By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Prof Olugbenga Ige has commended the President Bola Tinubu led Federal government for assenting the student loan scheme noting that the gesture would allow my indigent students concentrate on their studies and do better.
This is as the University administrator disagreed with the notion that quality of Nigerian graduates is low when compared with their foreign counterparts across the globe.
Prof Ige spoke at the weekend shortly after conducting the Matriculation for over 1,200 students of the Mufutau Lanihun College of Education, Ibadan an affiliate institution of AAUA.
Noring that the current economic hardship is making learning difficult for many students, especially because of concerns of payment of school fees and other sundry charges in tertiary institutions across the country, the AAUA VC described the student loan scheme as the right step in the right direction.
He said “It is a welcome development. It is the right step in the right direction. You will find out that many students these days are dropping out of higher institutions due to high fees, because things are up and you need to maintain the standard of the institutions.
“Many students can no longer pay those high fees that most universities charge. Our university (AAUA) is moderate, in fact the lowest fees paying in this area, but there are some other universities that still charge high, yet people needs to be educated.
“So, for the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu to think in that line, we give kudos to him because it is the right step in the right direction. It will help a lot of indigent students to acquire education and acquiring education is acquiring development for the country.”
Speaking on the quality of Nigerian graduates, the Don said his sojour to many institutions of learning across the globe has revealed that many Nigerian graduates who go to other country for studies, especially post graduate programmes have always excel with ease because of the sound background from Nigeria.
“The quality of education in this country is high and excellent. I have travelled to various countries across the world and I have seen the quality of our graduates. Our Nigerian graduates lead other students in other countries when they travel there for their research, post graduate, Masters or even Doctorate. Our graduates from Nigeria always lead the pack in terms of excellence in their studies.
“So, for anyone to say that the quality of education in Nigeria is low, is not correct. I am very sure of that, our graduates are very okay and are excellently performing very well when they travel outside the country to obtain post graduate degrees in other institutions elsewhere in the world”, he added.
He however appealled to the Federl government commit more to the sector by having quality institutions, manning it with quality personnel and quality infrastructures, adding that “when you have all these, research can go on and developement will come into the country. The moment you have very sound and quality research coming out of our universities and higher institutions, the level of development will improve. That I can assure you”.
Addressing the new intake, he assured that the same quality, standard and certificate given to the students at the main campus will also be given to those from the Mufutau Lanihun College of Education, Ibadan as an affiliate of thr Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko.
He appealed to then to uphold and exhibit high moral standard with which the institution is known for, warning that any form of compromise would not be allowed if they must merit the certificate of the institution.
Speaking, the Provost, Mufutau Lanihun College of Education, Ibadan, Dr. Abiodun Gbolagade said the institution is one of the five approved by the National University Commission (NUC) to run as an affiliate.
Noting that the College places premium on quality standard of capacity building, the Proost said the team is also ready for the accreditation exercise of the College by the NUC so as to be able to run full time programmes.
Dr Gbolagade said “Mufutau Lanihun College of Education is not a small fry when it comes to academic prowess or activities in Nigeria. At least we have spent almost 20years now, and we know that with our arrangements for the forthcoming accreditation, we won’t have any issue. We are prepared for them and all hands are on the deck to ensure that the visit and visitation panel of NUC is smooth.
“It will be a good plus for Mufutau Lanihun College of Education running full time programmes, that will real help the students and the state. For the students, instead of travelling to Ondo state for their education, they can as well stay in Ibadan here, especially in the face of the security challenges. Although, we know that the President is trying but at least we still need to do more.
“The purpose of bringing this institution here is just to help Governor Seyi Makinde in terms of promoting educational and economic development of the state.
“Out of all the affiliated campus in the country, only five have been picked by NUC and Mufutau Lanihun College of Education happens to be one of the best among the five, so it won’t be a shock if they are coming around and we are also waiting for them (NUC Accreditation team)”.
