The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has criticised the country’s tertiary education system, saying that Nigerian universities churn out millions of graduates yearly without arming them with the necessary skills and support they need to support the development of the country.

The monarch spoke through a post on his verified social media handles after securing full accreditation for the take off courses of the Ojaja University, Eyenkorin Ilorin, Kwara State, formerly Crown-Hill University, from the National Universities Commission (NUC) aided by its substantial Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jeleel Ojuade.

Since his ascension to the throne of his forbearers over seven years ago, the Ooni has made clear his intention of not only bringing an all-inclusive reign to Oodua race but also pledged to bring unprecedented development in all facets of life, including the areas of human empowerment, business development, youth empowerment, agricultural development, infrastructural development and promoting made-in-Nigeria product with the recent launch of his multi-million naira retail outlet, Ojaja More, in Ile-Ife and Osogbo, Osun State with other outlets across South-West currently under construction.

Based on his passion for education and entrepreneurship, during the week, he revealed plans for the official commissioning of his citadel of learning, the Ojaja University.

While making the disclosure, he noted that the approval was received after a thorough accreditation exercise recently conducted by the NUC.

He stated that it has always been his dream to own a citadel of learning where scholars could be moulded not only in learning but also in character and entrepreneurship to enable them stand shoulder to shoulder with their peers outside the shores of Africa.

The monarch, who has consistently challenged the status quo in Nigeria’s educational system where graduates are churned out yearly but with little or no knowledge of entrepreneurship and basic skills to help them stay afloat as they move to the other face of life, lamented that undergraduates just do the normal routine every four years, write their projects and graduate.

“What solution are they creating to the many issues we have in the country, especially in health, technology, housing and agriculture, among others? Nigerian universities just churn out millions of graduates yearly but don’t arm them with the necessary skills and support they need. In China and the United States of America, students build most of the applications we use today. Students built Facebook, Instagram and a number of others, and today they are making billions of dollars from them. Our education curriculum should teach how to analyse situations and bring pragmatic solutions via proper research,” he said.

He further noted: “ Imagine a university where students graduate and there is a business grant waiting for those who are willing to delve into entrepreneurship. The grants are made readily available to help establish what they have learnt in school. We can’t keep churning out graduates without providing how they should be utilised. If not we would continue to witness the current brain drain and the massive exodus of our best hand to foreign countries.

“This is why Ojaja University will be structured in a way that provides students a free hand to explore and settle for what they wish to become with our solid support. They will be trained to be problem solvers and critical thinkers with a burning entrepreneurial mindset. Ojaja University is driven strictly by innovation and ideas. We will celebrate more innovative minds than academic excellence.”

Ooni also disclosed that admission into various degree programmes in the university would soon commence with an easy payment plan for students.

“What we are bringing on board in terms of academic reform is different from what is out there. Our graduates and products will not be half-baked. They will be well-trained to meet the teeming demands of a modern technological-driven society like Nigeria. They will be the change-makers who are ready to proffer solutions to all issues they might encounter in and outside their workspace,” he added.