Prof. Adebola Babatunde Ekanola, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, has said that there are indications that the University may be able to admit more undergraduate students than before which is solely due to the emergence of more private hostels on campus.
The professor who spoke at the groundbreaking and foundations laying ceremony of a private Hostel situated at Ajibode, called Jad Hostel, being constructed by Hyperch O. A. Limited, made the press understand that accommodation was a primary consideration in admitting students in the institution, ‘‘as the university believes that every fresh and final year student must be accommodated on campus’’.
He further stated, ‘‘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 playy a key role in this regard, stressing that ‘‘this is a clear manifestation of an ideal relationship between town and gown’’.
While lauding Mr Yemi Abei, the Chairman of Jad hostel, who is also an alumnus of the university, for his worthy act, Prof. Ekanola noted that if the ex-student had left UI with a disastrous experiences, he would probably not have bothered in returning to invest in his alma mater
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Hyperch O. A. Ltd, Mr Yemi Abei had applauded UI for carrying out Public-Private Partnership (PPP) policy which he said propelled private investors to invest their money into the educational sector, noting many universities in the country have yet to follow UI’s model.
Mr. Abei stated as saying, ‘‘we are here to establish a 200 roomed world-class Hostel that the students will enjoy. I finished from UI and I want to leverage my experience to put in place a student-friendly hostel that will give value for money”.
Among the VC’s entourage to the occasion was 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.
