The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has advised the Federal Government to set up a special fund for the development of private universities in Nigeria.

Oba Adeyemi gave the advice on Saturday at the 5th convocation of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).

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“This university is an exemplar in learning and character. It is moulding Nigeria’s future leaders in the best fashion.

“And I believe it won’t be out of place for the federal government to give special intervention funds for private universities,” the Alaafin said.

TheNewsGuru reports that 21-year-old Ahwin Kevin Akporode of Department of Mechanical Engineering emerged the overall best of the 869 graduating students with cumulative Grade Point Average of 5.00.

The university also conferred honorary Doctor of Letters on former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Peter Okebukola and an American Philanthropist and President of Project CURE Foundation, Dr Williams Douglas.

Earlier in an address of welcome, founder of the university, Chief Afe Babalola, said the university would not deviate from its focus to bridge the existing gap in functional education in Nigeria by its pragmatic approach to teaching.

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He appealed to the federal government to construct a airport in Ekiti, saying such project was long overdue, taking into cognizance the feats achieved by the university and its contributions to nation building.

“We started this university with about 250 students seven years ago, but today, we have 8,000 students here. We were able to achieve this because we deviated from the norm of just going to university to get certificates.

“We also exposed them to skills acquisition in baking, farming, Internet expertise, and other entrepreneurial skills that can make them cope under the present Nigeria’s economy.

“So the type of graduands you are seeing are thorough-bred graduates who can effectively stand on their own, “ Babalola said.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, reminded the graduands to detach themselves from the erroneous impression that acquisition of university certificates would automatically make their lives better.

“It will be wrong for you to think that people only go to university to acquire certificates: No, it goes beyond that. What university education means is the training of a complete being,” Fayose said.

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Receiving the best graduating student award, Ahwin said he dedicated the academic laurel to his sterling parental guide, which he said was outstanding.

“I owe this achievement to my parents. My father’s strict military background and my mother’s guide as a teacher helped me a lot.

“When I got to ABUAD, I also applied the aphorism of our founder, which is industry, determination, learning and character. The combination of all these helped me a lot,” the young graduand said.

https://www.thenewsguru.com/alaafin-solicits-special-funding-private-universities/

Lalasticlala TheVictorious

Indeed it is very important that Private Universities are given relief funds and maybe in exchange for lower fees. The truth is many private Universities are finding it difficult to sustain their budgets as a result of low student recruitment. With the Current scheme of things only Covenant, Babcock and ABUAD are having applications and enrollment exceeding 1000. Most other private universities are struggling to even recruit 500. Some can't even recruit 200.

It is not as if more Nigerians don't have the money to seek private higher education. But many just don't see the reason or motivation for it since public universities are cheap and sometimes even more reputable than some private Universities. I know this because when strike severely hit Lautech many of their students who would have protested for any little increase in tuition ran to Bowen to pay over 500k.

We can't allow Private Universities to die because if it does then we would know the true definition of Educational tourism. No private University is asking for money to build libraries. It is usually research fund they want. It is difficult to pay lecturers on NUC scale and still fund research in private universities. If you employ an MSc holder today in the next four years he will obtain a PhD hence his rank and pay must be reviewed and this makes the tuition to continue grow.

I am not saying this because of Covenant university which is wealthy enough to take care of herself. But many others that are not financially buoyant. All we are saying is give them the same opportunity to assess Tetfund research grant since the lecturers there are Nigerians. Why should Covenant b able to attract grant from US govt and be unable to attract from her govt.

All these our monarchs sef, alwys saying/doing things dat amuses me. Why should FG set up a special fund to develop private unis when the public ones are rotting away.......... Nobody forced them to open private unis so if they cant develop it from the huge sums dey collect as fees, then they should close shop #Shikenah


Chai!!!!!....... The person above me you no they sleep? Abi u just dey come back from meeting?

psalmson001:
All these our monarchs sef, alwys saying/doing things dat amuses me. Why should FG set up a special fund to develop private unis when the public ones are rotting away.......... Nobody forced them to open private unis so if they cant develop it from the huge sums dey collect as fees, then they should close shop #Shikenah


Chai!!!!!....... The person above me you no they sleep? Abi u just dey come back from meeting?

Our poor education system should give us all sleepless nights bro. If we miss education we have missed it forever. U nko sef u no dey sleep

Is alaafin on drugs?

betterABIAstate:
Is alaafin on drugs?

You do not say that an Alaafin is on cheap drugs. As a Yoruba man I am offended. The man as a right to air his views without being unnecessarily pummeled for sharing an opinion that is unpopular.

What a funny way to reason. Lol

Alafin of Oyo, you make me laugh in Swahili this morning. Can you please mention any federal university that the federal government have finished funding that you are advising them to extend to private university? Strike is still looming and only God knows when they will call off if the finally embark on it.

Anyway you are entitle to your opinion.

There's a reason why it's called PRIVATE UNIVERSITY

Upon that amount there were charging?

So that what will happen?

That boi/guy/man above me, i mean "bayajidda". Only u buy three plots, u sef wan build private uni abi, kwantinue

So the Oba expects the Federal Government that could not adequately fund its numerous universities to start funding private varsities....
By the way, what happen to the exorbitant fees the private universities are charging? Baba must be 'joking'

.

The government haven't finish funding the existing federal institution, you still want them to fund private institution as well. Thats a tall dream king

Let them fund there public institutions first before they start doing father Christmas to other private institutions

This is just plain ridiculous. All the private universities are registered as charitable educational organizations which means the pay zero tax to fg. Yet they charge millions of naira even for mediocre courses. Now again, u want the same fg to give them free money?? Seriously?? When our public institutions are weeping and lamenting lack of funds?? Makes no sense please

betterABIAstate:
Is alaafin on drugs?

No, he is not. He aired his personal opinion, you're entitled to yours without abusing others

Alaafin, tell us which one is your own among the many private university we have in Nigeria.

maybe alafin has plan to establish one

nonsense way of thinking

FG can't

They already have special funding.......from tithe and offering money

When the Federal Universites are under funded and with ASSU going for incessant strikes because of poor funding of the the FG universities?

maybe dz man has plans to open his own school soon. hw can he be saying dz tinz at da function of a public school

blackpanda:
This is just plain ridiculous. All the private universities are registered as charitable educational organizations which means the pay zero tax to fg. Yet they charge millions of naira even for mediocre courses. Now again, u want the same fg to give them free money?? Seriously?? When our public institutions are weeping and lamenting lack of funds?? Makes no sense please

They charge millions of naira for courses because they have to pay academic and non academic staff at the same rate as they are paid in govt universities.

then they pay light bills, generator fuel bills, have to build new facilities, etc.

shuu, private uni should mind their private business na, we have much things to do in our public university.

if the federal government decides to fund private universities that will spell the end of government owned universities at all levels. it will just be a matter of time before all public universities close shop and that will not be good for the tertiary education system especially for the masses. private universities should get fundings from banks since its a business and not from government as they are not running a charity.