Funding: Aregbesola challenges varsities on creativity

*As Alakija Donates N250million For University Road Completion.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described the situation where operators of Universities in Nigeria rely on subvention from the owners and burden students with tuition fees as intellectual laziness.

The Governor speaking at the opening of the access road to the University of Osun (UNIOSUN), in Osogbo, enjoined Nigerian universities to adopt world best practices where schools‎ raise funds through endowments, grants and donations from the larger society, the primary beneficiary of university education. ‎The Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Chief Mrs Folorunso Alakija donated N250 million for the completion of the project.

Aregbesola said university funding anywhere in the world is capital intensive and requires help from philanthropists like Mrs. Alakija to boost the education system. He commended Mrs Alakija’s gesture, ‎ saying it is a refreshing perspective on funding for education, particularly the university, which requires a huge financial outlay.

In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Labode Popoola, applauded the philanthropic gestures of the donor, Mrs Alakija, describing her as a seasoned philanthropist.