News
‘Ajayi Crowther University, One Of The Best In Nigeria’
The management of Ajayi Crowther University, a faith-based university in Oyo, Oyo State trumpeted institution as one of the best in the country.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Jacob Adeniyi, noted that the institution known for its high disciplinary records. The Deputy Vice Chancellor, who recently was in Port Harcourt on official business, spoke with Ike Wigodo on the achievements of the university.
Excerpts.
Sir, can you give us a brief historical background of Ajayi Crowther University (ACU)?
ACU is a faith – based University, licensed in 2005, and began operations in 2006. Ajayi Crowther University is an institution of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. Accordingly, we are a Christian University. We raise Godly intellectuals, who proceed to be agents of great positive change and transformation in their immediate environment, the nation and the world as a whole. At the institution, we emphasise the fear of God, sound academic development, excellent character formation, hardwork, diligence and entrepreneurship.
What do you mean by Godly intellectuals?
At ACU, we emphasis character. There is a compulsory course on character that every student passing through this university must take and pass before graduation. When we say we raise Godly intellectuals, we teach our students here to have fear of God, we teach them to be prayerful and also to worship God. One of our core values is Spirituality.
For staff and students, spirituality is developed through daily morning devotion, weekly community worship, and other anointed services.
What are the courses being offered there, and how many of them have been accredited?
All our courses have been accredited, and we offer various programmes in the Faculties of Education, Humanities, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Law, Management Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. The school has applied for resource verification for Political Science, Industrial Relations and Business Education. Also, we have applied for verification of Ph.D programmes in all our accredited courses.
Sir, what are the things that distinguish ACU from other private universities?
We focus on entrepreneurship training for our students; our tuitions are affordable, and can be paid in three instalments to enable parents and sponsors of our students to pay promptly; we run uninterrupted academic calendar; we make adequate security arrangement for our students; we make sure they learn under conducive atmosphere; and we ensure qualitative university education for them; we have zero tolerance for indiscipline on the campus. Apart from all these, out university has the best Faculty of Law in Nigeria. The Alakija Faculty of Law Complex is unarguably the best Law Faculty building in Nigeria. Equipped with many ultra-modern learning facilities and fully air- conditioned lecture rooms and auditorium
How do you ensure qualitative university education for your students?
Ajayi Crowther University has seasoned and dedicated lecturers and other categories of workers. The Vice Chancellor also encourages our students to use the library. He visits the library regularly and gives gifts to students he meets reading there. This is to encourage the use of library by our students. ACU has two (2) fully stocked libraries equipped with latest books, audio-visual learning materials, ebooks and online resources. Both libraries have eLibrary with internet and quality computers. We also expose our students to national and international academic and research competitions.
Over the years, what are the landmark achievements of ACU in terms of quality of your products, academic and research breakthroughs?
Our products are everywhere across the country and abroad doing excellently well in their chosen careers. We have had our students winning national awards. Recently, our students in the Computer Science Department entered into a national competition and came third nationally. Some of our lecturers went abroad and won prizes, just like some of our lecturers in the Micro Biology Department.
Professor Popoola from the Mass Communication Department just returned from a national assignment. We have recorded so many achievements over the years, and we are determined to keep on moving.
What international collaborative or exchange programmes do you have?
On November 28, 2017, The Vice-chancellor was one of the ten Vice-Chancellors who signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Morgan State University, Baltimore USA. The MoU provides for collaboration between Ajayi Crowther University and Morgan State University for linkages, staff exchange, Doctoral degree studies, short-time research visits, conferences and student exchange programmes. The MoU takes effect immediately. There is another one, if a student is interested in obtaining a UK degree after graduating here, such a student can go there for one year and obtain a UK degree. The implication of this is that such student will have two different degrees.
Lastly, what is the future projection for the university?
The present Vice Chancellor is a very dynamic one. He always looks into the future. He does not only build infrastructure, he also builds human capacity. The Vice Chancellor ensures quality academic activities. Just last week, he was saying that each department must produce at least, two Professors, and that these Professors must not come from outside but within the university system. We are also introducing programmes that are very attractive, in the bid to increase our enrolment. Our future projection is that this university should be among the best, not only in Nigeria, but globally. We know we shall soon get there.
How disciplined are your students, and what efforts are being made to enforce discipline among them?
This university is built upon the heritage of old St. Andrew College, which was founded in 1897. It was the most disciplined Teachers Training College in Nigeria in those days.
