In Prof. Pat Utomi’s words, ‘’it seems reasonable to posit that the universities have become a mirror imaging Nigeria as a failed State”
Private universities were established in Nigeria so as to reduce the number of students seeking admission into the universities. And right now, the number of private universities keeps increasing. Most parents/guardians prefer private universities because of its advantages (No Strikes, Four Years assurance, absence of Cultism and good/ Conducive Learning environment).
But most of these advantages are false. These private universities are mostly owned by churches, built with the funds of the church. But they don’t act with the missionary vision or mission. These universities are so expensive that the poor members of the churches can’t attend.
The fees apart, this so-called missionary universities, have lots of rules that are not meant to be called rules governing adults in the 21st Century. Rules like Cafeteria Time-table, (when to eat and when not to) dress code, attendance in church, light-outs, curfews, banning male and female interaction etc, these rules tend to act as life guidelines throughout these student stay on campus. These so-called private universities have very high tuition fess, with promises of comfortable and conducive study environment but these are all ‘’Political Promises’’.
Some of these students pay half a million and above and are being made to live in very bad hostels cum a low standard of living. One begins to wonder if these funds are not used in maintaining this institution, what then are they (the management) spending the money on? Has corruption also eaten deep into the private universities?
The idea of a university is a place that diffuses ideas to people of character so the ideas can be property utilized, if these students are not taught how to combine social life and education, I wonder where our education system is headed. The recent Bowen university riot was not looked into properly by the NUC. After a period of time, the students were back in school. A question like; What prompted the riot should be looked into and resolved.
I can’t blame the actions of the students, they are now hardly different from motor park tout. All these are society’s cross and burden. And these students are advised against violence or being forced/controlled to play or act according to the tune of the university’s management? The students get frustrated most times with the poor facilities that are provided compared to some federal universities that don’t pay such tuition fees.
Another riot took place at Caleb University, has NUC looked properly into this issue? Just like other university riots, it’s going to be swept under the carpet.
This injustice must stop in our various private universities; the NUC should look deeply into these universities before giving accreditation; Do they have the necessary facility? These are the issues that need attention.
Other factors should be considered. They should have the will to educate and empower young minds not treat them like prisoners; they should meet their needs so as to enable the diffusion of ideas to people of character, so the ideas can be property utilized for Nigeria’s benefit.
The views expressed above are solely that of the author and not of Omojuwa.com or its associates.
