The Modibbo Adama University, Yola, has matriculated 3,141 students for the 2020/2021 academic year.

The institutions Vice-Chancellor, Prof Liman Tukur, during the matriculation, stated that admission into school of medical sciences would commence next academic session, adding that following approval received for the introduction of Medicine and Surgery and by act of parliament, converting the past technology oriented university into a conventional university.

He further noted that the 3,141 matriculated students comprised 2,341 freshers, 913 direct entry candidates, 154 Sandwich and 150 distance learning, students.

He explained that the institution had difficulties in optimally utilising, the 4,755 available spaces for various degree programmes including the reinstated degree programmes in the fields of Accounting, Business Administration, Banking and Finance Economics as well as Library and Information Sciences which were earlier scrapped by the National University Commission because it was not fit for technologically inclined institution.

He said, “Many who applied to the institution for admission, cannot be admitted due to issues relating to their inability to meet the cutoff point, set by the institution, inappropriate subjects’ combination.

Deans of various schools administered the oath of allegiance on the new students in their respective departments.

The founder of the Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State, Michael Ade-Ojo has called on the Federal Government to render financial support to the private universities across the country in order to develop education sector in Nigeria.

Ade-Ojo, who identified funding as a major challenge facing private universities in Nigeria, said the development had been affecting the development of the institutions, hence the need for the government to intervene to reduce the financial burden of the schools.

The founder made the call at the combined third and fourth convocation ceremonies of the institution. No fewer than 413 students were conferred with first degree awards across the faculties of the university.

He said, “The major challenge facing private universities in Nigeria is funding. This is a cog in the wheel of development of these institutions. The founders of these universities solely bear the responsibility of financing them.

“ Let me use this opportunity to call on the government to devise means of assisting private universities since the graduates produce by these institutions contribute immensely to the national development in various ways.”

Similarly, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olukayode Amund, said private universities needed the help of the FG financially because they had been assisting the university education system in Nigeria by reducing the stress of students’ admission off the public varsities.

The VC also noted that the private varsities had rendered good service for the students, by being alternative platform to the public universities, for the students to achieve their university educational goal.

The don said, “Private varsities has been licenced to reduce the stress imposed on public universities by creating additional access for intending candidates. As a proffered solution to funding, public institutions are enjoined to operate within their carrying capacities, taking advantage of the relief provided by the private universities with regard to the admission of students.

“The FG is urged to create level playing ground for both private and public universities to charge appropriate fees so that candidates can have the freedom of choice for either public or private institutions thereby alleviating the stress on public universities.

“In addition, the disbursement of TETFUND grants should be extended to private universities in view of the service rendered to Nigerian parents and candidates by providing a viable alternative for attaining their educational goal.”

Two students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Olumoroti Christianah and Adeyefa Tolulope  have  emerged winner and first runner up respectively,  in the 2021 Oti Essay Writing and Debate Competition.

A student of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ehinola Odunayo was the second runner up.

A statement by the National Association of University Students, Campus Monitoring Committee in Ondo State, said the sponsor of the competition, Oluwaseun Oti, presented cash prizes to the winners and certificate of participation to the participants at the NAUS ceremony held at FUTA yesterday.

“The winner was awarded with the sum of N100, 000, first runner up got N50, 000 and the second runner up was given N30, 000.”

Chairman of NAUS, Joel Oluwagbogo, promised to always uphold the interests of students.

Stakeholders in the tertiary institutions have called for an education conference where stakeholders will agree on the best template to be used to move the country’s education sector forward.

Speaking on the state of education as Nigeria celebrates 61st anniversary of Independence Day on October 1, 2021, chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Dr Adeola Egbedokun, said the Nigerian education system had been plagued by challenges of infrastructure, inadequate funding, bad leadership and lack of governmental focus.

He said, “In 2013, ASUU organised an education summit but unfortunately the outcome of that effort did not go as deep as needed. It’s time to call for an education confab that will bring stake holders together to actually agree on a template that will let this nation move in the path of greatness. It is time to plan for the future and clearly build it. We need to realise that the education put in place today is what will salvage our children’s children. We profess a green white green flag, yet our national budget is dependent on crude oil, what an irony. What exactly are the core values that we believe in, that is what our educational fabric should be lined around at all levels.

“Issues like language of communication in schools, proper identification of native ingenuities and understanding them beyond mysticism, gradual and eventual abolishment of the quota system, and identification of the system that best suits us as a nation are some of the cardinal things that are needed at this point in our history.

“Classes have been destroyed, laboratories are shadows of what they should be, libraries are filled with outdated books, all because of neglect and lack of funding. Lecturers and students rely on self-help and personal efforts.”

The former chairman, Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Timothy Olagbemiro, encouraged the Nigerian government to focus on educational policies, funding and entrepreneurial strategies that would impact the overall wellbeing of the Nigerian family and their children.

“There should be more focus on public  interest topics about sustainable Federal and State governments’ educational policies, funding and  entrepreneurial strategies, that will impact the overall wellbeing of the Nigerian family, their children and wards,” he advised.

“The real impact of the sector is yet to be felt by the nation as poor infrastructure, obsolete curricula, and poor motivations of teachers have all contributed in derailing the sector.

“The number of Nigerians on education tourism in not only the western world, but also in less endowed African countries lays credence to this position.

“Governments across all levels should endeavour to fund the sector adequately to reverse the huge infrastructure deficit and, ensure adequate supervision and regulation of the institutions to position them for national relevance and global competitiveness, and adequately motivate the staff,” he said.