WHEN PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES BECOME ROLE MODELS

    When Private Universities become role models

Academic standards in our institutions of learning are falling, the government seem to be doing all it can to restore normalcy, but there seem to be a missing link as the education sector seem to be in a state of quagmire, Oriaifoh Godwins writes

The need to urgently revamp the fall in the standard of Education in

Nigeria, cannot be overemphasised, especially bearing in mind that, some graduates of Nigerian Universities today, leaves much to be desired (in terms of their academic and moral quality) hence, a number of them, are unemployable.

Again, some of our older universities are not any better as some of some of their products are not able to defend the certificates they claim to have obtained. They more or less seem to be living on their past glories.

Despite the foregoing, however, one university has shown signs of bringing back the lost glory of the standard and quality of education in Nigeria; and that university, is Samuel Adegboyega University, SAU, Ogwa, Edo State.

Bearing in mind that, most of the graduates from our universities today, end up as job seekers, thereby swelling the unemployment market, SAU have towed the path of preparing its students for life after the university where their products will not have to look up to the government in order to secure employment. This is so, because, apart from the normal degree (B.Sc) programmes, that are offered by every other university in the country, the students of the university also undergo trainings in other fields such as photography, Textile, Ice cream and Soap making. They are also encouraged to enrol for the professional examinations in their chosen disciplines; in other words, those studying accounting are encouraged to sit for the ACCA, ICAN, etc all these are delivered to the students within the duration of their normal academic programme.

This novelty university programmes eventually prepares the graduates of SAU for employment either by self, the government, or the informal sector.

Speaking with a team of journalists in Abuja, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Aigbokhan said; ‘SAU though, a relatively young university, started off on a sound note with the aim of not only producing graduates that are equipped with the requisite skills that meets the needs of the country, the graduates of the university are also trained in entrepreneurial skills; and this makes them knowledgeable in the management of their own businesses after graduation. Besides, the Vice Chancellor continued, in Nigeria today, after their national service, graduates of universities and polytechnics often look up to the government for white colar jobs that are none existent, but SAU has taken this into consideration, such that, graduates from SAU, are able to get themselves involved in an economically rewarding venture and if possible, also employ a couple of hands in the process’’.

The landmarks of SAU is sure a factor in the recent accreditation of all its programmes by the Nigerian University Commission, NUC.

Mrs Afolabi, the registrar of the university, said SAU acknowledge the fact that there is a regulatory body, the NUC, that has laid down criteria for universities and the university authority always ensure that such criteria are complied with in terms of its admission processes and curriculum standard, the proprietors of the university, she said, also ensure that the financial requirements are in accordance with the regulations of the NUC.

Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Edo state, will be graduating its first set of students on the 26^th of August. This will be a phenomenon in the history of the university. What is it that are unique about these first set of graduates from the university? Again, the registrar, said; ‘just as it is with most first children, we have put in all our best in ensuring that they are outstanding in every area of their endeavour. Our fist sets of graduates, as it is going to be with the others that will be graduating from SAU, are graduating with triple certificates. They are graduating with a certificate in their course of study, a certificate in their chosen practical field, such as photography, Textile, Ice cream and Soap making and a certificate in computer studies as the university is in partnership with New Horizon International for the training of the students in computer studies. Our graduates are of  high moral standard as we equally take this as equally as important as the academic instructions that we deliver to them’.

Master Okogun Wisdom, the male representative of the SAU students, a 300 level student of accounting, simply acknowledged that, studying in SAU, is a pleasant experience. He added that, the distruptions in academic calenders that is a common experience in other universities, is not experienced in SAU as the school keeps strictly to laid down academic calendar and time table. Corroborating what her male counterpart said, the female representative, Miss Anita Eboigbe, also a 300level student of Mass Communication, said, with respect to the smooth running of academic calendar and delivery of academics, I think other universities in Nigeria has something to learn from SAU.

In view of how Samuel Adegboyega University has so far fared, despite its newness in the academic environment in Nigeria, our policy makers, parents, as well as other institutions of higher learnings in Nigeria, must learn some lessons that could be applied, with the hope of bringing back the waning glory of our academic institutions, hence reposition the academic atmosphere of our dear country.

"Bearing in mind that, most of the graduates from our universities today, end up as job seekers, thereby swelling the unemployment market, SAU have towed the path of preparing its students for life after the university where their products will not have to look up to the government in order to secure employment"