Professor Francis Adegbaye Igbasan is the second substantive Vice Chancellor of McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State. He is a professor of Animal Science, a writer and administrator, who has been in the university system for 33 years. In this interview by KINGSLEY ALUMONA, he speaks about a number of issues bordering on the Nigerian university system, including the student loan scheme and TETFund.
There is this notion in some circles that most private universities in the country are glorified secondary schools. What is your take on this?
They are not glorified secondary schools. I have been in the university system for 33 years. I have been in this university for one year. That means the last 32 years were in public universities − state and federal universities. Now I am the Vice Chancellor here, I recently told someone that I take my son to a private university. 95 per cent of private universities in the country are well equipped, even more than what is obtainable in public universities.
We want to do accreditation for our Department of Medical Laboratory Science. For Medical Laboratory Science alone, we have spent close to N70 million to buy equipment. When I was at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Ondo State, the Vice Chancellor told me that for all the programmes – 17 programmes – they are doing accreditation for, the state government only released N75 million. And they want to do three courses in engineering. How will they do it? Our own programme, only one, we have spent close to N70 million.
In terms of equipment and manpower, private universities are far better. Most of the lecturers in public universities go to private universities to teach as adjunct lecturers. So, it is not true when people say private universities in the country are glorified secondary schools.
