The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, FAS, mni, has called for a sustainable funding model to revitalise Nigerian universities.
He spoke at the dedication and official opening of the New Out Patients Department Hall Extension donated to the University of Ibadan Health Services by the family of late Venerable Godwin Adebayo Ogunlowo. The turning of the sod held on 29 May, 2022 in celebration of the first anniversary of his death and the opening of the facilities held today, 03 September, 2022 in celebration of the 58th anniversary of his marriage to their mother.
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Professor Adebowale noted that government alone cannot finance tertiary education and should allow a funding system that will incorporate all the stakeholders into the equation for the sustainable management of the universities.
The Vice-Chancellor said all stakeholders- the government; the parents; and the students must partake meaningfully in sustaining the higher education system adding that universities must also leverage on the output of research, donations and endowments.
Professor Adebowale who decried the on going vilification of ASUU noted that such sources of funding for higher education as TETFund and Needs Assessment were ideas mooted by ASUU.
The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the donor of the OPD extension, Engineer Dr. Olufemi O. Ogunlowo, an alumnus of the University of Ibadan and a First Class graduate of Civil Engineering for having the foresight to donate such an edifice to his Alma Mater.
He commended the mother of the donor, Lady Evangelist Patience Diekola Ogunlowo, herself an Alumna, for supporting the efforts of her daughter, the current Director of the University Health Services, Dr Aderonke B. Ajav.
The New OPD Buildings worth about Forty Million Naira were completed within ninety days.
The donor, Engr. Dr. Olufemi O. Ogunlowo appreciated the University of Ibadan for allowing his family to immortalise their father by building the New OPD Buildings in the University of Ibadan.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Director, University Health Services, Dr. Aderonke Bamidele Ajav, had stated that the idea for the extension of the OPD building came during the COVID 19 Epidemic, when the available resources were insufficient for both the patients and staff of the Health Centre.
Dr. Ajav called for more donations to support the Health Centre as there are still many things to be done. Such as the purchase of instruments for the checking of eye pressure; the conversion to electronic medical records; replacement of old furniture; staff training and adoption of units for upgrading.
