School Reopening: Afe Babalola Makes Case for Private Universities

The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola, has expressed disappointment with the Federal Government for failing to consider private universities in its plan of reopening schools in the country.

In a goodwill message at a Zoom meeting of Pro-Chancellors of private universities in Nigeria on Saturday, Afe- Babalola, said  that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had continued to leave out both private and public universities  in its daily briefings, adding that government should give consideration to private universities in its resumption plans.

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Recall that the Nigerian government had shut all schools in the country in March to prevent further spread of coronavirus.

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He said that private universities were more suited to observe the COVID-19 Guidelines put together by the Federal Government for resumption of schools because of their moral and physical discipline,  functional system, hygienic and safe environment among others.

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His words: “Most private universities have their campuses and can control who comes in.  They are fully residential for both the students and staff. So, students are better disciplined, and easier to control unlike their counterparts in public universities where 80 per cent come from home using public transport.

“I believe most private universities are in a position to comply with the provisions required by the PTF before the universities can reopen.”

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He advised the Pro-Chancellors to ask any university that has put in place the requirements in the COVID-19 guidelines released by the government to apply for inspection of the university with a view to getting an approval to reopen.