Africa’s largest Baptist University and one of Nigeria’s foremost
institutions of higher learning, Bowen University, has added another
feather to its cap by intensifying their fight against the ongoing
scourge of drug abuse and other social vices in our society which have
become rampant today. Dedicated to the primary goal of raising
God-fearing leaders and helping define their future, the university is
doing everything within its powers to safeguard its high academic
standards, shutout ungodliness, and discourage mediocrity in its
system.
Speaking
recently about the state of the Nigeria educational system and
delinquency amongst students, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Olalekan
Ogunwole said “Globally, governments are taking more responsibility
towards ensuring that quality education is available to everyone. As a
matter of fact, the fourth of the seventeen Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 is to provide
Quality Education for all by the year 2030. While commitments like this
from the UN provide hope that someday we will have a society free of
disadvantaged kids who cannot afford to go to school, it also raises a
concern for nations like ours where good education is a scarce
commodity”. He further added “while it appears that the standard of
education is stagnating and in most parts of our country deteriorating,
it is the spread of social vices that is threatening our co-existence
and the future of our nation like never before. Hence we must come
together to put an end to it.”
Surprisingly,
recently on campus, during what should have been a routine test and
general evaluation of our students and their wellbeing, we were saddened
at a tip-off that a number of them had begun to deviate from the values
under which we have based all our teachings, as few of them tested
positive to substance abuse. “As an institution that is committed to
teaching Excellence and Godliness, we considered this development most
unacceptable and immediately engaged with parents of the affected
students to come pick up their children who had been suspended. Our
students are conversant with the rules and regulations governing
activities on campus, and the corresponding penalties for defaulters
hence, no one was surprised at the suspension.
Unfortunately,
a fire outbreak was reported on campus hours after the suspension and
we are aware that conspiracy enthusiasts have already begun spreading
rumours of students’ rampage due to this incident. Whilst a full-fledged
investigation is underway, preliminary reports indicate that the
incident was caused by a mattress that was set on fire, however, the
situation was brought under control, quickly” the Registrar, Dr. Kayode
A. Ogunleye said. At Bowen University, we are constantly striving to
create a conducive and dynamic teaching, learning and research
environment that will empower our graduates with Christ-like character,
positive attitudes and extraordinary leadership qualities. We are ever
proud of our students and alumni who are making progress in their
different corners and upholding the values they imbibed while at the
university. We encourage other students to emulate them and trust that
we will continue to support them till they become successful. While
students have been instructed to vacate the school premises on a break,
it will be sure to de-escalate any unruly tendencies and guarantee their
safety. We encourage everyone to be rest assured that Bowen University
will never compromise on its efforts to provide quality education
through hard work and uprightness. ABOUT BOWEN UNIVERSITY Bowen
University of the Nigerian Baptist Convention is the first and largest
Baptist University in Africa. The University has all its academic
programmes currently accredited by the NUC and produces graduates who
are not only technically sound but with undiluted Christian virtues.
These hallmarks of the University make it peculiar and unique and Bowen
products are potential agents of societal transformation. Bowen
University is listed in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), the
International Handbook of Universities and the International Association
of Baptists Colleges and Universities. The University is a center of
learning and research distinction, combining academic excellence with
love for humanity, borne out of a God-fearing attitude in accordance
with the Baptist tradition of ethical behavior, social responsibility
and democratic ethos. Established in 2001, Bowen University has over
4500 students in 6 Faculties and a College of Health Sciences –
altogether, the institution offers 54 degree programmes.
