The Vice Chancellor, Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos, Prof. Samuel Bandele, has called on the Federal Government to support private universities, instead of focusing on public institutions alone.
Bandele, who made the plea while delivering his lecture at the 15th convocation ceremony of Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, said there should be no differential treatments between both institutions.
Speaking on the theme: “Beyond regulating the activities of private universities: The right of citizens and responsibilities of the government,” Bandele urged the Federal Government bodies to level the hierarchy between public and private universities. He said since private institutions add value to nation-building, government should extend its support to them.
“Arguments against disparity in government’s financial support for private and public universities based on the rights of staff and students can be grounded in the principles of equity, access to quality education, and fairness,” Bandele said.
“While the transparency and functionality of commissions, boards, and regulatory bodies such as NUC, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) are not in doubt, it is imperative for the Federal Government to go beyond policing the universities through the bodies, give the recognition needed and cater for students and staff of all Nigerian private institutions, not on physical structures and facilities that remain the property of the proprietor, but on learning tools and infrastructure.
While congratulating the graduands, Bandele enjoined them to be of a good conduct and go to the world to compete globally.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Reuben Kolo, lauded the
efforts of the school management and the Ogun State government for starting the Agbara-Atan road and appealed to the government to see to the completion of the project.
The Proprietor and Chancellor of the university, Isaac Adigun urged the graduands to champion academic and moral greatness as they step out into the world.
Eniola Oluwagunna emerged the best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.91. Twenty-year old Oluwagunna, from the College of Arts and Communication Technology, Department of Mass Communication, attributed her success to God.
She said: “I feel happy emerging the overall best graduating student in the 2022/2023 set. My success is attributed to God, whom I placed top in whatever I do. I also thank my parents, who consistently moulded me and guided me on the right path.
