…offers employment to 35 First class graduating set
By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Chancellor, Dominion University, Ibadan, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun and the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Abel Olorunnisola have appealed to the Federal Government to consider a review of some of its policies, which according to them are limiting the growth of private universities in the country.
According to the duo, government 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.
This is as the duo said the University has concluded plans to offer employment opportunities to the 35 first class graduates of the 2024 graduating set.
The duo spoke while fielding questions from reports at a press conference to herald the second convocation of the University, slated for between October 15 – 20, 2024.
Giving a breakdown on the graduation statistics, the VC said 35 students out of a total graduating number of 148 students made first class grade level.
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 the fees, aside from the institution’s flexible payment options.
He added that 10 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.
Highpoint of the convocation will be the convocation lecture to be delivered by the Managing Partner, Makanjuola Ojewumi and Co, and Chairman, Jericho Mall, Dr Makanjuola Ojewunmi on Friday October 18th, and award of first degrees and prizes slated for Saturday, October, 19, 2024.
Speaking, the Chancellor, 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.
