Vice Chancellor of the Wesley University, Ondo, Professor Samuel Obeka, has raised deep concerns over the declining value placed on human life in Nigeria, lamenting that ?the life of animals now seems more appreciated than that of humans.?

Speaking on Thursday at a press briefing as part of activities marking the university?s convocation ceremony, Obeka warned that the country was drifting towards disaster unless urgent interventions were put in place to address insecurity and restore public confidence.

He stated, ?Our nation is passing through a traumatic experience. When I watch some of the messages online, I become worried. A country where free fellowship has become an issue of concern, where citizens are afraid to travel freely as we once did, where have we gotten it wrong??

Obeka recalled a time when clergy could travel at night to Maiduguri, Jos, and Damaturu for crusades without fear, but said such freedom was now lost.

?Today, a few people tagged as insurgents have weapons and attack innocent citizens freely without being arrested. It has come to a stage where Nigerians must have the liberty to use weapons and be trained for self-defence,? he stated.

He proposed a restructuring of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), suggesting a two-phase system that includes basic arms training after secondary school and additional security training after tertiary education.

Obeka said, ?If everybody is licensed, the idea of attacking someone on the road will be minimized because the attacker would know the person being attacked can defend themselves.?

On campus safety, the vice chancellor said Wesley University, owned by Methodist Church Nigeria, was prioritising security infrastructure with double-layered fencing, central and auxiliary security administration units, and professional guardian counsellors attached to hostels.

?We are, to the best of my knowledge, the only university in Nigeria that employs guardian counsellors with security responsibilities,? he stated.

He announced that the ongoing convocation ceremony began with a pre-student orientation on security, welfare, and campus life, followed by international conferences on intelligence and sustainable development.

Each conference, he said, will produce internationally recognised academic journals.

Obeka said, ?Today, the institution is set to confer honorary recognition on the Agabaidu of Idoma land, ahead of project dedications by the Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Olivier Ali Aba.?

The convocation climax holds on Saturday with award presentations to graduates and a celebration of the university?s first journal by SUSTAIN Publishing House.

Speaking on development strides, Obeka said Methodist Church Nigeria had been concerned about the institution?s slow growth, which led to his appointment.

He said drawing from his experience across leading universities in Nigeria and abroad, he had repositioned Wesley University, securing full accreditation for all inherited programmes, and adding 27 new academic programmes to the initial 23.

He confirmed the university now ran a fully accredited College of Medical and Allied Health Sciences, offered Law, and remained the only institution in Nigeria offering a full Ph.D. in Theology.

?We are also the only university where deaf students can study and conduct research up to PhD level, with full hostel facilities and sign language interpreters,? he said.

The vice chancellor highlighted massive infrastructure upgrades, including rehabilitated hostels, restored vehicles and upgraded medical and academic facilities.

He praised Senior Pastor, Dr. Paul Enenche, for supporting the restoration of abandoned structures and revealed the construction of a helicopter landing field in his honour.

Obeka criticised the relocation of the university chapel to a lecture theatre under the previous administrations, disclosing that 10 per cent of the institution?s income is now dedicated to rebuilding it into a Wesley Ecumenical Centre, now at roofing stage.

He expressed profound appreciation to the host Ondo community for donating over 225 hectares of land and medical facilities, saying, ?In recognition of their support, we have adopted fee policies favourable to indigenes and appointed several Ondo natives into key administrative positions.?

Obeka said the university was set to expand through build-operate-transfer partnerships and appealed to philanthropists and corporate organisations for support.

He stated, ?We are confident that in the coming years, Wesley University will experience accelerated growth and become a model for faith-based higher education in Africa.? (THISDAY)

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