By DELE SOBOWALE

The sub-heading of this column was announced last week – ‘why religious organisations should do more.’

Last week, it was pointed out that university education in the United States was started by private individuals and groups who recognized, more than 500 years ago, that advanced education provided the most enduring competitive advantage to societies universally.

Even today, secondary school kids from the nations of the Southeast, whose economies now dictate the pace of global commerce – China, Japan, South Korea and India, to mention a few – out-perform their American counterparts in mathematics and basic science.

Granted, the Western nations still lead in the amount spent on research and development, but the “learning nations” of Asia are best in the application of the products of research.

That explains why every invention in ICT by American companies – e.g Apple – is matched almost immediately by the introduction of clones or superior substitutes from SAMSUNG or LG or from China. They very quickly grasp the science behind it.

By contrast, Nigerian secondary school kids fail math and science in droves and we have failed to develop the critical mass of people who understand basic science and math out of which the geniuses will emerge.

Again, unlike the developed countries, we have, for too long relied on governments to provide education at all levels. That is a model of development of education which has not worked anywhere. And, it is not working in Nigeria.

But, like Nigeria, America, back in 1636, when Harvard University was founded, had few really wealthy individuals who could single-handedly fund universities.

Meanwhile population was expanding and more kids needed university education in order to exploit the benefits of the industrial revolution for their country and to even overtake the leading nations of Europe.

Fortunately, America had abundant land and supportive state governments, which, at first grudgingly, but, later, willingly donated land for every new proposed varsity.

Among the first groups to take advantage of these opportunities were religious, virtually all Christian, organizations. Parents and kids who wanted to obtain higher education, without losing touch with their chosen faith, were therefore gradually accommodated by the churches which established universities based on their own creed.

Even, American Jews, tired of discrimination against their brightest students and insults (“kike”) by school mates established Brandeis University in 1948, situated at Waltham, Massachusetts – which is regarded as one of the best funded small private universities in the world.

Certainly, if Nigerians want to advance quickly in the development of varsity education, we should put aside the frivolities of private jets by leading members of religious organizations and get the religious organizations behind varsity education.

One fact argues for this step – they generate continuous amounts of cash which can be put to good use in this direction. It is quite possible that the big Christian and Muslim denominations nationally receive more donations than some of our poorest states – every week, and there is always more where the money came from.

Religion based universities in Nigeria.

Fortunately, Nigerian religious groups are finally waking up to their responsibilities. Among the 50 private varsities now operating in Nigeria, the following are affiliated to religious groups.

Muslim universities:

Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State; founded in 2005.

Al-hikman University, Ilorin, Kwara State; founded in 2005.

The two universities are still admitting students. For those wanting to ally education with excellent moral instructions based on the teachings of Islam, these are the best choices available.

Christian universities:

Ajayi Crowther University, Ibadan, Oyo State; founded in 2005.

Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State; founded in 1999.

Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State; founded in 2001.

Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State; founded in 2002.

Joseph Afe Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State; founded 2006.

Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State; founded in 1999.

Novena University, Ogume, Delta State; founded in 2005.

Redeemers University: Mowe, Ogun State; founded in 2005.

Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo State; founded 2007.

These varsities had been established by the following churches: Anglican, Winners, Catholic, Methodist, Christ Apostolic and Redeem. They need to be commended for their efforts but they need to do more.

Last line

The year 2005 was the bumper year for establishing private varsities in Nigeria as 15 or 30 per cent of our private varsities were founded in that year alone.

The next big jump occurred in 2011 and 2012 when nine  were established.

Clearly our varsities are still young compared with those in the USA and other developed economies.

We should help them to grow and not stress the risk takers too much. Individually and collectively, they are doing our nation the greatest favour.

COMING UP:

1.    MADONNA UNIVERSITY WRESTLES WITH SHRINE FOR THE SOUL OF OKIJA.

2.    TIME FOR ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITY OWNERS.

3.    WHEN LOCATION CAN BE A DISADVANTAGE TO YOUR UNIVERSITY.

4.    YOU TOO CAN SET UP A UNIVERSITY – FIND OUT HOW.