The Vice Chancellor of the Redeemer’s University (RUN), in Ede, Osun State, Professor Debo Adeyewa, on Monday asked the Federal Government of Nigeria to support private Universities to accelerate research and development.
He says such supports can come as incentives, single digit interest loans and other access to funds.
Professor Adeyewa made the request at the Pre-Convocation press conference on the activities of the institutions ahead of its 8th convocation ceremony slated for September 8 in Ede, Osun State.
The Vice Chancellor told reporters that the present 2016 graduating set christened “the Chosen Generation ” was the largest set so far in the history of RUN, with about 619 Graduating students.
“At this convocation, we have altogether, 619 graduands. Twenty-five of them made First Class honours (4.0%), 207 were in Second Class Upper Division (33.4%) while 290 graduated with Second Class Lower Division (46.8%).
“Some 97 others (15.7%) fall into the third class. Eighty-four (13.6%) of the graduating students were in the pass category.
“These Graduating students actually took the oath of Matriculation on November 1, 2012,” he said.
On how the government can assist private Universities, Professor Adeyewa said: “With the Redeemer’s University, the possibilities of excellence are endless, just as over a decade of the university’s existence has demonstrated.
“With the contribution of private universities to the growth and wellbeing of our dear country, there is a need for the government to provide incentives, single digit interest loans and access to funds that would aid the acceleration of research and development.
“This way, the government would be discouraging education tourism that has helped institutions overseas to flourish with billions of dollars frittered away each year at the expense of burgeoning home institutions”.
He further told reporters that the Chosen Generation was unique, as they were the first set of students to register online and to use computer based testing procedure for the Post-UTME screening.
“Also, scripturally, the number eight signifies new beginning. As the eighth set of matriculating students in RUN, the set is therefore a pointer to a new beginning for the University,” the Vice Chancellor pointed out.
The Vice chancellor further informed the reporters that the institution would also on Thursday produce its first set of doctoral students.
He also said that General Theophilus Danjuma (Rtd) would be installed as the second Chancellor of the university to succeed Emeritus Professor Teenage Tamuno, the pioneer chancellor who passed on over a year ago.
Source: Channels TV
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