The Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, has confirmed that tuition fees payable at the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko(AAUA), Ondo State would be reviewed in line with the current realities in the state.
Akeredolu, who is also a visitor to the institution, made this known while speaking at the 7th Convocation ceremony of the university on Saturday.
The Governor, who stated that the decision to have an upward review of the Institution’s fees, which is the least payable in the country was a result of the government’s plan to further reposition the education sector and make it a viable one in the state.
His words: ” Let me say without equivocation that the fees being paid in this school will be reviewed. I am not ready to tell anyone falsehood, we are here to say the truth because as you are aware, we will support this university but I beg of you, let us see it that way.
“All universities we have around here, go and check what they pay and you will see it. If you want to advise the government, come and let us know, but I can assure you all that we will review the fees that we are charging for this university.
“It is better for you(Students) to prepare your mind for it because we are not going to make decisions based on political considerations. Our attitude must change. The management has been saying it will take a bold person to take some of these decisions, but I told them they can’t find any other person bolder than me in that regard.The management knows that the subvention is not enough to run the university.
“I must tell you that what you are currently experiencing on school fees, is no doubt not sustainable. We must not shy away from all those things.
“This is not a university that is owned by a religious organisation that charges up to four or five million.We will not charge up to million.We are still going to subsidize education in the state.”
Akeredolu noted that that other sectors and areas in government would also need government attention , saying the provision of amenities would be given top priority.
” If we are paying only salaries, what happens to the people in the society and those Akoko Roads.We are spending millions of naira on that notorious Oke-Oka Road.Do you want us to abandon those roads? Can we use all our money for subvention? It is not possible, there is no way. We need to tell you how the government is run. We are responsible not only to the students or civil servants but also to the larger society,” the Governor said.
He added that the recently constituted panels of the state-owned institutions were not to witch hunt anyone, assuring that the panels would be fair to everyone.
The Governor advised students and other stakeholders in the state to support the government in its quest to improve the education sector.
” In our bid to reposition the education sector, Visitation panels have been set up for our four institutions and they have started work. I want to assure everyone that it is not panel set up for a witch hunt, I will never be part of that idea of witch hunting.
” I want to tell our students and other stakeholders that are here, go to the visitation panel and give them your ideas and make your suggestions. We will analyse it and take a decision that will be good for everyone,” Akeredolu said.
Speaking at the convocation, the Vice Chancellor Prof Igbekele Ajibefun said the university in the last few years had churned out graduates who competed with their counterparts and exiled outside the institution.
” During the last two academic sessions covered by this convocation, two students of the University who made First Class in Law in the University; Miss Falade Faith Olayinka and Mr. Lawal Kazeem also bagged First Class at the Nigerian Law School Final Bar Examination in 2016 and 2017 respectively,” the VC said.
Prof. Ajibefun lamented the lack of hostel accommodation for the over 17,000 students of the institution, saying less than five percent of the students have hostel accommodation on campus.
He, therefore, appealed to Individuals and corporate organizations to partner with the university in providing hostel accommodation on campus for the students.
It will be recalled at the combined convocation ceremony for the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 academic sessions, a total of 9,812 graduands received various degrees, while 50 students bagged First Class Degrees.
