VC urges FG to give financial support to private universities
By Felix Ajide
The Vice-Chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Prof. Noah Yusuf, has appealed to the Federal Government to take proactive actions toward granting financial and logistic support to private universities.
Yusuf made the appeal while briefing journalists on Monday at the University’s Conference Hall in Ilorin to commemorate one one year in office.
He said that private institutions were playing a very significant role in terms of the expansion of university education.
According to him, they also serve to prevent social upheaval as well as youth restlessness by ensuring uninterrupted academic calendar.
”In another sense, if the federal government can bail out banks to prevent financial distress, the same could be extended to private universities, to prevent youth restlessness and attendant social disequilibrium.
”Both are geared toward national stability.
“Private universities play important role of ensuring that academic activities are continuous rather than broken, especially during the period of industrial action by unions in the public universities.
“Since private universities’ workers and students are non-unionised, the smooth academic calendar guarantees for the nation that her youths in the private universities are fully engaged,” the VC said.
Yusuf noted that conventional universities focused on nominal training /o the students, while faith-based universities perform additional role for the society through emphasis on morality and spiritual education of the students.
According to the don, this becomes highly important in contemporary Nigerian society, which is contending with the challenge of drug abuse, cultism, among others.
“Further, private universities complement the public universities >n making university education accessible to the teeming Nigerians yourhd desirousd of quality education.
“In times of crisis in the educational sector, for instance national strike by unions, private universities ensure that they continue to provide the services.
” In this regard and in furtherance of it’s policy of providing an all-inclusive admission, Al-hikmah is pursuing collaboration with the Katsina and Kano State Governments in particular among others,” he said.
Yusuf said the institution’s facilities are well maintained, while practical efforts were taken to upgrade them.
The VC said all existing office structures, laboratories, libraries and hostels were renovated and connected to the dedicated power source or solar power.
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