547 graduating students of the Achievers University, Owo in Ondo State have received their first degree certificates in their various courses. They were drawn from 12 academic programmes of the institution.
At the fourth graduation held at the Trinity Hall of the university, the Vice Chancellor Prof Tunji Ibiyemi stated.
38 graduated with first class, 294 in second class (upper division), 197 in the second class(lower division), while the remaining 18 are third class.
Ibiyemi stated the College of Natural and Applied Sciences with 147 graduating students had 14 in first class, 80 in second class (upper), 45 in second class (lower) and eight in third class. In the College of Social and Management Sciences with 400 graduating students, Ibiyemi stated that 24 students had first class, 214 in second class (lower) and 10 in third class.
As stated by him, many private universities can no longer meet their admission quota. He expressed the fear that they may collapse eventually if urgent step is not taken. He also urged the Federal Government to extend the Tertiary Institution Trust Fund (TetFund) to private universities, adding that all taxable Nigerians are paying taxes and should, therefore, benefit from such gesture without discrimination.
The university Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council Dr Bode Ayorinde, expressed the need for government’s intervention in the running of private universities towards national economic development. As stated by him, about 61 private universities nationwide have NUC approved quota to jointly admit about 150,000 students per year. He regretted that they could not admit beyond 50,000 due to inadequate infrastructure. .....