The Vice-Chancellor of KolaDaisi University (KDU), Ibadan, Professor Olajumoke Morenikeji, has called on private universities to prioritise quality education and strong institutional governance over physical expansion to ensure sustainable development.
Morenikeji made the call at a press conference to announce the institution’s 10th anniversary and sixth convocation ceremony, where she reviewed its achievements over the past decade and outlined priorities for the future.
She recalled that the university was established ten years ago by business mogul, Chief Kola Daisi, with a commitment to providing quality tertiary education, producing graduates of sound character and practical competence, and contributing to Nigeria’s social and economic development.
The Vice-Chancellor stressed that the future of private universities would depend not on the multiplication of academic programmes but on adherence to quality assurance, sound institutional governance, professional accreditation and the employability of their graduates.
She announced that KDU would graduate a record 224 students from 16 academic disciplines at its 2026 convocation, compared with 52 graduates in its early years.
Morenikeji attributed the growth to sustained investments in modern lecture rooms, well-equipped laboratories, hostel accommodation, information and communication technology infrastructure and other facilities needed for a conducive learning environment.
She assured parents and other stakeholders of the institution’s academic standards, explaining that the university had secured full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for most of its academic programmes, while others were undergoing routine re-accreditation.
Beyond academic accreditation, the university had also obtained professional approval from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, while engaging other regulatory and professional bodies to ensure that its graduates had clear pathways into their respective professions.
On research and innovation, the Vice-Chancellor disclosed that KDU had established formal research and intellectual property policies, created a centralised database of research outputs and strengthened its digital research infrastructure and support for competitive grant proposals.
She highlighted some of the institution’s research achievements, including a patented plant-based bio-pesticide developed locally from lemongrass and orange peel extracts, as well as international recognition, symposia and foreign academic fellowships secured by members of its academic staff.
Morenikeji also emphasised the importance of practical learning, noting that several academic departments had established partnerships with industry leaders to provide students with hands-on training.
She said the university also organised job fairs to connect graduating students with prospective employers.
The Vice-Chancellor further revealed that KDU had partnered with technical institutes to provide campus-based vocational certifications in high-demand skills, including multimedia installation, lighting and stage management, videography, creative production and event management.
On student welfare and community engagement, she reiterated the management’s commitment to investments in healthcare, sports, hostel development and internet connectivity, as well as a partnership under the National Health Insurance Scheme to provide affordable medical care for students.
She also highlighted the university’s community outreach programmes, including regular free health campaigns and infrastructural support for market women in host communities.
Looking ahead to the next decade, Morenikeji said the university would focus on improving educational quality, strengthening teaching and learning, expanding research and innovation, deepening industry partnerships to promote graduate employment and enhancing campus welfare and infrastructure.
Earlier, the Registrar of the university, Mr Haruna Adetu, announced that activities marking the 10th anniversary and sixth convocation would run for two weeks, from October 26 to November 5.
He said the programme would feature sports competitions, community health outreaches, entrepreneurship exhibitions, award presentations, the conferment of degrees, and a convocation lecture to be delivered by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
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