In a recent interview with a national newspaper, Redeemers’ university vice chancellor, Prof. Debo Adeyewa, justified reasons for the high cost of school fees, what he thinks of the on-going ASUU strike and many more. SEE excerpts below:
What is your reaction to the
ongoing strike by public university lecturers and do you think it is
good for the health of the nation’s university system?
ongoing strike by public university lecturers and do you think it is
good for the health of the nation’s university system?
Strike is a choice, but a lot of people
will say that private universities don’t go on strike because they
charge high tuition. I will say that is wrong, because there are state
universities that charge high fees too.
will say that private universities don’t go on strike because they
charge high tuition. I will say that is wrong, because there are state
universities that charge high fees too.
How do you react to the criticism
that churches that run universities often charge tuition that their
members who contribute to the institutions will not be able to pay?
Let me say that a university is
universal in nature. So, when you set up a university, it is not just
for your church members. It is for everybody. However, I want to let you
know that tuition alone cannot sustain any private university in
Nigeria. Do you know what the worth of a professor is? And you have to
pay him monthly. At RUN, we have 575 workers, including 220 faculty
members who collectively earn about N100m monthly.
universal in nature. So, when you set up a university, it is not just
for your church members. It is for everybody. However, I want to let you
know that tuition alone cannot sustain any private university in
Nigeria. Do you know what the worth of a professor is? And you have to
pay him monthly. At RUN, we have 575 workers, including 220 faculty
members who collectively earn about N100m monthly.
So, how much are you going to charge students if you must depend on tuition alone?
To what extent has the proprietor
and the Visitor to RUN been abiding by the corporate governance rule in
the university? In other words, how autonomous is the management of RUN?
and the Visitor to RUN been abiding by the corporate governance rule in
the university? In other words, how autonomous is the management of RUN?
I can tell you categorically that here
in RUN, we enjoy full autonomy. Our Visitor, Dr. Enoch Adeboye, doesn’t
interfere with the affairs of the university. Nobody can go to him and
say, ‘Please, help me to prevail on the university to bend the rules for
my child.’ He will never agree. It has happened once since I became the
VC, when a parent whose child misbehaved, went to Baba to prevail on us
not to sanction his son. Baba simply told him off, saying ‘That’s
beyond me, sorry.’ You know, Dr. Adeboye attained a senior level before
he left the university. So, he knows what to do and how a university
operates and he has never interfered with what we are doing here.
in RUN, we enjoy full autonomy. Our Visitor, Dr. Enoch Adeboye, doesn’t
interfere with the affairs of the university. Nobody can go to him and
say, ‘Please, help me to prevail on the university to bend the rules for
my child.’ He will never agree. It has happened once since I became the
VC, when a parent whose child misbehaved, went to Baba to prevail on us
not to sanction his son. Baba simply told him off, saying ‘That’s
beyond me, sorry.’ You know, Dr. Adeboye attained a senior level before
he left the university. So, he knows what to do and how a university
operates and he has never interfered with what we are doing here.
You should also know that we are
blessed to have renowned eggheads in our governing council. Our Board of
Trustees Chairman is a professor of Law, Yemi Osibajo (SAN), Prof. Fola
Aboaba is our chairman of council, while Prof. Tekeno Tamuno is our
chancellor. With these top academics, we enjoy freedom and autonomy. But
Baba, together with his wife, Mama Adeboye, has always been helping us
to raise money for the development of the university.
blessed to have renowned eggheads in our governing council. Our Board of
Trustees Chairman is a professor of Law, Yemi Osibajo (SAN), Prof. Fola
Aboaba is our chairman of council, while Prof. Tekeno Tamuno is our
chancellor. With these top academics, we enjoy freedom and autonomy. But
Baba, together with his wife, Mama Adeboye, has always been helping us
to raise money for the development of the university.
Recently, a student
of this university was arrested for the alleged murder of a banker,
while some others were said to be involved in illicit drugs. Why are
these things happening in a faith-based university such as yours?
of this university was arrested for the alleged murder of a banker,
while some others were said to be involved in illicit drugs. Why are
these things happening in a faith-based university such as yours?
I know that these issues will come up in
this interview but let me say that at RUN, we don’t hide evil. Why?
This is God’s own university and if you know God, you will discover that
He never sweeps any issue under the carpet, no matter your relationship
with Him.
this interview but let me say that at RUN, we don’t hide evil. Why?
