The Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, Prof. Ademola Tayo, has raised alarms over the rising cost of electricity for higher institutions, describing it as a significant threat to the sustainability of quality education in the country.
This concern was voiced during the university’s 22nd convocation ceremony held on Sunday.
Prof. Tayo revealed that in May, the university received an electricity bill exceeding N300 million from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Limited.
He stressed that this amount, which they were compelled to pay, does not necessarily reflect the actual consumption by the university.
He noted that despite efforts to generate power internally, the institution is still dependent on the national grid, resulting in exorbitant charges.
“The government should just reduce the tariff for universities. The tariff is a threat to sustainable and quality education. We are challenged in making quality education affordable for people in the face of soaring inflation. On our part at Babcock University, we are not going to lower our standards,” Prof. Tayo emphasized.
He added that the financial strain from such high electricity tariffs threatens not only the university’s operations but also its ability to maintain affordable tuition rates.
Prof. Tayo urged the government to reconsider the electricity tariffs imposed on educational institutions, arguing that the current rates jeopardize the quality and accessibility of higher education in Nigeria.
During the convocation ceremony, Prof. Tayo highlighted the achievements of the university, noting that out of the 2,842 students graduating with first degrees, 132 earned first-class honors, and 16 received distinctions in medical sciences.
He also affirmed that all programmes offered by Babcock University had received full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other relevant professional bodies.
The ceremony featured a convocation commencement speech by renowned lawyer Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN.
In his address titled, “Go and Replenish the Earth: Man’s Misconception of God’s Mandate,” Olanipekun criticized the mismanagement of resources in Nigeria, drawing comparisons with other nations.
He pointed out that countries with smaller populations, such as Monaco, achieve high economic prosperity, unlike larger nations with abundant resources but poor economic outcomes, like the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Olanipekun also highlighted the importance of internal efforts for national development, referencing the philanthropic gesture of Ruth Goothesman, who donated $1 billion for free tuition at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the United States.
He argued that Nigeria’s development and replenishment must come from within, not through the exodus of its youth seeking better opportunities abroad.
In recognition of their contributions, Olanipekun and Mrs. Bukola Onikepo-Smith were conferred with honorary doctoral degrees during the event.
The occasion was graced by Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, who praised the honorees for their exceptional achievements and contributions to society.
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