University of Ibadan Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebola Babatunde Ekanola has hinted that the University may admit more undergraduate students than it is currently doing with the establishment of more private hostels on campus.
Prof. Ekanola who spoke at the groundbreaking and foundations laying ceremony of a private Hostel located at Ajibode, called Jad Hostel, being established by Hyperch O. A. Limited, explained that accommodation was a primary consideration in admitting students in UI, ‘as the university believes that every fresh and final year student must be accommodated on campus’.
According to the Acting VC, ‘now that we have private hostels springing up in UI under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, UI may admit more undergraduate students as private hostels provide additional accommodation for our students’.
Prof. Ekanola who disclosed that provision of accommodation on campus was one of the challenges facing UI, expressed delight that private investors were coming to play key role in this regard, stressing that ‘this is a clear manifestation of an ideal relationship between town and gown’.
While commending the Chairman of Jad hostel, who is also an alumnus of the university, Mr. Yemi Abei for his bold step, Prof. Ekanola noted that if the ex-student had left UI with terrible experiences, he would probably not have bothered to come back to invest in his alma mater, congratulating Mr. Abei on his measure of success.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Hyperch O. A. Ltd, Mr. Yemi Abei had commended UI for implementing PPP policy which he said encouraged private investors to put their money in the education sector, pointing out that many universities in the country have yet to follow UI’s model.
Mr. Abei said, ‘we are here to establish a 200 roomed world-class Hostel that the students will really enjoy. I finished from UI and I want to leverage my past experience to put in place a student-friendly hostel that will give value for money.
Accompanying the VC to the occasion were the Deputy Registrar in the VC’s office, Mr. Oluwole Dada who represented the Registrar, Mrs. Olubunmi Faluyi, the Director of Works and Maintenance, Engineer Olufemi Adetolu, the Director of Physical Planning, Mr. Samuel Olaniyan among others.
