…Chancellor appeal to FG on NELFUND, TETFUND, age limit for admission seekers
By Adeyinka Adeniran
No fewer than 35 out of a total graduating 148 students made first class grade level at the 2024 graduation of Dominion University, Ibadan.
This is as the management of the University said it has concluded plans to offer employment opportunities to the 35 first class graduates of the graduating set.
Speaking, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Abel Olorunnisola while giving a breakdown on the graduation statistics, said while 71 made second class (upper division), 39 graduates and three others made the second class (lower division) and third class respectively.
He said at least 80 percent of graduating students enjoyed various scholarship schemes from the institution so as to encourage indigent students able to afford school fees, aside from the institution’s flexible payment options.
He added that ten out of those who enjoyed the institutions scholarship also made first class grade.
Prof Olorunnisola added that in September 2024, the National Universities Commission approved the establishment of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences with effect from the 2024/2025 academic session, bring the faculties in the institution to three.
The new faculty, he said is made up of the department of Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science and Public Health, which he said has taken off.
In a remark, the Chancellor, Dominion University, Ibadan, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun appealed to the Federal Government to consider a review of some of its policies, which according to him are limiting the growth of private universities in the country.
He said policies on the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND), Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and age limit for admission seekers are limiting the capacities of the universities as well as the potential of brilliant young secondary school leavers.
Bishop Adelakun who also doubles as the Presiding Bishop, Victory International Church, urged government to create a level playing ground for both the private and public universities in the country to operate.
He said a situation whereby certain laws are made to favour a part and affect another may not allow for even growth of the sector.
He sighted for instance, the access to grant through the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) being enjoyed by public varsities but not accessible by their private counterpart as well as the student loan fund (NELFUND), which he said could be extended to students in the private schools too.
He added that many public varsities may not be affected by the age limit placed on admission seekers due to the massive application they get from prospective candidates but that the same policy has adverse effect on majority of applicants to the private universities.
He urged the government to consider a review of the policies owing to the fact that both the private and public universities are training and developing manpower capacity for the development of the country, noting that most modern courses not readily available in most public varsities are abundant in the private universities.