So, the discipline here is very strong. All students are to dress corporately. We have zero tolerance for any act of indiscipline. Any student caught in any act of indiscipline will be tried by a Student Disciplinary Committee, no matter the children of whom they are. In order to sustain the high level of discipline among our students, we have stopped admitting students who were dismissed from another universities.
Apart from the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, do you have programmes for students who do not have basic qualification for undergraduate programmes?
We have a foundation programme. We are registered with TOEFL, we have lecturers taking admitted students for remedial courses. Generally, we don’t admit students who do not have basic requirements for out undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. We are not too desperate to admit students here. We don’t compromise our standard.
What are the sources of funding available to the university, do you get subvention from either government or owner – church?
The University does not get subvention from anybody or agency. We run the institution based on tuition fees we collect from our students. We have no subvention at all. TETFUND has been unfair to private universities. We would have loved it if TETFUND allows us to access some of its facilities, but they hide under the claim that the laws do not allow them to extend their operations to private universities. The Federal Government has been unfair to us. At least, TETFUND should be sponsoring lecturers in private universities for Ph.D programmes and conferences, if other facilities are not extended to us.
How do you fund and run the affairs of the university?
We spend between N70 million to N80 million every month on salaries and running cost. We rely solely on tuition fees we collect from students. We don’t want to increase our tuition fees unnecessarily; we want our tuition to be affordable for parents and sponsors. That is the reason we have been appealing that TETFUND facilities should be extended to private universities. They should amend the law.
What about funds from private and corporate bodies?
We have not been receiving fund from any organisation, although we had reached out to some of them. We are still expecting their response. But we have some individuals and families who have contributed to the development of the university. We have some Anglican families that have helped us. We have the Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who gave us the Vice Chancellor’s lodge; Chief Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, who gave us the ICT Centre; General TY Danjuma, who gave us the Library; and the Alakijas, who gave us the magnificent Faculty of Law.
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has called for renewed commitment, transparency, and collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector in the State.
The deputy governor particularly urged synergy between the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the Primary Health Care Management Board towards improved healthcare delivery in the State.
?Prof. Odu made this call during the 2026 First Quarter Review Meeting of the Task Force on Primary Health Care at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.
?She stressed the importance of honesty and urged all parties to be truthful and open in addressing challenges within the system.
?According to her, transparency remains critical to identifying and resolving underlying issues affecting healthcare delivery, noting that “if we are not truthful, we will not cure the disease, but merely cover it up.”
The deputy governor recounted a personal experience at a Primary Health Center where a patient, despite being duly registered under the RIVCIPP scheme with completed biometric capture, was still asked to make payment for services.
According to her, intervention by relevant authorities later confirmed the patient’s eligibility, exposing a communication gap between the scheme and healthcare providers.
Odu warned that such incidents could discourage community members from enrolling in the scheme, thereby undermining its objectives.
“When this happens, we are disenfranchising our people. The message that goes back to the community is that even when you register, you are still made to pay,” she stressed.
?While commending the leadership and staff of the Primary Health Care Management Board, Ministry of Health, Development Partners as well as other supporting units, for their efforts, ty deputy governor stressed that performance should not lead to complacency.
She urged stakeholders to continuously strive for improvement, raise standards, and leave lasting positive impacts within the system.
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the opening of examination slip printing for candidates registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB made the announcement yesterday, urging candidates to visit its website to download their slips ahead of the examination.
“Examination Slip Printing is now available. The slip contains details of the venue, date and time of your examination and gives you access to the examination hall,” the board said.
Candidates are to visit jamb.gov.ng and click on “2026 Slip Printing” to print their slips.
The development comes after JAMB dismissed a viral press release falsely claiming the examination had been postponed.
The board described the notice as “malicious and fake” and urged candidates to disregard it.
The 2026 UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The examination follows a mock test conducted on Saturday, March 28, which recorded technical difficulties at some Computer-Based Test centres.
Of the 224,597 candidates who registered for the mock, 152,586 sat for the test across 989 CBT centres nationwide.
JAMB said over 20 centres were delisted for technical inadequacies.
The board also warned candidates against fraudsters on WhatsApp claiming to facilitate score inflation, describing such claims as “false and criminal”, and threatening cancellation of registration or withholding of results for any candidate found involved.
Over two million candidates, according to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, registered for this year’s UTME.
News
RSU Unveils Five-Year Strategic Dev Plan …Calls For Collective Commitment To Institutional Excellence
In a decisive step towards redefining its future, the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has formally unveiled its Third Five-Year (2026-2030) Strategic Development Plan.
