Southern Atlantic Varsity woos Nigerian students with 30% tuition reduction

Tony Okoh, Uyo

Southern Atlantic University, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has announced a 30 per cent reduction in tuition fees for students from across Nigeria, irrespective of ethnic, religious or regional background.

The Founder and Chancellor of the university, Pastor Bassey James, disclosed this during an interview with journalists, saying the initiative was designed to make quality university education more accessible and affordable to Nigerian youths.

According to him, students from the Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and other ethnic communities who meet the admission requirements are eligible to benefit from the tuition reduction.

James urged prospective students with Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) scores above 150 and who are interested in studying at the institution to take advantage of the opportunity.

He said the university was committed to breaking barriers to university education and providing opportunities for young Nigerians regardless of their tribe, religion or socio-economic background.

“Our institution, which was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has become the first private university to offer this kind of gesture to Nigerians, and we are prepared to change the story for Nigerian youths irrespective of tribe, religion and background,” he said.

The university founder explained that the institution would also engage major socio-cultural organisations and community groups, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Arewa communities, Yoruba communities and other non-indigenous groups, to mobilise qualified young people to take advantage of the initiative.

He said the proposed partnerships would provide a platform for the various groups to encourage their youths to pursue higher education while benefiting from the university’s flexible tuition arrangements.

James said Southern Atlantic University was established to create enormous value for Nigerians and Africans, adding that the institution was already exploring partnerships with some leading universities around the world.

He maintained that such collaborations would help expose students to global academic opportunities, modern knowledge and skills required to compete effectively in an increasingly interconnected world.

The Founder further disclosed that the university currently offers 15 academic programmes across various disciplines.

Among the programmes, according to him, are Bachelor of Science degrees in Cyber Security, Accounting, Business Administration, Computer Science, Software Engineering and Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Other programmes include Political Science, International Relations and Diplomacy, Microbiology and Public Administration, among others.

James appealed to parents, guardians and socio-cultural organisations to take advantage of the 30 per cent tuition reduction, describing the university as one of the affordable options available to students seeking private university education in Nigeria.

He said admission into the institution remained open through the JAMB portal and accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.

“I am making a special appeal to parents and guardians and the prominent socio-cultural organisations to take advantage of the institution’s 30 per cent slash on tuition fees. It is one of the most affordable among private universities in Nigeria,” he said.

He also encouraged prospective students who wish to study at the university to change their institution of choice to Southern Atlantic University through any accredited JAMB CBT centre.

According to him, the institution has introduced a flexible payment arrangement designed to reduce the financial burden on students and their families.

He described the initiative as a “Pay What You Have” arrangement, under which students can make payments according to their financial capacity while commencing their academic journey.

The university founder said his motivation for making education more accessible was rooted in his desire to give back to society and contribute to human development.

“I am willing to give back to society because God raised me to serve humanity,” he said.

James also disclosed that the university had plans to expand its academic offerings to include agricultural programmes, entrepreneurship development, business and other service-oriented areas.

He said the institution’s long-term objective was not merely to produce graduates seeking employment but to develop young people capable of creating businesses and providing employment opportunities for others.

“The university team is solid, and we are committed to expanding into agricultural programmes, entrepreneurial development, other businesses and services. We want to groom future leaders who will not only be self-reliant but job creators and employers of labour,” he said.

He further assured prospective students and parents that the university had put in place facilities and security measures to provide a conducive environment for learning.

According to him, the institution has 24-hour security, smart lecture theatres, an electronic library and other facilities designed to support teaching, learning and student development.

He also highlighted the accessibility of the university, noting that its location makes it convenient for students travelling by road or air.

The institution is located at Km 50, Airport Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Beyond individual admissions, James said Southern Atlantic University was open to discussions with socio-cultural organisations, non-governmental organisations, government institutions, religious bodies and other organisations interested in sponsoring or facilitating education for their members and beneficiaries.

He said the university was prepared to work with such organisations through flexible payment arrangements and other support mechanisms that would enable qualified beneficiaries to receive a quality university education.

The initiative, he added, was part of the institution’s broader commitment to widening access to higher education and ensuring that financial limitations did not prevent qualified Nigerian youths from pursuing their academic ambitions.

He therefore urged prospective students, parents, community leaders and relevant organisations across the country to visit the university, make enquiries and take advantage of the current 30 per cent tuition reduction and flexible payment opportunities.