By Idris Katib
The Vice Chancellor of Crescent University Abeokuta, Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila has disclaimed the belief in some quarters that private universities in Nigeria were established to make money.
Speaking on Rock City FM radio’s Citizens Forum, the professor of virology stated the Crescent University, Abeokuta was founded by His Excellency Prince Bola Ajibola to add value and fill some gaps in the educational sector.
He added that Judge Ajibola sold majority of his assets to found Crescent University as his contribution to give back to the society.
Prof. Gbajabiamila said over two million sitting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) every year, less than five hundred thousand students were absorbed by all universities in Nigeria, stressing that if not for the private universities, so many students would not have space to for admission.
He quoted the former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC),Prof. Julius Okojie as saying that proprietors of private universities should not expect any profit in their lifetime as investment in university education was a massive one.
On the assertion that private universities are mushroom universities, Prof. Gbajabiamila differed, chronicling the achievements of Crescent University alumni at international level.
“Many of our first class products at Crescent University have replicated the feats at postgraduate level in other universities in Africa, Europe and America. Some of our law graduates who made first class at Crescent also made first class at the Nigerian Law School.Some of our Accounting students have currently become chartered accountants of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (CAN) before getting their BSc while our Nursing undergraduates got 100% pass at their RN, RM and Public Health professional examinations”, he stressed.
Prof. Gbajabiamila said these professional examinations mentioned are like the Olympics, only the best emerge at the top.
He urged the federal government to include private universities in NELFUNDS as practised in advanced countries of the world like United States of America where the government support their private universities.
I believe with the VC Crescent University all round apart from the fact that I actively participated in the lecture where the former ES of NUC , Prof Julius Okojie made that apt statement, I have withnessed moat proprietors of universities sourcing for funds elsewhere to run their Universities.
I cannot agree enough on the need to include private Universities in NELFUND.