At its recent matriculation exercise for the 2022 and 2023 academic sessions, Professor Samuel Ayo Bandele, the Vice Chancellor of Anchor University owned by the Deeper Life Bible Church, announced that the university would from next academic year, begin to conduct pregnancy tests for incoming female students. TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE digs deeper into the rationale for the new move by the university, as well as reactions from parents and other stakeholders.
All things being equal, Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos, will from next academic session, begin to conduct pregnancy tests for the unmarried female applicants before they come in as undergraduate students.
The test will serve as part of their admission requirements.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof essor Samuel Oye Bandele, gave the hint at the seventh matriculation ceremony held recently.
According to him, Anchor University is a faith-based institution and cannot afford to deviate from principle of holiness and righteousness being preached by its proprietor which is the Deeper Life Bible Church.
The policy, he explained, will serve as a caution to as many teenage girls who are interested in studying in the university against engagement in immoral activities such as illicit sexual intimacy.
The VC, during the matriculation ceremony, said, “We all know that the society we are today is full of immoral practices, including illicit affairs among youths and our church is known globally as where righteousness and holiness are being preached and so, we don’t need to pretend not to preach the same message even as a school.
“Our university is for learning and not to nurse babies. So, we will conduct pregnancy test on new female students who are yet to marry from next academic session.”
Professor Bandele, however, pointed out that even if such test is confirmed to be positive, the school may not necessarily send the students concerned away, but arrange a rehabilitation programme for them, as doing the former may put them and the society into more danger.
The don, who is a former vice chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, also harped on other matters that can greatly help students to achieve their purpose for coming to Anchor University.
According to him, Anchor University’s overall objective is to produce well-rounded and fit-for-purpose male and female graduates across disciplines.
“So, we always caution our students both males and females to shun all form of unruly activities and behaviour such as fighting, cultism, hooliganism, examination malpractice, indecent dressing and so forth because our university has a zero tolerance for them.
“Here in Anchor, we expect our students to pursue excellence all-round. We want them to focus on their studies, attend every fellowship and spiritual gathering expected of them and also be punctual in class and at meetings and respect constituted authorities and the elders.
“On our part, we have what it takes in terms of competent personnel, good facilities and environment to train and equip the students with requisite knowledge, skills and good character that will make them to become responsible even before graduation.
“It is only that we will want the parents and guardians not to lag in their own responsibilities to their children and wards as we all need to join hands in training them,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, stakeholders, particularly parents and university scholars, expressed divergent views over the proposed conduct of pregnancy test for the new female intakes by the university.
While some described the decision as a bizarre and absolutely unnecessary, others say they have no objection to it.
Professor Anthony Kila, Centre Director, Commonwealth Institute for Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS) Lagos and Dr Tade Oludayo, a criminologist and sociologist at the University of Ibadan, are among those are of the belief that conducting a pregnancy test for female students is uncalled for.
On the other hand, Professor Mathew Olaogun, a former Dean of Faculty of Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun Sate; Deacon Olusoji Adams, former Deputy President, National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NPTAN) South-West Region and Madam Esther Ogwuche, a mother of two, shared the perspective that pregnancy tests are helpful.
Professor Kila and Dr Tade told Nigerian Tribune in separate interviews that carrying out a pregnancy test for new female intakes was not what mattered. Instead, there should be a quality campaign to discourage immoral practices and behaviour, including premarital sex among the youth, right from their secondary school days and not after gaining admission into university.
They asked what the consequence if students pretend to be ‘saints’ before gaining admission and then go wayward after admission has been granted.
While also arguing that prospective university students should not be treated like children but as people who want to start living an independent life, they said such students would only need to be guided to live responsible life.
The duo added that monitoring such students would unnecessarily amount to forbidding them courtship in the university that could lead to marriage until when they graduate.
Dr Tade also argued that to conduct pregnancy tests is similar to testing students for drugs before coming into campus. Such an exercise, according to him, is a waste of time and resources as the students who take drugs and know they would be tested would certainly do away with drugs for the meantime and return to taking drugs once they are in the hostel.
“So, pregnancy test is unnecessary in my opinion,” he stressed.
On their part, Professor Olaogun and Deacon Adams said there is nothing wrong if any university subjects its incoming female students to pregnancy tests.
They said it is a way of telling them ahead that coming to university to study is a serious business that needs total focus and commitment and not for illicit relationships.
Deacon Adams, however, went on to suggest that such a decision should be made a national policy and extended to all Nigerian universities for implementation.
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