Salem University VC seeks FG, States, Stakeholders intervention in private Universities devt
IDRIS AHMED, Lokoja
The Vice Chancellor of the Salem University, Lokoja, Kogi State, Professor Alewo Akubo, has sought the interventions of critical stakeholders in the education sector in the development of Private Universities across the country.
He said that the appeal has become imperative in view of the fact that Private Universities have been churning out graduates who serve States and Federal Governments and the World at large.
Addressing a pre Convocation press conference on Monday in Lokoja, as part of preparation for the institution’s 6th graduation ceremony scheduled for Friday November 29, Prof Akubo announced that a total of 499 Students will be graduating 41 of them with first-class honours.
According to the Vice Chancellor, the graduates are from the institution’s seven colleges of Management and Social Sciences; Natural and Applied Sciences; Humanities; Education; Communication and Information Technology; Law and Post Graduate School.
He explained that the institution’s College of Basic Health and Medical Sciences had already been accredited and would commence programs soon.
The Vice-Chancellor maintained that the university had been turning out graduates who have been contributing to the development of Kogi State, Nigeria, and the world over.
“Our sixth convocation comes up on Friday, November 29, 2024. We shall be graduating a total of 499. 41 of them have first class. The convocation is combined: 2022 and 2023/ 2024 sets.
“Our graduates are change agents. We are consciously imbibing something in our graduates, the reason why they contribute to the development of Kogi state, Nigeria, and the whole world,” VC maintained.
He therefore appealed for the assistance of those critical shareholders including the state governments, the Federal Government, and public-spirited individuals in lifting the private Universities including the Salem University, Lokoja, so that they can continue to contribute more to the development of the country.
While he specifically urged the Federal Government to continue to encourage private Universities, the Vice Chancellor noted that the Private universities are turning out graduates to serve the world at large, pointing out that what public universities are doing, private universities are doing much more.
“The Federal Government should encourage private universities to do more . For a sustainable University education in Nigeria, attention should also be paid to private Universities.” Prof Akubo said.
