Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has advocated the establishment of a single university that would operate a collegiate system for the South-West states.
Aregbesola made the suggestion on Saturday at the maiden convocation ceremony of the State University, Osogbo.
He argued that the establishment of such University would drastically reduce the cost of management.
The governor added that it would allow indigenous and indigent students to have access to affordable and qualitative university education.
“ It would have been cost effective if the south-West, as a zone, has one great University operating a collegiate system, in which each state will have a college and also each college graduate at least 4,000 students every year.
“The university could be funded from a rolling bond payable in at least 10 years and each state putting forward N2 billion annually,” he said.
The governor frowned at the current high and unaffordable fees charged by the UNIOSUN, saying that the development had shut the door against children of the less-privileged from gaining admission into the institution.
He added: “In spite of the heavy dependence on government, the university still charges high fees.
“This has made it practically impossible for most people in the state, especially the middle class, to send their children to the university.”
He advised the authority of the University not to admit “unworthy and unqualified applicants” who often gained admission into the institution because they could afford the high fees.
Aregbesola also charged the university to demonstrate resourcefulness in seeking alternative means to fill the shortfall in its budget.
He assured that the state government would carry out its responsibility in the funding of the institution.
Aregbesola noted that a lot of students graduate from the university without having the necessary skills that would make them employable.
“Even those who study basic professional courses like Medicine, Law, Engineering, Banking and Finance, hardly possess the skill that can make them attractive to employers and indeed a lot of them are still unemployed.
“UNIOSUN must ensure that all its courses add value to education in order to make graduates of the university relevant and irresistible to employers in the highly competitive job market,” he said.
According to him, the administration is working hard to address the notable challenges facing the education sector in the state.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Sola Akinrinade, challenged the graduates to position their minds for leadership.
Akinrinade said: “If you do not lead, you stand the risk of being misled by others. I challenge you to be worthy ambassadors of the school.”
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who is the Chancellor of the school was conferred with Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters at the occasion.
A total of 362 graduated from five out of the eight colleges in the University with nine of them bagging first class Honours, 167 second class upper,176 with second class lower while 10 had third class.
The prize for the overall best student was won by Miss Salami Adejoke, from Microbiology department, with the highest CGPA of 4.76.(NAN)
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