Fund existing varsities instead of creating more- VC tells govt.

ONDO (Sundiata Scholar) Ondo State Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, Vice Chancellor (VC), University of Medical Sciences, (UNIMED), Ondo, has enjoined federal and state governments in the country to fund existing universities instead of creating more.

Fatusi stated this on Wednesday in Ondo during the news briefing for the 10th anniversary of the university.

He said that running an effective and quality university required a lot of funds, hence, “the existing universities in the country should be attended to properly to gain their ground in the world”.

“The truth is that, you cannot train medical doctors, dentists without some resources, and resources have to come from somewhere.

“That is why I urge Federal Government and state governments to fund their universities appropriately instead of creating new ones.

“The Ondo State Government is trying its best, but we need more. For the private universities, it is their money but they must be regulated.

“Many private universities have very low numbers of students and they will die naturally later because they can’t run them.
“A university is not for business and not for profit making, but to make impacts and better the nation,” he said.

According to him, UNIMED’s tuition fee is relatively affordable and low compared to some universities’ tuition fees in the country.

“And the reason why we can’t charge high fees is because of the subsidy we get from government.

“If we are not getting those subsidies, we’ll be charging at par with the other universities,” he said.

Fatusi said that alongside the subventions from the state government, the university partnered with individuals and institutions within and outside the country in funding its academic activities.

He added that the university’s policies encouraged scholars to carry out their research within and outside the country.(NAN)