Bishop Francis Wale Oke, Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), has reaffirmed his commitment to developing the institution into a world-class university.
Speaking during the inauguration of the second Governing Council at the university’s Senate Chamber in Ibadan, Bishop Oke emphasised the crucial role of Governing Councils in advancing universities.
The leading Christian cleric spoke on Saturday during the inauguration of the second Governing Council at the Senate Chamber of the university at Olaogun, Ibadan.
The new Governing Council members include Prof. Adedapo Asaju, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council; Prof. Akinwale Coker, Erudite Professor, University of Ibadan; Prof. Muritala Awodun, Professor of Business and Entrepreneurship; Jacob Kehinde Ajibola, a Minister of God and a registered Civil Engineer; Mr Abayomi Belle, General Manager, Boves Group; De Philip Oyewale, Chairman, CEO and Group Managing Director, Immacun Group.
Prof. Timothy Olubisi Adejumo, the university’s vice-chancellor, reiterated that Precious Cornerstone University is poised for greater heights by working towards improved funding, infrastructural development, and movement to the permanent site.
The VC stated, “We pray that God will strengthen the new Council to exceed our expectations. With the calibre of people we have on board now, Precious Cornerstone University’s expectations include increasing student enrollment, expanding programmes, and winning research grants. We want improved funding, infrastructure, student welfare, and movement to our permanent site and other campuses.
In his address, the VC, who described the exercise as the dawn of a new chapter in the institution’s life, welcomed the new team while lauding the former Council members for their ingenuity. He said, “The foundation they have served as a springboard for the university to launch into new horizons.”
During the tenure of the former council members, he stated that the institution secured full accreditation status from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for its academic programmes, including Accounting, Brochemistry. Business Administration, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Economics, International Relations, Mass Corumunication, Microbiology, Physics with Electronics, and Software Engineering.
He said the accreditations signified the university’s commitment to providing high-quality education and meeting rigorous academic standards. Ninety-five students graduated during the 2021/2022 academic session, 100 students in the 2022/2023 academic session, and 118 students in the 2023/2024 academic session.
The academic programmes of PCU were increased from the initial 13 to 17. The NUC is conducting resource verifications of six postgraduate programmes and seven youth-friendly undergraduate programmes for the Faculty of Arts and Allied Health Sciences, among others.
He mentioned the upgrade of school fees done in the 2024/2025 session, the salary upgrade for university staff effective January 2025, the expansion of infrastructure crowned with the completion of Rev’d Dr Temitayo Felix Owolabi Female Hostel, a male hostel, the procurement of a 15 KVA transformer, and the procurement of official cars for principal officers, among other things.
“To our esteemed new Governing Council members, your appointment is not merely an honour; it is a divine assignment and a call to serve,” the VC charged Prof. Asaju and his team. We trust your wisdom, experience and leadership to steer PCU to greater heights of excellence.”
In an interview with journalists, Prof. Dapo Asaju (Rt. Rev) said, “The Governing Council is to supervise the affairs of the university, staff and students, infrastructural development, finance, and general development and to work with management so that the university can fulfill all desires to raise people who are godly and who are experts in different fields so that they can make impacts in society.
“We shall work with the management and the Chancellor and Visioner, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, who appointed us as new members of the Governing Council. My duty as the university’s Pro-Chancellor is to preside over the meetings.”
Asaju, who was Vice Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, added, “We are going to operate with the collective wisdom of members to see what is best for the university. This is a Christian university, and GOD will direct the affairs. The management, under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, runs the university’s affairs. We are to come for meetings to regulate and approve what they want to do. We would contribute to developing this institution to become a great university.”
