The Vice-Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), Ibadan, Prof. Timothy Olubisi Adejumo, has urged the Federal Government to extend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to private universities in the country, saying that it will bring a huge benefit for the advancement of tertiary education.
Prof. Adejumo spoke on Wednesday, November 6, at a press conference, in preparation for the institution’s third Convocation and sixth Founder’s Day Ceremony.
In a week-long graduation activities with the theme: “The Legacy Set,” there will be conferment of first degrees, prizes and honorary degrees.
The Vice-Chancellor, who praised the graduating Class of 2024 for leaving a lasting impact on PCU through their academic excellence, innovative spirit, and resilience, explained that private universities in the country were playing vital roles deserving of greater recognition by the government.
He congratulated the new Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa on his recent appointment by President Bola Tinubu, advising him: “Extend TetFund to the private universities. The private universities are really helping the government to fix the students that otherwise would have been roaming the streets. They should not discriminate. In fact, private universities need support.
“One of the problems besetting private universities is adequate funding. Funding is very critical for universities, whether state, federal or private.
“We need government support. They tax us and collect huge amount of money from us as if we are a profit making institution. So, let government help private institutions.”
Prof. Adejumo disclosed that the Committee of the Vice-Chancellors of the Nigerian Universities had been meeting to push for the Educational Trust Fund and the Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund that should also be deployed to students of private universities.
He said that aside the fact that the payment of school fees at PCU is affordable and pocket friendly, the students pay 50 percent of the school fees immediately they resume.
“By the time the first semester examination takes place, they are expected to pay another 20 percent. When they are resuming for another semester, they are to pay another 20 percent. By the time they would be writing the second semester examination, they would pay the remaining 10per cent.”
The Vice-Chancellor commended the decision of the new education Minister to reduce age limit for brilliant students, saying: “The financing of private universities is not easy, but God is helping us to cope. We are praying that donors would partner with us.”
Admitting that it is embarrassing that some of the professionals that were turned out by universities in the country (e.g engineers) are not versed in practicals, he said however that the PCU raised “original thinkers” and job creators, not job seekers.
“We are making sure that high flier students like Abraham Akinwole from the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Department of Physical Sciences (Physics with Electronics), who emerged as the best graduating student in this set with a CGPA of 4.98, are employed.
“In the future, such outstanding students can be Vice-Chancellors, Librarians or anything,” he said.
Prof. Adejumo made it known that 14 students out of the 118 being turned out made First-Class honours.
Sixty-five of them made Second-Class Upper; 37, Second-Class Lower; and two, Third Class.
He stated that the graduands “carried a legacy of achievements and community service to make transformative impacts in their fields.
“Their presence is marked by pioneering projects and strong relationships.
“As PCU ambassadors, they embody and promote the University’s values, inspiring future generations.
“The graduating students have been trained to stand out in their chosen fields despite the trend of mediocrity among youths.
“They are change-makers who are being released to be blessings and not burdens. They have been trained to be employers of labour and not job seekers with the ability to commercialize their areas of specialization.
“Each graduating student receives an academic degree and entrepreneurship certification.”
He highlighted some of the University’s achievements to include full accreditation status from the National Universities Commission in Mass Communication, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, and International Relations; and approval to commence part-time programmes in Mass Communication, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, International Relations, Biochemistry, Computer Science, Microbiology, and Physics with Electronics (October 2024).
He added that the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria accreditation had been secured, giving exemptions to PCU accounting graduates from preliminary examinations, among other things.
The events lined up for the ceremonies include Community Service and Public Lecture by NDLEA on ‘Combating drug abuse among Nigerian youths: A growing concern;’ on Wednesday; Exhibition and novelty football match; Convocation Play; and Vice-Chancellor’s Dinner/Variety Evening with Graduating Students.
The concluding part will be the 2024 Foundation Day Thanksgiving Service, during which the Chancellor, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, would pray and anoint the graduands on Sunday, November 10.
Foundation Day award of degrees and prizes, conferment of honorary degrees (Honoris Causa), and convocation lecture entitled “Faith, Leadership and Governance: Preparing the Next Generation for Ethical Leadership in Nigeria,” form the climax of the events.
Dignitaries from across the country and abroad, including prominent business leaders, spiritual leaders, academics and government officials are expected to attend the programme.
The Registrar, Mrs Morenike Afolabi, who expressed appreciation in a vote of thanks, said: “This business of education rests on all of us. PCU is contributing to the development of the country.
“We are looking forward to greater achievements. If we consider that the fact that the 118 students have been assisted to access university education, it means we are contributing our quota to national development.”
