Wellspring University in Benin City, the Edo State capital, is bringing relief to needy students and their parents by approving spread-out payment of school fees on request, amidst the biting economic downturn facing the country.

Wellspring University, recently rated third among the second-generation private universities by the National Universities Commission (NUC), is further moving to establish a work-study programme which will open up part-time work and payment opportunities on campus to a significant number of students to lighten their financial burdens.

This is coming in the light of reports that some students in the country are dropping out of school due to economic hardship, while some foreign-based students are having to relocate home for the same reason.

The university matriculated its 16th batch of undergraduate intakes last Friday, May 9.

The Vice Chancellor of Wellspring University, Professor Isaac Rotimi Ajayi, said in an interview that in the light of prevailing economic downturn, students in need could be allowed to pay up their fees in up to four instalments instead of the standard practice of paying all at once.

Ajayi, however, said that the consideration was subject to the forwarding of formal requests to the school authority, the vetting of the requests, and the capacity of the institution to accommodate them.

“Even those of them that have peculiar challenges, if they approach us and they tell us, we can reach an agreement,” Professor Ajayi said.

He observed that a significant number of students had taken advantage of the payment reliefs on offer, adding that if one is interested in education, “there must be no barrier”.

“We are trying to start what we call a work-study programme here that will allow students to get some stipends so that they will engage in some work in the university and then they earn something that can sustain them because we know that some of them are actually indigent,” he said.

At the matriculation on Friday, Professor Ajayi welcomed the fresh intakes to the university and gave them tips and guidelines for successful scholarship and the conduct of their affairs thereafter.

He asked the students to consider themselves particularly favoured, considering that less than one-third or 600,000 of the 1.9 million students registered for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) last year were able to secure admission into universities across the country.

He stressed that Wellspring University was dedicated to nurturing intellectual excellence, entrepreneurial and leadership abilities, creativity and innovation, strong moral values, and reverence for God, to produce future-ready and globally competitive graduates.

He urged the fresh intakes to apply dedication and diligence to their academic pursuits, maintain high levels of personal hygiene, live peaceably with the student body, and show respect for constituted authority.

He further admonished them to avoid any form of misconduct, including examination malpractice, plagiarism, indecent dressing, drug abuse, fighting and any activity that could jeopardise their academic journey.

Professor Ajayi enjoined the students to embrace technology responsibly.

“We live in a digital age where technology is at the heart of learning, research, and professional growth. I encourage you to embrace technology as a tool to enhance your education, improve your skills, and connect with valuable knowledge sources. Use technology to expand your intellectual horizons, engage in online learning platforms, and collaborate with scholars and professionals globally,” the Vice Chancellor said.

“However, as much as technology is beneficial, its misuse can become a major distraction. I urge you to be mindful of the way you use social media. While platforms like Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok can be useful for networking and staying informed, they can also be sources of distraction and misinformation. Do not allow the irresponsible use of social media to steal your time, distort your focus, or damage your reputation,” he said.

He also warned the students to be mindful of their digital footprints, saying, “Let me also remind you that whatever you post online stays there forever. It may seem harmless today, but years from now, a careless tweet, a controversial post, or an inappropriate photo may work against you when you least expect it—whether in job applications, business opportunities, or leadership roles. Employers, scholarship boards, and professional organisations now scrutinise digital footprints before making decisions. Therefore, I encourage you to use social media wisely.”