By Emmanuel Edukugho

Newly established Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, has come into existence with the aim of educating the total person, which requires self-freedom achieved through development of self-reliance and independent thinking, sharpening of the scientific, creative and critical capabilities of the individuals to become economically independent.

Cross Section of Board of Trustees of Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State

Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, Proprietor of the university, said it was established to encourage students to prepare for dynamic and spiritually inspired life of service for humanity whatever secular occupation they plan to pursue.

“Adeleke University understands its existence not only from the perspective of empowering the disadvantaged to improve themselves and their environments, but also from the standpoint of promoting permanent solutions to the problems of poverty, diseases, hunger, ignorance, social and political disabilities.”

He explained during the inauguration of the Board of Trustees (BoT) held at Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State recently, that the cardinal point of establishing Adeleke University is to achieve a type of education that aims at encouraging the less privileged in any target people-group to build sustainable, decent and quality life. The university is expected to operate through conventional face-to-face mode, aimed at providing the necessary skills and technological orientation to serve as a basis for self-reliance and good living.

Referring to Spring-time Development Foundation (SDF), a non-profit making and NGO founded years back with its headquarters at Ede, Osun State whose dream and ideology gave birth to Adeleke University, he assured “it is the hope and aspiration of the proprietor to establish, nurture, and develop a world class university that can stand among other existing universities in Nigeria and be driven by a modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) culture.

According to the Proprietor, the university has adopted a carefully chosen philosophy that guarantees access and opportunity to the acquisition of quality education within the various fields of human endeavour, produce manpower to meet challenges of natural development and to make the product significantly relevant and competitive globally in a rapidly transforming nation.

Adeleke University which has just been given an operational licence by the Federal Executive Council, came out with a 13-member Board of Trustees. They are Dr. Adedeji T. Adeleke (Chairman), Prof. James K. Makinde, Prof. Dayo Alao, Dr. Esther O. Asekun-Olarinmoye, Dr. Grace Adeoye, Mrs. Adeteju M. Adeleke, Mrs. Modupe Sanni, Mrs. Anne B. Ojeogwu and Elder Ibekwe C. Egbuta as members.

Others are Pastor (Dr.) Joseph A. Ola, Mr. Wale Adeeyo, Dr. Z,.A. Babarinde and Chief (Mrs.) Olufunke Agagu.

Adeleke expressed his profound gratitude to the Federal Government that deemed it fit to approve this institution of higher learning. He also thanked the National Universities Commission (NUC) through the Special Committee on Private Universities (SCOPU) and Babcock Consulting, that midwife the university.

After inauguration of the BoT, the Vice Chancellor, Babcock University gave a brief lecture on the “Role of Trustees in University Administration,” and noted that the problem of the system is that of governance and not resources.

He charged the members not to be slack or irresponsible and allow a vice chancellor to override the collective will of all including the proprietor. That they should not be docile, vegetative, always going cap in hand asking for fund.

“There is leadership problem in Nigeria – with plenty of resources but lacking leadership. Do less talking, be people with ideas and always attend meetings especially at the planning stage.”

Another lecture was given by an expert in finance management titled “Financing Private University in Nigeria: Babcock University Experience.”