…….Don alleged commercialization of faith based universities  

Wesley University Ondo, Ondo State has produced 38 First Class graduates out of 348 graduates for its 11th & 12th convocation ceremony.

The faith based university conferred fellows and honorary doctorate awards on personalities , includes,  Senate President, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio;  Prelate , Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Oliver Ali Aba; Executive Deputy Governor, Benue State, His Excellency, Barr. Dr. Samuel Ode; Och’Otukpo Odu, His Royal Highest, Dr. John Onuminya Eimonye (OON) PJ, and  Member, House of Representative for Ondo East & West Federal Constituency, Hon. Abiola Peter Makinde.

Others are, Executive Chairman, Leschman Foundation 4 Education, Mr. Bolanle Benjamin Leshi; Former, Ikeja Federal House of Representative, Chief Akinyemi Beckely; Vice President, Global Hands Foundation, Chief Elder Ita Etim Onakak;  Elder, United Methodist Church ,USA, Engr. Elder Ita Ntekim; Federal Commissioner, Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Sir Barr. Bassey Dan Abia; Former Commissioner, Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Chief Barr. Paul Harris Adekole  Ogbole , SAN;  Special Adviser to Governor of Benue State on  Sports Development, Mrs. Elizabeth Idoko Okogun;  Special Adviser to  Deputy Governor of Benue State on Women & Youth  Development, Chief Sonni Ikwue Adapoyi and General / Chief Executive Officer, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Engr. Abubakar Gambo Umar.

Speaking at the Wesley University Ondo’s convocation lecture, on theme: ‘Early Church Fathers as panacea for sustainable development in Nigeria’, Registrar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM) Benue, formerly Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Dr. John Ujo David, lamented that some of the faith based universities in Nigeria, has gradually and steadily giving way to either highly commercialized and unaffordable schools or miracle centres.

David said, it is worthy to note that the value of education is gradually being debased by its commercialization contrary to service value attached to it by the forefathers.

While the Vice-Chancellor, Wesley University Ondo, Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel Sunday Obeka, noted that the activities of this year convocation ceremony, commenced on Thursday with lecture, visit to the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, and crusade led by the university Chancellor, Snr. Pastor Dr. Paul Enenche, Friday, was dedication/inauguration of the permanent site gate, the Bishop’s reception and Saturday, award of certificates to graduands, honourary awards.

Breaking down the grades, the Methodist Church Bishop said 159 students’ bagged second class upper, 124 bagged second class lower, and 12 students bagged third class while 13 student bagged pass, for their first degree.

He further noted that all the degrees offered by Wesley University have full accreditation by the National University Commission.

The JOSTUM Registrar noted that church member’s child or children cannot attend some of the universities set up with their proceeds of offering and tithes which they also made contribution to, owing to the man’s indigence.

“Unfortunately, in spite of the sacrifices of the church fathers to the development of educational centres, the system has been compromised and it is a disgrace. What was meant to be a citadel of learning , centre of knowledge and that of potency and centre of suggestion as well as of reform has in the 21st century become a hotbed for power struggle , group rivalry and personality clashes . The university system today rather than being a catalyst for development where its education is basically structured to develop people’s intellect and engender in one the capacity for discipline thought, it has regrettably become  a breeding ground for cultism , banditry , kidnapping and violent lifestyles.

“No doubt, this has made the landscape incipient  of chaos, indecency (prompting many universities to place bans on indecent dressings on campuses), violence , instability and decay ( reading culture as the centrepiece of knowledge is seriously being eroded , thereby resulting in serious poor academic performances in schools, no thanks to mass usage of android and iphones ).

“However, exemption is made of some universities, especially private ones like Wesley University and few others who are free from these social malaises. Notwithstanding , the products from these centres are in different sectors of the economy making meaningful contributions through provision of services or deployment of acquired knowledge as well as building peace and harmony across the country,” he stressed.

David further said that hopefully, the practice of discipline by the church fathers has engendered core values of tolerance, patience, meekness etc., which are ingredients of unity and progress.

“On the other hand, the lack discipline has affected Nigerian patriotism to the extent that it has become a mere window dressing. It is self-centered and egoistic and the worst thing is that it has reached a crescendo. The best breed of citizen is being enmeshed in this negative attitude through unimaginable silence,” he added.