By Erewunmi Peace

Students of Osun State University, Ilesa Campus, on Monday, staged a peaceful protest against what they described as the exorbitant cost of accommodation both within and outside the school environment.

The protest, which took place around the university’s main gate and some major streets in Ilesa, saw hundreds of students chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Reduce our rent now!”, “We can’t afford these outrageous hostel fees”, and “Students are not slaves!”

The demonstration was organized under the banner of the National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), which accused hostel owners and agents of arbitrarily inflating rents and charging unreasonable agency fees.

Speaking during the protest, one of the student leaders said the situation had become unbearable for many undergraduates.

“Most of us can barely afford to pay our tuition, and now we are being forced to pay as high as ₦800,000 for a shared room. This is unfair and unacceptable,” he said.

The students also accused the university management of failing to provide enough affordable hostels on campus, a development that has pushed many to seek costly private accommodation around Ilesa.

They called on the Osun State Government and the House of Assembly to intervene by regulating rent prices and ensuring landlords comply with reasonable standards.

“We are not fighting the government; we are only demanding fairness. Education should not be a luxury,” another protester added.

As of the time of filing this report, the university authorities and the Osun State Ministry of Education have yet to release an official statement regarding the protest.

The students, however, vowed to continue their peaceful demonstrations if their demands are not met.