Mountain Top University and (inset) Dr Promise Adiele.

Promise Adiele

The motto of Mountain Top University is Empowered to Excel. In many ways, the university has lived the motto in its nine years of existence, excelling in different educational categories. The institution has become the epicentre of modern university education with a sophisticated learning environment, curriculum, and world-class facilities. Tucked away in the serene atmosphere of Magboro Ogun State, the university has defied all odds to become the fastest-growing and improving private university in Nigeria. Mountain Top University’s giant strides were recently acknowledged globally as the institution took the 1st position in Sustainable Development Goals 4 (SDG 4) in Quality Education 2024 according to the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. By taking the 1st position, Mountain Top University continues to contribute its quota in sustaining a positive narrative about Nigeria at the world educational stage.

The institution’s excelling feat is remarkable because it was only established in 2015 but since then has excelled above older universities both in the public and private sectors. The university also took the 2nd position in Nigeria in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3) in Good Health and Well-Being. It also took the 3rd position in Nigeria in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2) in Zero Hunger. In 2024 also, the university took the 1st position in Full Accreditation of all Programs among Nigerian universities. The recent feat by Mountain Top University is not the only time the institution has excelled nationally and globally since it was established. In 2021, the university took the 6th position as the best private university in Nigeria. In 2021 also, it took the 1st position among private universities established in Nigeria in less than 10 years.  In the same year, it took the 2nd position in Open Education Resources in Nigeria.

In an interview with the erudite pioneer Vice-Chancellor Prof. Elijah Ayolabi, he reiterated that the exponential growth of the university is attributed to the grace of God first and the unwavering commitment of the Chancellor Prof. Daniel Olukoya who always ensures that the university has all the modern facilities and equipment needed for 21st-century learning. He also commended the members of staff for their dedication and hard work because no individual can achieve success alone. Asked why the university does not offer courses like Law, Medicine, and Engineering, he said that the development of the university is in phases according to the original master plan. At the moment, the university is still in phase one and has achieved full accreditation for all the courses offered. Recently, the university got the official approval to commence courses like Nursing, Biomedical Technology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Public Health and many others. According to him “the development of the university is in phases. We do not want to overstretch our facilities. We take it one at a time. In the second phase, there is the likelihood that we will start offering courses like Law, Medicine, and Engineering. Medicine may come at a later time because of the huge financial implications. Remember we are developing our permanent site, that is, the campus B, so definitely some of these programs will commence from there”.

The serene atmosphere of the university with a beautiful, breathtaking lake gives it a European outlook. When asked if the university will quit the current site completely when the permanent site is completed, the Vice-Chancellor remarked that “the current campus will be retained. All over the world, universities have campus A and campus B. If you look around, you will realize that the Chancellor has committed massive funding to this place with world-class facilities. So, it will not be wise to just uproot everything and move to the permanent site. We will retain this campus when we move to the permanent site. Some programs will remain here definitely because this is our parent campus”. The decision of the university management to maintain two campuses is in line with regular practice worldwide where established universities in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Japan, and China all have two or more different campuses. Indeed, Mountain Top University is aiming to be a global tertiary educational player and one of the best in the world.

From the world-class environment, laboratories, ICT centre, Library and sports facilities, it is obvious that the university has benefitted immensely from adequate funding. The Vice-Chancellor emphasized the role of funding in the success of a university. He further stated that “adequate funding is the bedrock of the success of tertiary education. Whether in the public or private sector, adequate funding plays a huge role in the success of a university. Unfortunately, public universities face the challenge of funding more than private universities. With adequate funding and also good management of the funds, any university can compete among the best in the world. Education is all about the provision of modern facilities for learning. For example, during the COVID-19 disaster, many universities could not operate because they didn’t have the facility to do so. Of course, Mountain Top University carried on with lectures through our world-class e-platforms and our lecturers responded adequately because they had good training for the purpose. Also, universities should have the best hands in teaching and other areas. Remuneration is also very important. Other incentives for members of staff are important. So it all boils down to funding”.

Prof. Elijah Ayolabi’s name, as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the university, occupies a pride of place in the history of Nigeria’s tertiary education evolution. His managerial acumen and man-management skills have taken the university to heights that can only be imagined given all the constricting factors against the growth of educational institutions in Nigeria. Asked if he would like to take up a job in public service to transfer his wealth of educational management to society when he quits Mountain Top University, the University of Lagos professor of Applied Geophysics quickly responded that “it depends on the job and the circumstances. Of course, as a Christian committed to serving humanity, I am always ready to serve and contribute my little quota to the uplifting of society. However, taking a job in public service will depend on the conditions and circumstances. I will study the situation properly before taking up any responsibilities. You know, some positions will cripple you and change your personality if the conditions of service are not suitable. I would have to be careful before taking up any responsibilities. But of course, I will always be ready to serve humanity”.

Mountain Top University’s rise to the pinnacle of educational excellence deserves commendation. Prof. Elijah Ayolabi’s excellent managerial acumen also deserves commendation. It may not all be doom and gloom for Nigeria in education. Certainly, some private universities are blazing the trail of tertiary education in the country and Mountain Top University is one of them. It is believed that the owners of the university, Prof. Daniel Olukoya and his Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries will continue to uphold the tenets of education excellence through the university. An uninterrupted academic program for nine years is a testimony that the university is on the right part. The commendable and global impact of graduates from the university is also evidence of genuine commitment by the university to offer quality education. The continual recognition of the university by different ranking bodies is a measure of the institution’s growing heights in educational excellence. It is hoped that the university will become one of the best in the world in no distant time.

Promise Adiele PhD

Mountain Top University

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