Registrar, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Dr John Ujo David, has decried the commercialisation of education in the country.
David, in his convocation lecture at the 11th and 12th convocation ceremonies of Wesley University, Ondo, lamented that missionary schools are giving way to commercialised and miracle centres in the country.
In his lecture titled: ‘Early church fathers as panacea for sustainable development in Nigeria,’ David condemned the fees being charged by many faith-based tertiary institution, describing it as “outrageous.”
“It is unbelievable that a church member’s child cannot attend a school established from proceeds of offerings and tithes, which members also contributed to, because such a person cannot afford it.
“To this, we ask where lies the service-oriented content in church vision?”
The lecturer lamented that universities have become breeding ground for cultism, banditry, kidnapping, and violent lifestyles, rather than centres of academic excellence originally designed to be.
He said the ugly situation in the university system has led to vices and rot in the system, expressing regrets that the reading culture, meant to be the centrepiece of the university has been eroded, resulting in poor performances.
He, therefore, suggested the need for proper discipline in the university system to restore its lost glory.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Obeka, said all the programmes offered by the institution have full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The university produced 38 first class graduates out of the 348 for the convocation.
A breakdown of the figure showed that 159 students’ bagged second class upper, 124 got second class lower and 12 made third class, while 13 bagged pass, for their first degree.
The institution also honoured some eminent Nigerians at the ceremony, including, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Oliver Ali Aba; Benue State Deputy Governor, Dr. Samuel Ode, and member representing Ondo East and West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abiola Makinde, among others.
