Students of Anambra University, also known as Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), have taken to social media to protest the new University App, criticising its mandatory maintenance fee, technical glitches, and tight registration deadline. Many say it was unnecessary since the existing website already provides the same functions, and their complaints led to the app being delisted from official stores.
The ICT Directorate of Anambra University recently launched a mobile application to facilitate course registration and other academic functions.
However, many students have described the new app as unnecessary, poorly planned, and financially burdensome.
The app required students to download it and pay a mandatory maintenance fee of ₦15,000 to complete their registration, and also mandates the same ₦15,000 payment be made every session. A strict deadline was also set, sparking frustration among students who struggled with technical issues. Many argue that the existing university website already provides all the functions the app is intended to offer, making the new app seem redundant and pointless.
Students have expressed their grievances online, criticising both technical glitches and the fee, and calling the registration timeline unrealistic and unfair. Social media became a platform for these complaints, with posts and threads highlighting failed registration attempts, error screenshots, and general dissatisfaction with the university’s approach.
Many students see the controversy as a sign that the university should consult its student body before implementing such initiatives, especially when existing systems are already functional.
These widespread concerns ultimately led to the app being reported and eventually delisted from official app stores. In response, the ICT Directorate has advised students to pause further downloads and payments while they investigate the issues. Students are awaiting instructions on alternative ways to complete their course registration. The University has apologised for any inconvenience and promised timely updates to ensure smooth registration.
