All is set for the proposed New City University, a privately-owned institution located in Aiyetoro, Ogun State, on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, to commence operations.
The university’s promoter, Mr. Akin Akingbesote, expressed this readiness on Tuesday during the second assessment visit by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the government agency regulating university education in Nigeria.
According to him, significant improvements have taken place since the NUC officials’ initial visit a few months ago.
He noted that, even though NUC requirements are demanding, meeting them is worthwhile to ensure quality.
“The school environment is now well-furnished,” he stated. “We have proper landscaping, a new sports center, and we’ve brought in equipment for the Faculty of Nursing.”
“In short, we have transformed the entire campus in readiness for operation. We now have a solid and robust system in place.”
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“So, if we receive approval today, we are ready to commence operations. We aim to deliver quality, affordable, and accessible education and conduct research to address societal needs.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Implementation Committee for the proposed university, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, expressed optimism about gaining approval, highlighting the quality of both personnel and physical infrastructure already in place.
He stated that the university would be an iconic learning center, making significant contributions to university education in Nigeria.
Akinfeleye, a retired Professor of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), added that the committee was enthusiastic about the second NUC visit, which would assess their preparedness.
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“We are indeed prepared to hit the ground running. Our current state represents a major improvement from where we were in June during the first NUC visit,” he said.
“Yes, NUC officials are thorough in their assessment, which is good for setting standards.”
“But we believe we have met the expectations required of a proposed university, and we can see that everything is in order.”
“Our university will be a university of relevance, contributing significantly to the pedagogical standards of education in Nigeria.”
“So, we await the results and hope we pass and are granted an operational license.”
In his own remarks, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Implementation Committee, also expressed confidence that the proposed university would become a world-class institution.
He praised Akinfeleye, the chairman of the trustees, for his strong commitment to bringing this vision to fruition, noting his tremendous contributions to the journey.
He also commended the promoter of the university for the substantial investment and his commitment to advancing university education in Nigeria, adding that those who enroll in the school will receive top-quality education and be shaped with the character found only in a world-class institution.
According to him, anyone who becomes a student at this university will not only gain knowledge but also develop character and entrepreneurial skills, making them purpose-fit and globally competitive.
During a brief comment, the leader of the NUC visitation team, Rasheed Mustapha, commended the university for the considerable improvements achieved over the past few months.
He praised the promoter and implementation committee members for their substantial work on the issues raised during the initial visit, rating the improvement at over 70 percent.
He also disclosed that Nigeria now has a total of 274 universities (125 government-owned and 149 privately-owned) spread across the country.
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