Babcock University in Ilisan, Ogun State, recently celebrated its 22nd undergraduate and 13th postgraduate convocation ceremony, honoring a total of 2,842 graduates. Among them, 148 achieved First Class honors at the undergraduate level, while others excelled in various postgraduate programs including Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters, MPHIL, and Doctoral degrees.
During the ceremony, President/Vice-Chancellor Professor Adeola Tayo commended the graduates for their resilience and urged them to uphold the university’s mission of making a positive impact in their communities. He acknowledged the support of families and faculty members in guiding the graduates through their academic journeys.
However, amidst the celebratory atmosphere, Babcock University’s management raised concerns over escalating electricity costs. The Vice-Chancellor highlighted that the university received an exorbitant bill of N300 million from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) for a single month, emphasizing the strain such costs place on educational institutions.
In his plea to the Federal government, Professor Tayo called for a review of electricity tariffs for educational institutions, stressing the importance of sustainable funding for education amid economic challenges. He argued that investing in education is vital for Nigeria’s economic growth and development, necessitating supportive policies to mitigate financial burdens on universities.
The issue of high electricity bills affecting educational institutions extends beyond Babcock University, as evidenced by similar challenges faced by the College of Medicine at the University of Lagos (CMUL) and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Both institutions recently received bills totaling around N280 million from the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), leading to temporary power cuts that disrupted operations.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for a solution to the unsustainable electricity costs faced by universities and medical institutions across Nigeria. As the education sector strives to maintain quality amid financial pressures, stakeholders continue to advocate for policies that ensure affordable and reliable power supply, crucial for sustaining academic excellence and institutional development.