The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife has taken a significant step to reduce economic burden of high electricity tariff and irregular supply to enhance various academic activities.
The Vice Chancellor, of the University, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede disclosed this during a world press conference to herald activities marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the institution.
He said the ongoing Rural Electrification Agency power of 8.03 Megawatts for the supply of electricity was the first to be enjoyed by any university in Nigeria and would enable OAU to generate its own electricity.
“The University processed and obtained from the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the marketing licence as an electricity distributor, the first Nigeria University to enjoy the privilege. The aim is to reduce economic burden of high tariff and ensure regular electricity supply to enhance its various academic activities.”
“The university presently pays over 80 million naira per month for electricity and additionally over 2 million naira per month on Diesel to power generators,” Prof. Ogunbodede said.
Another physical development programme of OAU according to the Vice Chancellor is the collaboration with relevant government agencies and corporate organisations to construct an airstrip in the University.
He said the project is capable of serving as training ground for the institution’s newly established Aeronautic Engineering programme and also supporting national, regional movement of goods and services.
The Vice Chancellor highlighted various achievements of the University in the last 60 years of its existence from academic development, research, community service to physical development adding that the citadel of learning would continue to give priority to harnessing and adapting to modern technologies.
“The university which started with 244 students, 64 academic members of staff and 15 Senior Administrative and Technical staff in five faculties now has over 25,000 students and more than 4000 members of staff.”
“The university will continue to dedicate to the promotion of learning and culture, through her mission of prompting by research and other means, the advancement of knowledge and its practical application to social, cultural, economic, scientific and technological problems, creating a conducive teaching and learning environment for impacting skills, knowledge, behaviour and attitude; advancing and protecting the independence of academic enterprise; endangering a sense of selfless public service and promoting African culture and tradition” he said.
He bemoaned insufficient government subvention as the greatest constraint of the university’s service delivery, capacity in teaching, research and community social responsibility.
Prof. Ogunbodede said “In spite of the modest achievements, funding has been a major challenge to the university as government subvention has been grossly inadequate for the running of the university. The sporadic and insufficient financial allocations to the university by the federal government has affected service delivery and capability in teaching, research and community social responsibility.
“There has been persistent shortfalls in personnel cost. The decline in government subvention and the pressure of expansion, coupled with the unwillingness of students to pay commensurate tuition fees, worsened by the ageing infrastructure, have necessitated the need to explore alternative funding sources.’
