The Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile- Ife, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede on Tuesday disclosed that insufficient financial allocations to the university by the Federal Government has affected service delivery and capability in teaching research and community social responsibility of the institution.
The vice-chancellor made this known at a press conference on the 60th anniversary celebration (Diamond Jubilee) of the university held at the Main Hall of the university.
According to him, funding has been a major challenge to the university as government subvention has been grossly inadequate for the running of the university while research is sustained essentially through foreign grants which have helped in advancing the research culture of the university.
“Also, there has been a persistent shortfall in personnel costs. The declining government subvention and the pressures of expansion, coupled with the unwillingness of students to pay commensurate tuition fees, worsened by the ageing infrastructure, have necessitated the need to explore alternative funding sources”.
While appreciating the University Alumni and friends for their great assistance in supporting various projects and programmes in the University, he further asked for more intervention and support in the face of inadequate and dwindling resources from the Federal Government.
Professor Eyitope who stated that the university currently has two colleges, 13 faculties and 94 academic programmes, said there are institutes and centres including the Centre for Distance Learning Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies, Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies; Institute of Cultural Studies Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies; Institute of Education and Institute of Public Health African in Software Engineering.Â
He added that the university is also host to a number of national and international Education English (ARCSSTE-Ey, Centre for Energy Research and Development (CERD), National Surveys (RECTAS); and Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (AR&T), Moor Plantation, Ibadan. The university also superintends the undergraduate programmes of the Adeyemi College of Education. Ondo.
“The University has achieved rapid growth and development, particularly in the areas of Academic programmes, Research, Infra-structural Development and human resources development.”
The vice-chancellor who listed some of the achievements recorded in the past years to include academic development said the university which started with 244 students, 64 academic members of staff and 15 Senior Administrative and Technical staff in five faculties, now has over 25,000 students and more than 4000 members of staff.Â
He further pointed out that, it now has two Colleges (College of Health Sciences and the Postgraduate College) and 13 Faculties, Administration, Agriculture, Arts, Education. Environmental Design and Management, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Dentistry, Law, Pharmacy, Science, Social Sciences and Technology.Â
The vice chancellor stressed that, “all the 94 academic programmes in the University are currently accredited by the National Universities Commission making OAU one of the few universities with 100% accreditation of its programmes.
“In recent years, five newly developed Undergraduate programmes have successfully passed the stages of Resource Verification and Accreditation by the National Universities Commission in BSc., Entrepreneurial Studies (2017), BEd Adult & Lifelong Learning (2017), B.Ed Educational Management (2017), Bachelor of Science in Surveying and Geo-informatics (2019), Bachelor of Science in Business Management (2020) and the Bachelor of Library and Information Science (2020).
“OAU is undoubtedly the leading institution in Engineering, hosting the African Centre of Excellence in Software Engineering Project. Some of the recent, innovative Postgraduate Programmes developed at the Masters (M.Sc) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) levels.”
Professor Eyitayo also disclosed that “the university is presently collaborating with relevant government agencies and corporate organizations to construct an airstrip, located on University land along the Ibadan-llesa Expressway axis, capable of serving as a training ground for the newly established Aeronautic Engineering programme and also supporting national, regional movement of goods and services. The Aeronautic Engineering programme is based in a new Department with a building that is near completion.
“The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) 8.03MW power project for the supply of electricity to the university is ongoing and almost completed. This will enable OAU to generate its own electricity. The University processed and obtained from the Transmission Corporation of Nigeria the Marketing License us an Electricity distributor, the first Nigerian University to enjoy the privilege.”
According to him, “OAU has established a Model Driving School and Driver’s Licence Centre” providing driving lessons and training to interested members of the University community and the general public and facilitating the procurement of driver’s licence to deserving and qualified candidates who had received such training that would entitle them to the issuance of a driver’s licence.”
On the institution constraints, he said,” in spite of the modest achievements, funding has been a major challenge to the university as government subvention has been grossly inadequate for the running of the University. Research is sustained essentially through foreign grants which have helped in advancing the research culture of the university. The sporadic and insufficient financial allocations to the university by the Federal Government has affected service delivery and capability in teaching, research and community social responsibility. “
“There has been persistent shortfall in personnel costs. The declining government subvention and the pressures of expansion, coupled with the unwillingness of students to pay commensurate tuition fees, worsened by the ageing infrastructure, have necessitated the need to explore alternative funding sources.”
“The University Alumni and friends have been of great assistance in supporting various projects and programmes in the University and we are immensely grateful. However, we are constrained to ask for more intervention and support in the face of inadequate and dwindling resources from the Federal Government. The legacy of GREAT IFE must be sustained.
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