This is God’s own university and if you know God, you will discover that
He never sweeps any issue under the carpet, no matter your relationship
with Him.
That is why He called David an
adulterer and a murderer, even when he was a king. It is true that one
of our students was arrested by the police for an alleged involvement in
the death of a banker. But the truth of the matter is that the young
man was not in any way involved in the murder.
adulterer and a murderer, even when he was a king. It is true that one
of our students was arrested by the police for an alleged involvement in
the death of a banker. But the truth of the matter is that the young
man was not in any way involved in the murder.
What happened was that his Blackberry
phone was stolen. But rather than report the loss to the police or the
parents, he just kept mum. Those who stole the phone sold it to another
person who happened to belong to a murderous gang. You know that the BB
device has a pin number that is allotted to its owner, so it was
through this that the young man was caught by the police who thought
that he had a hand in the murder. But thank God for his father who used
his own resources to obtain the call logs made before and after the BB
was stolen from the service provider.
phone was stolen. But rather than report the loss to the police or the
parents, he just kept mum. Those who stole the phone sold it to another
person who happened to belong to a murderous gang. You know that the BB
device has a pin number that is allotted to its owner, so it was
through this that the young man was caught by the police who thought
that he had a hand in the murder. But thank God for his father who used
his own resources to obtain the call logs made before and after the BB
was stolen from the service provider.
It was through this that it was
discovered that the student never had any connection with the banker.
However, the office of the Director of Public Prosecution is still with
the fact of the case and we believe that he will be finally be totally
free because he has not been found guilty by the court of law. He
maintained his innocence when he was interrogated by the police and his
testimony was in tandem with that of his father. As far as we are
concerned, he is innocent and, as a university, we are praying for him.
I’m sure the DPP will not include him in the case if the state decides
to prosecute the suspects.
discovered that the student never had any connection with the banker.
However, the office of the Director of Public Prosecution is still with
the fact of the case and we believe that he will be finally be totally
free because he has not been found guilty by the court of law. He
maintained his innocence when he was interrogated by the police and his
testimony was in tandem with that of his father. As far as we are
concerned, he is innocent and, as a university, we are praying for him.
I’m sure the DPP will not include him in the case if the state decides
to prosecute the suspects.
What about those involved in
illicit drugs and the impression being created by some critics that
private universities are now home to all manner of vices?
illicit drugs and the impression being created by some critics that
private universities are now home to all manner of vices?
Let me correct the impression that
private universities accommodate irresponsible behaviour. That is not
correct. You should know that most of these students have formed their
habits before they come to the university. Some had been into drugs
since they were in the secondary school.
private universities accommodate irresponsible behaviour. That is not
correct. You should know that most of these students have formed their
habits before they come to the university. Some had been into drugs
since they were in the secondary school.
For instance, some of the students
involved in illicit drugs and were caught at RUN did not start this
habit in the university. We discovered that they started from the
secondary school. We investigated one of them and we discovered that the
young man get into drugs when he was in secondary school. It is rampant
in our society, no thanks to the way and manner celebrated icons with
no moral values are being respected in the country.
involved in illicit drugs and were caught at RUN did not start this
habit in the university. We discovered that they started from the
secondary school. We investigated one of them and we discovered that the
young man get into drugs when he was in secondary school. It is rampant
in our society, no thanks to the way and manner celebrated icons with
no moral values are being respected in the country.
Another reason why it is rampant is
because young people are running away from realities by becoming
increasingly rebellious, thinking that since government does not care
for them, they will resort to other means of finding fulfilment. It is
becoming endemic, but why are we talking about it in RUN when other
institutions are keeping quiet as if all is well? We are doing so
because we don’t want to hide it. We know that there is a problem and
that was why when we noticed it, we declared an amnesty by calling on
any of our students that has drug problems to come out so that we can
collaborate with them and their parents to help them.
because young people are running away from realities by becoming
increasingly rebellious, thinking that since government does not care
for them, they will resort to other means of finding fulfilment. It is
becoming endemic, but why are we talking about it in RUN when other
institutions are keeping quiet as if all is well? We are doing so
because we don’t want to hide it. We know that there is a problem and
that was why when we noticed it, we declared an amnesty by calling on
any of our students that has drug problems to come out so that we can
collaborate with them and their parents to help them.
