Vice-Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), Ibadan, Professor Timothy Olubisi Adejumo, has urged the Federal Government to extend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) to private universities in the country.
He said there was need for the government at the centre to consider private universities, considering the huge benefit it would bring to the advancement of tertiary education.
Professor Adejumo said this at a press conference, on Wednesday, ahead the third Convocation and sixth Founder’s Day Ceremony of PCU.
The convocation ceremony will also witness the conferment of first degrees, prizes and honorary degrees, in a week-long activities with the theme, The Legacy Set.
The vice-chancellor said the Graduating Class of 2024 left a lasting impact on PCU through their academic excellence, innovative spirit and resilience.
He explained that private universities in the country were playing vital roles deserving of greater recognition by the government.
He congratulated the new Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, on his recent appointment by President Bola Tinubu.
The university administrator advised the minister to “extend TetFund to the private universities. The private universities are really helping the government to fix the students that, otherwise, would have been roaming the streets.
“They should not discriminate. In fact, private universities need support. One of the problems besetting private universities is lack of adequate funding.
“Funding is very critical for universities, whether state, federal or private. We need government support. They tax us and collect huge amount of money from us as if we are a profit-making institution. So, let government help private institutions.”
He said the Committee of the Vice -Chancellors of the Nigerian Universities have been meeting “so that we push for the Educational Trust Fund and the Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund that should be deployed to students of private universities by the grace of God.”
He disclosed that, apart from the fact that the payment of school fees at PCU is affordable and pocket-friendly, “immediately the students resume, they pay 50 per cent of the school fees.
“By the time the First Semester Examination takes place, they are expected to pay another 20 per cent. When they are resuming for another semester, they are to pay another 20 per cent.
“By the time they would be writing the second semester examination, they would pay the remaining 10 per cent.”
The PCU vice-chancellor lauded the decision of the new Education Minister to reduce age-limit for brilliant students. He said: “The financing of private universities is not easy but God is helping us to cope. We are praying that donors would partner with us.”
Adejumo admitted that it was embarrassing that some professionals that were turned out by universities in the country (e.g engineers) were not versed in practicals.
He, however, said the PCU raised “original thinkers’ and job-creators and not job-seekers.
“We are making sure that high-flier students like Abraham Akinwole from the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Department of Physical Sciences (Physics with Electronics), who emerged as the best graduating student in this set with a CGPA of 4.98 are employed. In the future such outstanding students can be vice-chancellors, librarians or anything.”
PCU Produces 14 First-Class Graduands
Of the 118 students that are graduating, the vice-chancellor, Professor Adejumo, disclosed that 14 made First-Class honours; 65 Second-Class Upper; 37 Second-Class Lower and two Third Class.
The graduands, he said, “carried a legacy of achievements and community service to make transformative impacts in their fields.
“Their presence is marked by pioneering projects and strong relationships. As PCU ambassadors, they embody and promote the university’s values, inspiring future generations.
“The graduating students have been trained to stand out in their chosen fields despite the trend of mediocrity among youths. They are change-makers who are being released to be blessings and not burdens.
“They have been trained to be employers of labour and not job seekers with the ability to commercialise their areas of specialisation. Each graduating student receives an academic degree and entrepreneurship certification.”
The PCU vice-chancellor listed some of the university’s achievements to include full accreditation status from the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Mass Communication, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity and International Relations.
He added that NUC gave PCU an approval to commence part-time programmes in Mass Communication, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, International Relations, Biochemistry, Computer Science, Microbiology and Physics with Electronics (October 2024).
According to him, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) accreditation has been secured, giving exemptions to PCU Accounting graduates from preliminary examinations, among other achievements.
The events lined up for the ceremonies include Community Service and Public Lecture by NDLEA on “Combating Drug Abuse Among Nigerian Youths: A Growing Concern” (Wednesday); Exhibition and novelty football match; Convocation Play; Vice-Chancellor’s Dinner/Variety Evening with Graduating Students.
The convocation ceremony will be concluded with the 2024 Foundation Day Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 10 November, during which the Chancellor, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, would pray and anoint the graduands.
The climax of the event is the Foundation Day Award of Degrees and Prizes; Conferment of Honorary Degrees (Honoris Causa), and Convocation Lecture, titled Faith, Leadership And Governance: Preparing The Next Generation For Ethical Leadership In Nigeria.
Dignitaries from across the country and abroad, including prominent business leaders, spiritual leaders, academics and government officials are expected to attend the convocation ceremony.
The Registrar, Mrs Morenike Afolabi, gave the Vote of Thanks. He said: “This business of education rests on all of us. PCU is contributing to the development of the country. We are looking forward to greater achievements.
“If we consider that the fact that the 118 students have been assisted to access university education, it means we are contributing our quota to national development.”