The development plan is a comprehensive roadmap designed to strengthen the university’s position as a leading institution in Nigeria and beyond.
The unveiling took place during a high-level engagement with the Governing Council, Principal Officers and the university congregation, at the Convocation Arena, recently.
Delivering his remarks at the unveiling ceremony, the Pro-Chancellor of the university and Chairman of Council, Hon. Okey Wali, SAN, charged all members of the university community to align their activities with the strategic direction of the institution, emphasizing that the success of the plan depends on collective commitment.
He noted that the plan is not merely a document, but a working framework that requires discipline, accountability and unity of purpose.
According to the Pro-Chancellor, only through coordinated efforts from all stakeholders can the university fully realize its vision.
“I hereby invite the Visitor to the University, donor agencies, friends and well-wishers, and all stakeholders to support and fund the implementation of this strategic plan. We are confident that this plan will take RSU to greater heights in the comity of higher institutions,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described the Strategic Development Plan as a document that would enhance the university’s corporate strengths, mitigate current weaknesses, leverage its corporate opportunities and address perceived existential threats.
“This Five-Year Strategic Plan sets out RSU’s goals, strategic objectives, expected outcomes and impact, including intervention strategies,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the Strategic Development Planning Committee, Prof. Emeritus Joseph A. Ajienka, noted that the 2026-2030 Strategic Development Plan represents a bold reaffirmation of the university’s founding ideals of excellence, creativity, innovation and inclusivity, aimed at positioning the institution to respond effectively to contemporary challenges in higher education.
Prof. Ajienka, who is also a member of the Governing Council, disclosed that the plan was developed through an extensive and inclusive consultative process, which he said reflects contributions from Faculties, Departments, Satellite Campuses and Administrative Units.
At its core, the plan seeks to advance the university’s vision of becoming a “unique and uncommon” institution that is structurally and philosophically oriented towards solving practical societal problems and ranking among the top ten universities in Nigeria.
The strategic framework identifies six key challenges confronting the university, including funding constraints, infrastructure deficits, limited research collaboration, and service delivery inefficiencies.
A statement by the university’s Acting Director, Corporate Affairs, Victor G. Banigo, further stated that the university has articulated four broad strategic goals supported by eight targeted objectives.
A central priority of the plan, according to him, is the strengthening of governance and administrative systems, alongside deliberate efforts to expand the university’s funding base. Others include enhanced alumni engagement, strategic partnerships and innovative fundraising initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
“Equally significant is the commitment to upgrading physical infrastructure across all campuses. Plans are underway to modernize lecture halls and laboratories, expand student accommodation, improve campus security and deploy advanced ICT systems to support teaching, learning and research.
“Recognizing that human capital is the backbone of institutional success, the university has placed strong emphasis on staff development, recruitment and productivity enhancement. Through targeted training programmes, mentorship initiatives and performance management systems, the plan aims to foster a highly skilled and motivated workforce.
“In addition, the university is poised to deepen its focus on research, innovation and entrepreneurship. By reviewing academic curricula, strengthening industry partnerships and establishing innovation incubation centers, Rivers State University seeks to translate research outputs into practical solutions that address societal needs and drive economic growth,” he said.
The PRO disclosed that the implementation of the strategic plan is projected at ?110 billion, reflecting the scale of transformation envisioned.
“While the university is committed to funding a significant portion internally, additional resources will be mobilized through government support, donor agencies, alumni contributions, and public-private partnerships.
“This multi-channel funding strategy aligns with the university’s broader goal of building a resilient and self-sustaining financial model capable of supporting long-term development,” he explained.
To ensure effective implementation, he said, “the plan incorporates a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, complete with performance and impact indicators. A mid-term review is scheduled within the first two years to assess progress and make necessary adjustments.
“Furthermore, the establishment of a dedicated Strategic Planning Office will provide oversight, coordination and accountability in executing the plan across all units of the university.”
According to the statement, “As the university embarks on this transformative journey, the message from leadership is clear: the Strategic Development Plan is a collective mandate.
“For staff, students, alumni and stakeholders, it represents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the growth and advancement of the institution. For the university, it is a pathway to consolidating its legacy while embracing innovation and global relevance.
“With a clear vision, defined priorities and a united community, Rivers State University stands poised to translate this strategic blueprint into measurable progress, advancing knowledge, empowering people and shaping the future of higher education in Nigeria.”
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