Ondo varsity spends N26m as monthly electricity bill – Acting VC

The Acting Vice Chancellor of Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo State, Prof. Samuel Akintunde, have said that no less than N26 million is being expended on electricity monthly despite the institution’s financial difficulties.

Prof. Akintunde, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Ondo ahead of the institution’s 61st Foundation Day and 35th Convocation Ceremony.

Akintunde noted that the sum was aside from the fund spent on diesel to power the generating set to light up the school when there is outage.

He explained that the university was facing financial challenges with the number of enrolment of students as it strived to provide other crucial needs for the development of the federal institution.

“We paid about N26 million naira for electricity, that is aside from the amount we expend on a monthly basis on diesel. We used 5,000 litres of diesel within two weeks, so we have the problem of funding,” the acting VC said.

While revealing that the school would address the huge cost by exploring other alternative sources of power, he said that the university remained a leading institution in teacher education, academic research, and community development.

Speaking ahead of the convocation ceremony, Akintunde revealed that the institution will be convocating six sets of graduates starting from 2017/2018 academic session to date.

The VC said the convocation lecture titled: “The advent of artificial intelligence and the future of Nigeria tertiary education” would be delivered by Prof. Toyin Falola, a Professor of African Studies at the University of Texas in Austin, USA.

Akintunde mentioned that the wife of President Bola Tinubu, Oluremi Tinubu, who is an alumnus of the institution and
Oba (Dr) Victor Kiladejo, the Osemawe and paramount ruler of Ondo kingdom, are among the outstanding Nigerians to be awarded honorary doctorate degrees at the event.

The university also disclosed that a total of 995 students of the institution are expected to benefit from the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) initiative introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s federal government.

“So, 995 students that have applied are expecting N68,316,200, but this does not include their monthly stipend of N20,000,” the VC said.