THE Board of Trustees and Governing Council of the Precious Cornerstone University, a private university owned by the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Ibadan, on Saturday, unveiled the pioneer vic-chancellor of the institution.
He is Professor Julius Kola Oloke, a professor of Microbiology from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, which he jointly addressed with the pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council, Dr Bayo Adegoke, the promoter of the university and president of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Wale Oke, reiterated that the vision of Precious Cornerstone University (PCU) was to build a world-class university where children would be exposed to “academic excellence with moral soundness.”
He also said the Precious Cornerstone University (PCU) would not be producing job seekers but entrepreneurs, manufacturers and producers.
To achieve this, he said its programmes had been structured in such a way that students would be running their academic and professional programmes simultaneously, such that by the time they graduate, they are already certified professionals in their fields.
Bishop Oke described the pioneer vice chancellor as “a seasoned, world class scholar.”
Oke also announced that pioneer students of the university would arrive on the campus of the institution on October 12, and academic activities will begin.
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The new vice chancellor, after his unveiling, noted that the future of education in Nigeria depends on private universities.
According to him, among other advantages, private universities are better equipped to give students the best, and that students of Precious Cornerstone University would be given the very best.
He encouraged parents to send their children to Precious Cornerstone, saying that apart from the not-too-exorbitant fees charged, the university would give room for an Installment Plan of up to four times.
Professor Oloke also stressed that emphasis would be on entrepreneurship and a lot of industry-based research work.
“We will expose our students to industrial practice. Also, we will attempt to assist our students to set up small scale businesses,” Oloke said.
As part of his own intervention, the pro-chancellor, Dr Adegoke, who revealed that the promoters of the university have set aside a 250-acre land for its permanent site along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, also spoke of other incentives and programmes.
According to him, apart from the Installment Plan, there will be a scholarship to indigent students, while members of the church will enjoy concessionary fees.
He also said that when the health facilities of the university are fully on the ground, Precious Cornerstone University will extend some privileges to members of the society as part of its social responsibilities.
On funding and sustainability of the university project, Bishop Wale Oke said that the Precious Cornerstone University, being a faith-based university, has God as its source.
But then, he added that friends and partners of the church are ready and happy to help; and that every member of the ministry is committed to helping to executive and sustain the project.
Oke also said that promoters of the university would tap into “resources locally and internationally.”
Other members of the Board of Trustees and council present at the even include Elder WoleOkunola, Dr John Fagbenro, His Eminence Sunday Ola Makinde, MrKehindeAjibola, and Professor Ben Emikpe.
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