Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, on Monday lamented that the federal government was yet to pay the institution a sum of $375,000 for its efforts and test kits used in checkmating the spread of Ebola virus disease in 2014.
This disclosure was made by the director of African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Professor Christian Happi at a press conference organised as part of the activities, commemorating the institution’s 9th convocation ceremony.
Happi, who spoke on the side-line of the press conference addressed by the Vice Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Professor Debo Adeyewa, hinted that it took the intervention of the World Bank before the federal government could acknowledge the institution’s role and its collaborative efforts to contain the spread of Ebola disease.
According to him, though the institution has been leading others in the area of research, sourcing funds to finance many of its research projects, had a major challenge, just as he implored the government to come to their aid in overcoming the problem.
In his address, the institution’s VC, Professor Adeyewa, blamed orientation, rather than affordability for the low enrollment in private universities, stressing that Redeemer’s University is a non-profit making institution.
He posited that as part of measures to offer assistance to the indigent students, the institution has a scheme to which staffers and privileged students contribute to on monthly basis, explaining that the institution usually draws money from the scheme to augment the fees of the poor students.
Adeyewa pointed out that due to the recognition the university received in the year, the government of United States of America, through its Department of Defence had approved a sum of $4.3 million for it, a five-year research grant under H3Africa Research network.
He also added that the university has been granted approval to commence Law programme by National Universities Commission (NUC), with Engineering, Environmental Studies and Basic Medical Sciences to come on stream soon.
While giving the details of the graduands, Adeyewa said the set of students that will be graduating is the last that was given admission at the temporary site of the university in Ogun state.
He said 465 students, 22 out of whom made first class honours, as well as 145 and 203 others, who made second class upper and second class lower respectively, will graduate during the 9th convocation ceremony.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
