boost gender parity and ensure active participation of women in governance and in decision-making processes,” Mbah said.

The governor also called for the institutionalisation of Local Government Councils as a truly autonomous form of government team.

According to him, the current practice where state governors meant for local governments and appoint caretaker committees instead of elected representatives and hinder grassroots development.

“We urge the committee to reinforce section1999 constitution to ensure the democratic existence of local governments, allowing them to directly access their funds from the national consolidated account,” Mbah said.

The governor equally called for legislative powers, enhancements, and fiscal reforms that would devolve more powers and resources to the states.

He stressed that the current concentration of power at the centre, a legacy of the military rule, had stifled the growth and development of sub-national entities.

“A true federal system requires that states are autonomous entities with sufficient powers and resources to positively impact the lives of their citizens,” he concluded.

On his part, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State called for the creation of an additional state in the Southeast to bring them on par with other geopolitical zones of the country.

Nwifuru, represented by the Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Mr Moses Odunwa, also called a for women’s inclusiveness and reserved political seats for women.

“If a particular seat has been designated for women, all the parties will feature women candidates to fill in the space,” he said.

The public hearing was attended by government officials, traditional rulers, NGOs, and civil society organisations.
(VANGUARD)