Professor Jacinta Opara is the Vice Chancellor of Dominican University, Samonda, Ibadan which is holding its combined 3rd and 4th convocation ceremonies today, Saturday, 7 December 2024. Professor Opara spoke on a number of issues as she addressed newsmen recently to herald the occasion of the convocation. SAM NWAOKO brings excerpts of the news conference.
Private universities are still in the battle of getting the federal government to make funds available to them from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). Where do you belong in it all and what is the position of your university on this touchy issue?
The issue of money from TETFund going all the citizens round is an ongoing one and we are still on that battle. If I were to meet the president of Nigeria today, I will say to the president: “Please include the private university staff and students in these funds’ disbursement.” I will say he should especially consider the staff of private universities in TETFund because our staff members also need grants.
We also need grants to be able to attend conferences; we need grants to be able to publish our academic journals and funds for many other things. These grants coming from TETFund will be very helpful in executing these and in the development of the university infrastructure as well as the development of the staff.
It is also important and beneficial to include students of private universities in the Nigerian Students Loan Fund (NELFund). When they are included as beneficiaries of NELFund, students in private universities can equally have access to funds by way of loans like other students in public universities.
Staff members of private universities and their students are not different individuals, we are also Nigerian citizens and we believe that whatever others are benefiting in the public universities should also be of benefit to the staff and students of private universities.
What makes Dominican University different; what stands your university out?
It is our training and our handling of our students. Our students are trained, unlike in other universities. We train them in a holistic approach whereby they are trained academically, socially, emotionally, and morally. It makes us unique. These qualities make our university outstanding.
I wouldn’t like to tell what is happening in the society today but we are confident that when you are looking for a person to work with, you will have to go for the best. We are also confident that what we have given you as our student is really what that person is. I remember a student that was interviewed who said she had two second-class (upper) honours degrees, but we found that she had nothing in her head, so to speak. If we are to say the truth, what it meant was that she was able to manipulate her ways to get the degrees but at the end of it all, she realised that there is nothing in her head.
But I am telling you that the kind of students we have in this university, whatever certificate we are presenting to them is what they are and what they deserve and, like I said, we train them to be sound academically, socially, morally and emotionally. These are the outstanding things employers are looking for. No reasonable employer will employ someone who cannot defend his or her certificate, because at the end of it all the person will mess up their organisation.
As much as you give students sound education in a wholistic manner as I said, you will know and be assured that such students would be self-reliant because they have undergone proper tutelage. So, it is not just about making money but ensuring that when your student says ‘I have Second Class upper’ you are sure that that is what it is.
What is that which you can say that your university known for?
We are known for philosophy. We are well grounded in the study of philosophy. However, the Dominican University has other programmes too, and we are also on course to start some other ones too as time goes on.
What has your experience been like since you came to the Dominican University?
Having grown in academics and having been through academic and administrative leadership in various universities, both public and private, and having also attained the position of Professor, I think the experience has helped a great deal in the discharge of my duties as the Vice Chancellor of Dominican University. I happen to be a very versatile person especially when it comes to the higher education landscape.
When I also consider the workers here, I have found them to be a set of unique people in unique place. We have unique students and staff members. We have a crop of staff members—human resources—who are vastly experienced, and who are capable, and have been through what can be described as storms and emerged stronger. They make this place stronger and to stand firm no matter what comes.
Together with me, they have made this place stand against all odds. So no matter anything, we are capable to keep making this place grow better.
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