The incessant breakdown of academic and administrative activities in the Nigerian public university system has jeopardised growth and development education and skills development process initiative in the country. The development has caused a lot of irritation to many parents and many of whom have resolved to seek alternative at Bowen University and private Universities in the country, recent investigations has revealed.
From all indications, there seems to be a significant influx of students from various public tertiary institutions into Bowen University as well as into some other standard private universities in the country.
Bowen University Iwo, one of the faith-based private Ivory Towers in Nigeria, established by Nigerian Baptist Convention is preparing for its 13th convocation and 16th-anniversary uninterrupted calendar since inception.
The last convocation of the institution was an excited moment, as the ceremony drew distinguished crop of people across the country to grace the occasion. The visitor to the university/President, Nigerian Convention Rev Olasupo Ayokunle and other eminent members of the Nigerian Convention were also present at the epoch events.
The Vice-chancellor of the institution, Professor Matthews Ojo in his address declared that Bowen University commenced academic programmes as a full residential institution, in 2002 with 506 pioneer students. Presently, he said: “there are six Faculties comprising 23 departments, a college of Health Science made up of three faculties and Postgraduate School and College of Health Sciences. The current enrolment of students in the institution is about 4500. There are about 316 academic staff and 615non academic staff. The university has produced 10,022 alumni to date. So far, Bowen university has recorded heart-warming accomplishments, and it is still looking ahead to explore new frontiers”.
The increasing enrolment of students into Bowen University prompted Nigerian Tribune to make a random sample opinion from parents whose children have completed their academic programmes in the University, to know what really informed their decisions.
Their responses expressed boredom over irregular academic services and poor quality delivery outputs of public universities in the country.
They unanimously declared that the choice of Bowen University for their children among other private universities in the country was the fact that it is a faith-based private Ivory Tower that accommodates all eligible students, irrespective of their religion, but emphasized godliness and quality university education.
According to them, Bowen University is a good substitute for any public universities in Nigeria both in knowledge and character building, as well as smooth academic programme which they said is elusive in public tertiary institutions in the country.
They commented further that Bowen University remains a saving grace for Nigerians who aspire for qualitative development education and moral standard at tertiary level for their wards, especially at this period when public universities have lost their reputation to academic instability and that majority of Nigerian public Universities are living in past glory while many of the experienced lecturers in the those standard public universities now seek for part- time teaching appointments in private universities such as Bowen University.
Reverend Francis Adesola from Oyo State, said that he had to withdraw his son from a public university to complete his education in Bowen University. According to him he did not regret his actions, as his child finished under a smooth academic programme endowed with knowledge and character, which he said his child could not have had access to if he had his university in public institution.
Mr Soji Aremu, from Abuja whose child graduated from Faulty of Law, declared that he chose Bowen University for his child because of the Godly training, dignity of character, stable academic calendar and the academic environment devoid of any social vices. He said:”Bowen University is one of the private universities in the country that its academic and non academic staff are Godly, and the teaching environment and student welfare boost learning,”. He advised Bowen University authority to be more conscious that they are building future leaders for Nigeria. According to him, the university should ensure that its runs a balance education, that will reflect knowledge and skill development, character, Godliness and social interaction.
Speaking in the same vein, one of the Nigerian serving Commissioners of Police , Mr Fimihan Adeoye asserted that parents who desire for quality university education and skill development, run under stable academic calendar free from all forms of crime activities would go for a private university like Bowen University in the country. According to him, Bowen is one of the private faith- based universities in the country that attract more students, and it has what it requires to produce constructive and productive future leadership for Nigeria, as well as for international economy.
While addressing the graduating students and the general audience on the epoch occasion, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Matthews Ojo, stated that the institution has not rented in its ongoing repositioning and rebranding agenda to achieve the goal of becoming a world-class university in Nigeria.
According to him, all the academic programmes being run in the university are accredited by the National Universities Commission(NUC) and professional bodies, adding that the university has received approval from NUC to start Faculty of Education.
and then