₦airaland Forum

Fees of Church-owned
universities in Nigeria per
semester: Bowen University -
N650,000, Covenant University -
N640,000, Benson Idahosa -
N500, 000, Babcock University -
N450, 000, Redeemers University
- N375, 000, Ajayi Crowther
University - N350, 000, Fountain
University, Oshogbo - N320,000.
Samuel Alayande had worked
more than half of his life for his
church. Not because he had the
calling, but he chose to be
dedicated in any church activity.
He and his wife whom she
married in the church were
never found wanting in any
church activity. Just as they
made donations to keep the
church activity afloat, they
gave their energies for any
labour required in the church.
They considered whatever
service as necessary not only
for spiritual gain but also for
the expansion of the church.
The church then decided to own
a university, members
contributed hugely with every
remaining kobo in their pockets.
Alayande, like other poor
members gave N9 out of every
N10 he had.
Apart from giving his meager
earnings in offerings, tithes and
donations to the church in
order to bring the project to
fruition, he and members of his
family worked tirelessly for the
project. They cleared the
bushes, they toil the ground
during the foundation process,
carried blocks, carried bags of
cements just to ensure the
project came to lime light.
Few years after, Alayande's
sons and daughters who grew
in the church could not study in
the church-owned university
because their parents could not
afford the huge fees charged
by the institution they helped
to build. Alayande's case typifies
one of the several cases of
how the poor is massively
working for the rich.
Library of one the universities
It is no news that several
church-owned universities were
built on the donations, offerings
and tithes from the poor
members of the church. Even
when they had no more money
to put into the construction,
they gave their sweat and toil;
doing all kinds of manual labour
to actualise the completion of
what they often refer to as
their own universities.
Yet, these people, after the
completion of the project, can't
afford the fees, they can't
have their children trained in
the universities they helped to
build.
Ironically, the manipulation of
the poor continues even as
their regular offerings and
tithes are used to service the
day to day running of these
institutions that have become
the exclusive preserve of the
rich.
In spite of the phenomenal rise
in the number of private
universities in the country, not
less than N1million is paid yearly
by parents who have their
children in these private
universities. How many of the
poor members of religious
bodies can afford this huge
amount to have their children
trained in these institutions for
at least four years?
Bolaji, a young brilliant chap
with excellent JAMB and Post-
UME results which qualified him
to study medicine had his hope
of studying in the university
owned by his church dashed
merely because his parents who
are members of the church
could not afford the fees.
Another young man also
lamented why he had to leave
a particular church as a result
of what he described as
injustice - taking from the poor
to give to the rich.
"So can you explain to me why I
shouldn't I leave the church?
Why should I continue in that
deceit? How has it changed and
affected my world? Why are
these church-owned universities
unaffordable to the common
man? I pay my tithe, my church
builds a school, but I can't
afford to send my child to that
school. They made it only for
the rich when the poor
contributed more to the school.
It is ridiculous," he said.
Just as others grumble in
silence on the trend of funding
a church-owned university but
can't benefit from it, others
believe that tithes and offerings
are commandments from God
and should be obeyed.
They believe the reward is in
heaven as they continued to
donate generously from their
meager resources whether they
can afford to send their
children to the school or not.
Among the prominent Christian
Mission universities whose fees
are between N400- N500,000
per semester are Babcock
University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun
State; Covenant University,
Canaan Land, Ota; Redeemers
University, Landmark University,
Omu-Aran, Kwara State;
Crawford University, Igbesa,
Ogun State; Veritas University,
Novena University, Ogume, Delta
State; Wesley University of
Science and Technology, Ondo,
Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo,
Fountain University, Oshogbo, to
name a few.
Saturday Vanguard gathered
that from the beginning, church
members were mobilized to the
sites to help in construction
work, carrying blocks, clearing
bushes and doing all kinds of
manual labour. Most of the
foundation projects were
completed on internally
generated human and material
resources.
Like Babcock University, which
has its roots in the Adventist
College of West Africa (ACWA),
now fully owned and operated
by the Seventh-Day Adventist
(SDA) Church.
As disclosed by Prof. J.A. Kayode
Kakinde, President/VC, "it was
to invest a great deal of
spiritual energy resources
(faith) into the attraction of
investors for the realisation of
its physical plan and
instructional facilities."
Investigation showed that in the
first move, UBA Plc (when it was
called Standard Trust bank),
responded to provide short
terms funds needed for the
immediate take off in 1999,
while St. Augustine Investments
Ltd., (SAIL), funded the Phase II
of the expansive Faculty of
Science and Technology complex
on a low rate 20-year
repayment plan.
Instructional facilities in the
Faculty of Science and
Technology include the right and
left wing as well as the centre
core classrooms and offices, the
lecture theatres each with a
286-sitting capacity, and the
700-seater Wilfred F. Riley
Science and Technology
Auditorium.
The Hostels were contractor-
financed projects occupied by
students after the 2003
handing over by Berger Paints
Plc.
The N42 million mini waterworks
donated by parents through
the Parents Consultative Forum
took care of water generation,
treatment, storage and
distribution.
Most of the housing facilities for
male and female students were
completed also through
internally generated human and
material resources.
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, G.O RCCG
For Crawford University, Igbesa,
owned by the Apostolic Faith
Church established in Nigeria in
1944, the first set of students
admitted in 2005, graduated in
2009.... Continue....

Very Informative thread.

The way you dress is the way you'll be addressed.

*sighs*

Not with my active Internet connection

maclatunji: ^Seun, there is a problem with the New Nairaland because it keeps repeating people's comments in a single post. Oya fix it!

Seconded!

This thread Na Wao!

Kool

Hmmmm

LoL

Kool.

I think they're gunning for their school fees.

Next plz

Na wao!

Logic Mind: I switched off when op started calling god.

WHY?

R.I.P anyway.

*sighs*

Ijogz K: Mobil or Mobile... And the Moderators moved it to the front page without editing. Well i wouldn't I am above the trial by error stage.

Seconded!

Good news anyway, that is if it's true.

Nairaland has been my daily newspapar. I get all my news anyday here. Very Updated!

Hopefully!

. . . As Usual.

If GEJ can't do it... They'll do it for him.

Bisjosh: so u wld rather throw away 7yrs of ur life dan accept his proposal?? u beta accept dat proposal now b4 i flog u

hehehehe. . . Pls dont flog her oh!

To me, as a Muslim "Self service" is a Sin. #Period

OP, Ur already doin d rait tin. Just kip it up!

To me, it depends on the size of the meat.

OP, All has been said here already. It's now left for you to decide which is which.

A Big Fat Lie!

The only thing i love about this new NL is the direct ability to quote a post.... But no matter the changes, i'm going no where! Am gonna grow old in here cuz NL is the Best to me.

Okay oh! We full ground dey wait.