Dailyreport
According to Prof. Franscisca Oladipo, the vice-chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University (TAU) in Oko, Kwara State, universities can thrive in the modern world and have the intended impact by establishing endowments, obtaining grants, and working with the business sector.Oladipo, VC, TAU: How colleges can thrive in the modern world.
This was said by computer science professor Oladipo during a Zoom interactive session with reporters.
She asserts that no university, whether private or public, can obtain all of the funding it requires from the owner.
“We have demonstrated excellence in the way we handle our affairs in the roughly four years since our founding. We collaborate with several universities both domestically and abroad, and since I joined the team almost two years ago, we have received over $178,000 in grants. Over the following four years, we intend to secure grants totalling more than $5 million.
This is because we are aware that obtaining grants, setting up endowments, and working with the business sector to accomplish goals are all guaranteed means of living. Neither the government nor any proprietor can supply all the resources required. We have both a master plan for the university’s expansion and a plan for academic advancement,” she stated.
According to the VC, the university uses solar power to produce its own electricity and has smart campus buildings as part of its cost-cutting strategies.
Even though we produce more electricity than we use from our solar farm, we use the extra as part of our corporate social responsibility in the host community because the local electricity distribution business will not purchase it from us. In our host community, we advocate for the SDGs sustainability policy,” she stated.
Oladipo explained that the university is unique in that it is the one with the quickest growth in science and technology in the nation.
Our licensing was granted in 2021, and in September of this year, we received our complete operational licence. We now have 27 academic programs that are completely accredited, compared to our initial 13 programs. We have seven faculties now, up from three. By January 2022, Webo metrics and Times Higher Education, THE ranked us 252nd in Nigeria; today, we rank 41st.
Our reputation is growing in a number of fields, including nursing, computer science, law, mass communication, and engineering. Additionally, we guarantee that during their studies, our students obtain a minimum of two foreign certificates. In addition, we provide a work-study program.
For the convenience of our students and their parents, we provide a very flexible payment schedule. You pay three times, and you are not expelled from campus even if you haven’t paid a kobo.
“We appreciate our owner’s emphasis on giving back to society rather than maximising profits when establishing the university. He has been incredibly helpful in providing infrastructure,” she continued.
When asked if the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) should fund private colleges, the venture capitalist (VC) responded that private universities also aid in the development of human capital for the community.
We are arguing for the inclusion of private universities in the TETFund’s financing of postsecondary education. In our capacity as heads of private colleges, we are advocating for a change to the legislation creating the Fund to make room for private institutions. Our Chancellor is also involved in that cause as the chairman of private university owners.
“In a similar spirit, we would like our students to be receiving student loans as well.”
