By Gabriel Dike
The newly inaugurated Mountain Top University (MTU), Ibafo, Ogun State has matriculated 230 pioneer students into different academic programmes.
At a colourful ceremony recently, the excited students were administered with matriculation oaths in the presence of dignitaries, including the First Lady of Lagos state, Mrs. Ambode, Senate Oluremi Tinubu, vice chancellors of different universities, senior pastors with Mountain on Fire Ministry (MFM), several scholars, chairman Board of Trustee, Prof A.O. Obilade and traditional rulers.
Addressing the new students, the Proprietor of MTU, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, said the university was designed to nurture aspiring Nigerians to attain their full intellectual capacity.
Olukoya, who is also the General Overseer of MFM, explained that the establishment of MTU was an attempt to complement and improve the present efforts of the various governments in providing access to high quality and functional education, to contribute in raising the educational and manpower level in the country.
According to him, MTU rests on the foundation of a focused insititution that would be committed to the training and education of new generation of Nigerians, imbued with a new vision, with new value systems, new learning and working ethics as well as commitment to the norms of excellence.
His words: “In the MTU, it cannot be business as usual, the learning environment can no more be like other institutions whose modus operandi is dominated by cultism and immorality, by the rule of the jungle, by examination malpractice, by fraud and cheating, by strikes, delinquency and wastage.
“The MTU is designed to be a unique tertiary institution, where a new generation of Nigerians shall be imbued and empowered by the spirit of excellence. This new generation of Nigerians is to provide for our country the much needed qualified, competent, skilled and conscientious manpower that shall steer the country away from its present culture of unwholesome attitude.’’
Olukoya disclosed that MTU was not a commercial project, noting that 15 scholarship had been secured for the new students.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Elijah Ayolabi, said over 270 new students were offered admission but 230 successfully registered.
“We will do our utmost best to ensure that our students are known for integrity and skill in support of our motto: Empowered to excel’’.
Prof Ayolabi disclosed that steps had been taken to ensure that each student was equipped with a mobile learning device and 24- hour access to e-library resource. He said MTU has started discussion with foreign universities and professional bodies to make the students top rated in all spheres.
The VC added: “We also need teachable students and that is why we went an extra mile in our recruitment exercise and I am happy to inform this gathering that all our academic and non-teaching staff have been recruited on merit.
“Our admitted students have scaled more hurdles than their counterparts in other universities because in addition to the normal UTME and post-UTME, they all went through and passed an oral interview conducted by professionals, academic and spiritual leaders.’’
Ayolabi further stated that MTU is set to raise men and women of integrity and skills needed for the transformation of the country.
Wife of the visitor of MTU, Dr. Shade Olukoya, urged the newly admitted students to work hard to achieve success. She said the university would not compromise in any way and reminded the new students that life is full of challenges and urged them to prepare well to surmount the challenges.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie, explained that the MTU was the 57th private university to be licensed by the Federal Government and the 31st faith- based university to be approved since the deregulation of tertiary education in the country.
Prof Okojie, who was represented by the former Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, Prof Akaneren Essien, lauded the management of MTU for providing facilities that met NUC standard and the inauguration of the university. He urged the VC and his team to always consult the commission on issues when necessary.