By Adeyinka Adeniran
The first Vice-Chancellor of National Open University, Emeritus Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, on Tuesday said Ajayi Crowther University and other private universities in the country are helping government tackle the issue of access to higher education in the Nigeria.
Jegede, who is also the past Secretary-General and Chief Executive of the Association of African Universities, stated this in a lecture titled ‘What is in a name’, which he delivered at the 2023 Convocation Lecture of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.
At the lecture were the Vice-Chancellor of ACU, Prof Timothy Adebayo; his deputy, Prof Muyiwa Popoola; the registrar, Dr Jadesola Babatola; and other principal officers of the university.
He said that despite zero government intervention and competition from 265 universities operating in Nigeria, ACU has demonstrated the potential to be solution to the problems of higher education previously populated by government-funded institutions.
He said, “ACU continues to strive to produce graduates who are imbued with the fear of God and a sense of service to humanity. They are endowed with a well-rounded education to enable them operate successfully in the Nigerian environment.
“Its graduates are endowed with a well-rounded education to enable them operate successfully in the Nigerian environment. I call on African leaders to give serious thought to the place of private universities as it is becoming evident that they will be force to reckon.”
The guest lecturer also took a swipe on Nigeria government, stating that it plays politics with university establishment while relying on outdated national education policy.
He said, “Nigeria’s education system is driving in reverse full throttle without the use of back or side mirrors. Our secondary school graduates can best be described as half-baked illiterates who constitute a danger to the society and to themselves.
“Nigeria has regressed into a nation where mediocrity is allowed to lead where we have intelligent people. I am told that when you ask any child what they want to become, in future, they say footballer, yahoo-yahoo person, kidnapper/bandits, comedian or local government chairman-the easiest way out with illiteracy to make easy money in Nigeria.”
Jegede added that for its education deficit to be addressed, Nigeria must redraft its outdated education policy, which he described as a 19th century tool employed to solve 21st century challenge.
