Alhaji Abdulrahman Idris, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the newly licensed ATIBA University Oyo, explains the objectives of the institution.
What do you think can make the university high-flying among the numerous private universities in Nigeria, in view of the competitive natures of these institutions?
ATIBA University license has been hectic and took a very long journey of 15 years. We shall strive to put in our best in ensuring that ATIBA remains one of the best universities in Nigeria and even beyond.
It is our ardent desire to give ATIBA a superlative and competitive edge over its contemporaries and even the older Ivory Towers.
Firstly, we have put all the relevant machineries at our disposal to make it work. This is due to the fact that we have long years of preparations and in the process identified the major and specific problems of the Nigerian University System. We specifically came up with responses on each specific concern. We have put in all necessary working structures and facilities in place. We have dealt with the all-important issues of space by acquiring a vast expanse of land for future expansion.
Secondly, we intend to have a university that will answer in clear and emphatic terms the functional and practical needs of the society. We shall have courses on Entrepreneurial Studies so that we have creators rather than seekers of job.
Thirdly, we intend to adopt an inter-disciplinary approach in our curricular as to make our graduates well rounded. In the fourth stead, we intend to integrate teaching models and modules.
Now that you have obtained the license and ready start academic activities, what are the major public expectations?
We are starting with only three faculties, eleven departments and nineteen programmes, the best should be expected. We will begin our admission with only 500 students.
This is solely to ensure that the existing structures and facilities on ground adequately meet the demands of the students. It is improper to admit more than we can serve efficiently. By this we are simply averting one of the major crises of the system. People should expect the best in terms of quality teaching, quality learning environment and quality facilities. Ours is a world class citadel where global university standards, procedures and best practice will not be compromised but strictly observed. Let it be emphatically observed that there is a clear nexus between the progress of a nation on one hand and the quality of education of its citizenry on the other.
There is no doubt that running a private university is capital intensive, unlike the public universities that get assistance from government through the Tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETFund), what efforts are proprietors of private universities making to access or enjoy this fund?
We are assiduously working on the issue. We had detailed discussions with all relevant stakeholders on the subject.
Indeed, the present government has, at the highest level of officialdom decided that very soon the issue of financial assistance to private universities will be looked into. We trust the government.
Additionally, consultancy services and such other strategies for raising funds are being articulated by our Team of Consultants and Implementation Committee.
In view of the fact that the university is ready to start admitting students in readiness for academic programmes, what are the criteria for admissions?
Admission into universities is one matter done in conjunction with the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and other stakeholders. There are laid down criteria and requirements alongside specific procedures and we resolved to strictly adhere with them to ensure quality.
What are the challenges that you think the university may face at this initial stage and how do you intend to confront such challenges?
First, there is presently the challenge of time. We have a short time to swing into full action.
We have to complete the admission processes as soon as possible and time is insufficient. The admission process needs to be done articulately and justly. These are difficult and time-consuming acts. We must avoid emotions and sentimentalism in all that we do. This is yet another challenge. Thirdly, there is the challenge of external pressure either for admission or employment. I must confess that our human challenges daunt us more than other kinds of challenges such as operational challenges.
The university is located in the south-west region and you, the Chairman of BOT, are from the north; is the principle of Federal Character going to play a crucial factor in selecting the principal officers?
The principle of Federal Character will not be a crucial factor in the management and operations of ATIBA. That, I am a northerner has nothing to do with quality education. There is no better legacy one can bequeath than quality education. We want to get the best and go by the best. We shall endeavor to operate the best academic market anywhere in the world. Accordingly, the Federal Character principle will not be a fundamental but incidental factor. By this, I mean people in the catchment area of the university will be accorded some measure of consideration but only after all fundamentals of meritorious cases have been considered.
In other words, while the interests of the people of the locality will not be ignored, local interest will not be of immediate and prime relevance. The best and only the best will be accorded such priority relevance.
Having said this, it is however, instructive to add that the university will operate in such a way to give the governments within the jurisdiction of the university revenue. Since we also intend to expand the frontiers of agriculture as a major discipline, the people of the locality will be gainfully employed.
Is the university going to offer scholarships to brilliant students, or are there any measures to cushion the effect of high school fees?
We have set up a “Take –off Committee,” comprising of eminent scholars. They are currently working on this and other relevant concerns. At the end of the day, they would come up with acceptable arrangement that is practically workable in line with contemporary realities. Definitely, we are going to put indigent students in our consideration and agenda.
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