Prof. Jeremiah Ojediran, the Vice-Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun, has urged the Federal Government to assist operators of private universities in order to improve human development.
Ojediran made the plea on Saturday in Ota, Ogun, during the university’s 10th Convocation Ceremony, Conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees and presentation of prizes to deserving students.
The university graduated 417 students for 2017/2018 Academic Session.
They comprised: 47 First Class honours, 148 Second Class Upper honours, 151 Second Class Lower, 71 Third Class and 74 Post-Graduate students.
Miss Oloyede Tunrayo of the Department of Biochemistry, College of Sciences emerged the best student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.94.
According to the vice -chancellor, operators of private universities are also partners in progress with the government as they produce graduates who can stand their ground against others in the world.
“I believe that it is time that some dues are paid to this segment of positive contributors to the society and partners in progress with the Federal Government.
“This the government could do by listening to the yearnings of operators of private universities in Nigeria by ensuring some level of adequate funding assistance. ‘’ he said.
The vice-chancellor also said that it might not be out of place for the Federal Government to consider a yearly intervention for private universities to cover some areas of infrastructure development, training, equipment and internet access.
Ojediran said that this could be administered through the Standing Committee on Private Universities (SCOPU) in National Universities Commission (NUC).
He commended parents of students of the university on funding, saying that paucity of funds was the major challenge facing the institution.
Also speaking, Prof Julius Okojie, a former Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), said that the only way the citizens could benefit from the government is through provision of infrastructure.
Okojie urged the Federal Government to redouble its efforts in getting the educational sector right by offering free education at all levels.
He said the only way the universities in the country could compete favourably with one another is through adequate funding by the Federal Government. (NAN)
