NUC should work with private university proprietors – Adedoyin

PRESIDENT and chancellor of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State, Dr Ramon Adedoyin, has advised the National Universities Commission to always carry proprietors of private universities along in formulating policies relating to university education in Nigeria.

Dr Adedoyin made the suggestion during an interactive meeting between selected proprietors of private universities and the Professor Munzali Jibril-led Corporate Governance Committee of the National Universities Commission held at the commission’s secretariat, Abuja, recently.

He said that for private universities to compare favourably with their public counterparts, the Federal Government should treat all the existing 171 universities as the same, whether federal, state or private, and allow them to charge whatever fees they liked, but could rather take up the responsibility for the payment of the tuition on behalf of the students into the purses of such universities.

The universities’ management, according to him, will therefore be able to pay for all the expenses of running the institutions like payment of salaries, purchase of equipments, building and maintenance of infrastructure.

He also suggested that attendance at future meetings between proprietors of private universities and the NUC by universities staff should be limited to just the proprietors and the commission.

His suggestion was supported by the proprietor and pro-chancellor of Lead City University, Ibadan, Professor Jide Owoeye, who added that rather than showering so much attention on vice chancellors who are merely employees, the commission should involve proprietors who sold their properties and took loans to establish their schools.

Owoeye also advocated the resuscitation of the Conference of Proprietors of Private Universities in Nigeria, and align its activities with those of the Association of Pro-Chancellors who he observed have been holding meetings with representatives of the federal government on issues which are better handled by the proprietors of universities.

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The meeting, which was presided over by the chairman, Corporate Governance Committee, Professor Munzali Jubril, also had in attendance other members of the committee like Professor Nimi Brick, Professor Classic Njoku, Dr. David Omopade and Professor Lasisi Fola.

On the list of proprietors of private universities selected for the decision making meeting were; Engineer Charles Osezua of Pan African University, Alhaji Abdur-raheem Oladimeji of Al-Hikma University, Senator  Datti Baba-Ahmed of Baze University, Mr Chuks Ochonogor of Novena University, Dr Adedeji Tajudeen Adeleke of Adeleke University and Honourable (Dr) Bode Ayorinde of Achievers University.

The list also included Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura of Al-Qualam University, Chief Gregory Ibe of Gregory University, Dr. Bassey Udo of African University of Science and Technology, Professor Jide Owoeye of Lead City University, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Gado and Rev. Steve Baba of Bingham University and Chief Bola Ajibola of Crescent University.

Others also included in the list are Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien of Ritman University, Dr. Dike Olukoya of Mountain Top University, Dr. Sam Amaga of Salem University and Archbishop Adewale Martins of Augustine University.

Others are Chief Michael Ade-Ojo of Elizade University, Dr Ramon Adedoyin of Oduduwa University, Chief Igbinedion of Igbinedion University and Father Emma M.P. Edeh of Madonna University.