Varsity harps on entrepreneurial, practical skills for nation’s growth
Member, Board of Trustees, Dr Olufemi Oyinsan (left); Mr Adebowale Tade; Chairman Board of Trustees, Pastor Samuel Olatunji; Director, Trinity Education Development Foundation, Mr Bayo Kolade; and Member Board of Trustees, Prof Mbang Femi-Oyewo; at a press conference on the kickoff of the newly approved Trinity University in Lagos.
Olatunji at the maiden press briefing of the university held at its city campus also disclosed that the institution would open its doors to new students in April.
Flanked by top members of the board of trustees, Olatunji stated that the institution is poised to combine academic excellence with high moral and ethical standard in the pursuit of entrepreneurship-focused education.
He added that the school is prepared to provide instructional research, coupled with public service programmes as well as technology-oriented learning environment for the production of highly skilled graduates.
“We are assembling a faculty of seasoned academics as well as administrators who are united with the ownership in our vision of making a difference in nurturing and building up youths for a life of meaning, success and impact. There is in place, a strong training and development programme and performance evaluation to ensure adequate competencies are in place in a rapidly changing world.”
“Our curriculum is visionary and robust to make our students well-equipped with employability skills for winning in the work place, trade skills for successful entrepreneurship and life skills to cope and adapt to real life so as to be successful and happy.”
An elated Olatunji disclosed that the institution, to be mentored by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) would commence academic activities with two faculties and 14 courses in April.
He explained that the two faculties-Science as well as Arts, Management and Social Sciences, would offer courses in computer science, information technology, industrial chemistry, mass communication and economics.
Already, Olatunji said the university is commencing with a virtuous network of support for its students through a system of alliances, partnerships and cooperation with reputable institutions from within and outside the country.
While commending the National Universities commission (NUC) for been thorough in its accreditation process, Olatunji said the commission does not compromise or lower standards when it comes to licensing of new universities or accreditation of courses.
He said, “The process of getting approval and licence for a new university from NUC is very tedious and that is why it took us nine years to obtain our licence. While we wondered why it took that long, we saw files of some others who have been processing theirs for 15 years and even above, while others got theirs in less than nine years.’’
“Trinity University eventually scored 95 per cent during the NUC accreditation process as announced by the commission, due to qualified manpower and facilities on ground for the takeoff of the university.
However, Olatunji noted that for private universities to be competitive, the Federal Government must address the issue of tuition in public universities.
He pointed out that a little addition to the fees in public universities would engender a healthy competition among them.
“Government must address the pricing of public universities. Private schools would be more competitive if these public institutions also introduce tuition and the little addition can be used to set up an investment bank to assist indigent students.”