Did any student take advantage of the policy?
Well, we stressed that whoever came out
would be forgiven, while whoever refused to do so would be expelled if
caught. Only two of them came out. But later, we caught one who was
discovered to be the major distributor of illicit drugs with retail
outlets on campus. When he was caught, he knew his days on campus were
numbered and he said we should let him go. Yet we told him: ‘Before you
go, tell us your collaborators.’ He did. But we also did our own
findings and we invited all of them for urine test to help us make
informed decisions based on medical test. Those who tested positive were
made to face a disciplinary committee in line with the university
regulations.
would be forgiven, while whoever refused to do so would be expelled if
caught. Only two of them came out. But later, we caught one who was
discovered to be the major distributor of illicit drugs with retail
outlets on campus. When he was caught, he knew his days on campus were
numbered and he said we should let him go. Yet we told him: ‘Before you
go, tell us your collaborators.’ He did. But we also did our own
findings and we invited all of them for urine test to help us make
informed decisions based on medical test. Those who tested positive were
made to face a disciplinary committee in line with the university
regulations.
We followed due process and at the end
of the exercise, 12 of them were to face expulsion, but some parents and
even some of them pleaded that they should not be expelled. We
considered their plea but sent the students involved to CADAM, a
ministry involved in the rehabilitation of drug addicts, for a year to
undergo our Recovery of Destiny (ROD) scheme. If they showed enough
remorse and the management of CADAM said that they could be called back,
we would reabsorb them. Eleven of the affected students agreed to go to
CADAM, but one took the university to court. Thank God, the court has
thrown out the suit and the 11 students that went to CADAM are now doing
well.
of the exercise, 12 of them were to face expulsion, but some parents and
even some of them pleaded that they should not be expelled. We
considered their plea but sent the students involved to CADAM, a
ministry involved in the rehabilitation of drug addicts, for a year to
undergo our Recovery of Destiny (ROD) scheme. If they showed enough
remorse and the management of CADAM said that they could be called back,
we would reabsorb them. Eleven of the affected students agreed to go to
CADAM, but one took the university to court. Thank God, the court has
thrown out the suit and the 11 students that went to CADAM are now doing
well.
What gave you the strong belief
that the problem is over with the 11 repentant students, knowing how
difficult it is to tame addiction?
that the problem is over with the 11 repentant students, knowing how
difficult it is to tame addiction?
I personally interviewed the boys and
I’m convinced that they have changed. In fact, they are now
spearheading a campaign against drugs. Some of them have gained new
skills in music and they are back on campus doing well in their
academics. But the one that went to court, backed by his parents, is
the loser. The ROD model we adopted at RUN is based on the scripture,
which says ‘Spare the rod and spoil a child’. We don’t want them to be
spoilt. This is the Redeemer’s University and I’m happy that the 11
young men have been redeemed by the Redeemer under the ROD initiative
based on Psalm 23:4. Here, we don’t spare the rod but we comfort with
the rod and staff.
I’m convinced that they have changed. In fact, they are now
spearheading a campaign against drugs. Some of them have gained new
skills in music and they are back on campus doing well in their
academics. But the one that went to court, backed by his parents, is
the loser. The ROD model we adopted at RUN is based on the scripture,
which says ‘Spare the rod and spoil a child’. We don’t want them to be
spoilt. This is the Redeemer’s University and I’m happy that the 11
young men have been redeemed by the Redeemer under the ROD initiative
based on Psalm 23:4. Here, we don’t spare the rod but we comfort with
the rod and staff.
But as we apply the rod, so also do we
reward acts of honesty, academic ability and godly virtues in our
students. For instance, you can win a scholarship if your Cumulative
Grade Point Average is 4.5. That is why our students have been doing
well in national and international competitions. Recently, our Political
Science students went to Ondo State and won N.5m for doing well in a
good government initiative; students in the Insurance Department also
donated desks and chairs to a public school.
reward acts of honesty, academic ability and godly virtues in our
students. For instance, you can win a scholarship if your Cumulative
Grade Point Average is 4.5. That is why our students have been doing
well in national and international competitions. Recently, our Political
Science students went to Ondo State and won N.5m for doing well in a
good government initiative; students in the Insurance Department also
donated desks and chairs to a public school.