Education
JABU Remains Among Five Cheapest Private Universities Despite Economic Pressures — Visitor
By Joseph Sunday
The Visitor to Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, Pastor Samuel Olusegun Oladele, has said the institution remains among the top five least expensive private universities in Nigeria despite rising operating costs and economic pressures facing private institutions.
Pastor Oladele, who is also President of Christ Apostolic Church in Nigeria and Overseas, stated this on Thursday, 22nd October 2026, at a press conference to flag off activities marking the University’s 20th Anniversary.
With the theme “Two Decades of Divine Grace, Growth and Glory,” the anniversary, according to him, is not merely a celebration but a moment for reflection on the founding vision, stewardship and future responsibilities.
Quoting Psalm 127:1, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it,” the Visitor said JABU’s story affirms God’s hand in its conception and growth.
He traced the vision for the University to 2001-2002 under the leadership of the then CAC President, the late Pastor Elijah Howard Lajuwomi Olusheye, who believed the Church’s mission must extend beyond spiritual ministry to education, character formation and human capacity development.
The choice of Ikeji-Arakeji, he noted, was symbolic, as the town is linked to the prophetic call of Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola in October 1928, in whose memory the University was established.
According to him, a Planning and Implementation Committee inaugurated on 31 January 2002 under Prof. A. M. A. Imevbore translated the vision into reality, leading to the commencement of academic activities on 25 October 2006 with 247 pioneer students across four Colleges: Agriculture, Humanities, Natural Sciences and Social and Management Sciences. From inception, JABU was designed to be an entrepreneurial university — one that trains graduates not only to seek jobs but to create them.
The Visitor highlighted the succession of leaders who have sustained the institution, from Visitors — the late Pastor E. H. L. Olusheye, the late Pastor Abraham Olukunle Akinosun and now himself — to Chancellors including the late HRM Oba Dr. Oladele Olashore (Aloko of Iloko-Ijesa), the late Pastor Ademola Wemimo Odunaiya, and the current Chancellor, Pastor Prof. Anthony Olusegun Adegbulugbe.
He also acknowledged Pro-Chancellors including Pastor Emeritus Prof. A. M. A. Imevbore and Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan — now Chairman of INEC — and the current Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Danladi Slim Matawal.
On Vice-Chancellors, he listed Prof. C. O. Oshun as Foundation Vice-Chancellor, Emeritus Prof. T. O. Olowokure (acting), Prof. Sola Fajana (2nd substantive VC), Prof. Kola Sonaike (3rd substantive VC), Prof. K.I.T. Eniola (acting, now VC of Kogi State University, Kabba), and the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olasebikan Alade Fakolujo.
He saluted pioneer principal officers including pioneer Registrar Pastor O. A. Aderibigbe, members of the Board of Trustees, Governing Council, host communities, staff and alumni.
Twenty years after take-off, Oladele said JABU has grown from its foundational systems — Board of Trustees and Council inauguration in 2006, first Senate meeting in December 2006, maiden matriculation in February 2007 — to its first graduation in November 2010, which produced 197 graduates, including 11 First Class.
Among recent milestones, he cited the increase in admission quota for the College of Law from 50 to 100 by the Council of Legal Education, expansion of professional programmes in Nursing Science and Medical Laboratory Science, and digital transformation through collaboration with I-World under the Google for Education initiative.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Fakolujo, disclosed plans to establish a College of Computing within the next year to house Computer Science, Data Science and Cyber Security; expand the College of Health Sciences with new programmes including Public Health, Health Information Management, Environmental Health Science, Anatomy and Physiology; unbundle Mass Communication into four to five distinct options; and commence Engineering programmes in partnership with institutions in Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Reaffirming JABU’s identity as a faith-based university, Oladele stressed that academic excellence must be complemented by character, integrity and service, quoting Proverbs 9:10. He said entrepreneurship must move from institutional identity to measurable impact, producing graduates who are employable, innovative and self-reliant.
He admitted that like other private universities, JABU faces rising operating costs, infrastructure needs, staff retention, technology disruption and intense competition, despite lacking government subvention.
He outlined seven priorities for the next chapter: non-negotiable academic excellence; measurable entrepreneurial impact; sustained research and innovation; strategic digital transformation and infrastructure, including power and accommodation; strong governance and financial sustainability; faith-shaped service and integrity; and stronger partnerships with alumni, industry and communities.
He concluded with 1 Corinthians 15:58, reaffirming CAC’s commitment to sustaining JABU as a centre of quality education, responsible leadership and service to humanity.
Responding to criticisms that church universities are unaffordable for members, Pastor Oladele said CAC had historically established primary schools, modern schools, secondary schools and teacher training colleges where fees were paid, sustained by collective sacrifice.
“We give not because we expect anything back. This is how Christians do their own thing,” he said, noting that private universities offer stable academic calendars, employment opportunities and quality assurance that benefit society.
