Plans are underway at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, to establish an Open Distance Learning (ODL) Centre, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Adebayo, has announced.
Adebayo disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing to kick off the events for the 16th convocation at the Welcome Centre on the university’s main campus in Oyo.
According to him, the initiative aims to bring education closer to Nigerians and make higher education more accessible to individuals interested in obtaining qualifications but “who may normally find it difficult or impossible” to do so.
Adebayo, who credited the success of his tenure to the support of the Governing Council over the past four years, revealed that 29 projects have been completed under his administration.
The completed projects include the construction of laboratories for the Faculty of Engineering, the Wole Olanipekun Lecture Building, and the conversion of a multifunctional building at the Offa Meta Campus into the College of Health Sciences Building, among others.
Staff development initiatives
“I am proud to report that many of our staff members have completed their Master’s and PhD programmes through such empowerment and enabling environment,” he said.
He highlighted support models like the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Staff Candidacy Programme, Sponsorship for Professional Certifications, and Research Subsidy as part of the university’s staff development initiatives.
He also noted that Ajayi Crowther University has established functional partnerships with academic institutions and professional bodies within and outside Nigeria. These collaborations enable the sharing of ideas among scholars globally.
Some of the academic and professional linkages include partnerships with Konyang Cyber University in Daejeon, South Korea with preference to ICT and cyber security; SONA College of Technology, Tamil Nadu, India; and the University of Georgia, United States, in the areas of Religious Studies and the Faculty of Humanities.
Call for Support
Prof. Adebayo, who appreciated the unflinching support of the council and management of the institution, however used the opportunity to call on the Council for additional funding to enable the institution to execute more impactful projects, particularly in infrastructure development on campuses at Offa Meta, Kieseni, and Osoogun.
“There is a need for the construction of new faculty buildings, especially for our Faculties of Communication and Media Studies, Engineering, Environmental Studies, and the College of Health Sciences,” Adebayo, a professor of toxicoloy, said.
The 2024 convocation ceremony will confer degrees on 2,679 students and award honorary doctorates to two individuals on Wednesday, November 26, 2024.
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