The Precious Cornerstone University (PCU) has secured approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence seven additional academic programmes beginning from the 2026/2027 academic session. The new programmes are; Nursing Science, Public Health, Medical Laboratory Science, Community Health Science, Christian Religious Studies, Music and Performing Arts.
The Founder and Chancellor of the institution and President of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Archbishop Francis Wale Oke announced this development during the University’s fifth convocation ceremony which held recently, calling on candidates to take advantage of the progress made by applying for admission into the University.
Describing PCU as a faith-based institution established by the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, he said its identity remains central to its educational philosophy. He urged parents across the country to consider the institution for their children’s education, assuring prospective students that PCU was committed to developing independent-minded graduates capable of overcoming challenges and solving problems.
He identified academic excellence, spiritual soundness and global impact as the three pillars of the University. Oke said the approval followed a thorough assessment of the university’s preparedness and its fulfilment of the necessary requirements for the smooth commencement of the programmes.
A total of 148 students graduated from the institution, with 25 earning First-Class Honours and 69 obtaining Second-Class Upper Division, bringing the total number of graduates produced by the institution since inception to 604.
Adelaja Fiyinfololuwa Temidayo, a graduate of International Relations, emerged as the overall best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.85 on a 5.00 scale. She attributed her achievement to God’s grace, quality tutelage and commitment to her studies.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Dapo Asaju, however criticized the exclusion of students of private universities from accessing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), arguing that students in all categories of universities should have equal opportunities to benefit from the schemes.
He argued that it was unfair for the government to collect taxes from private organizations including private universities, while excluding their students from government – funded education support schemes. He maintained that students in private Universities were equally Nigerians who deserved access to government -backed educational interventions, particularly the Students Loan Scheme. He then appealed to the Federal Government to grant students of private Universities access to these schemes.
Also speaking at the event, Reverend Dr Victoria Tokunbo Oke reiterated the institution’s faith-based identity, explaining that PCU was established to raise young people with strong spiritual foundations and Christian values.
Earlier on at the Convocation Ceremony, the University’s Vice- Chancellor Prof. Timothy Olubisi Adejumo said the University was deliberately building an educational system that combines academic excellence with Christian values, practical skills, innovation and discovery.
He described the Convocation Ceremony as a celebration of the graduands’ academic accomplishments, character formation and faith, as well as the progress recorded by the institution since its establishment.
Explaining the significance of the university’s motto, “Let There Be Light,” drawn from Genesis 1:3, the Vice-Chancellor said it expressed the institution’s purpose of raising graduates who would illuminate their professions and communities through confidence, service, integrity, innovation and godly wisdom. “Academic Excellence remains central to our mandate,” he stated.
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the institution’s progress in academic accreditation and postgraduate education, including the full accreditation of established programmes, reaccreditation of six programmes and expansion into postgraduate studies, including PhD programmes.
On research, he disclosed that the University had recorded 32 unique journal article entries and three book chapters, with six journal articles identified as Scopus-indexed. He stated further, ‘’its entrepreneurship drive has equally recorded progress, with 33 student-owned business ventures registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission’’. Adejumo said the university was taking entrepreneurship seriously because it wanted its graduates to become creators of opportunities rather than depend entirely on available jobs.
He explained that students were being equipped with practical and professional skills alongside their academic qualifications, with the institution working towards ensuring that they obtained certifications in their chosen skills before completing their 300-level studies. The objective, he said, was to prepare graduates to establish businesses, create employment and become problem-solvers in their respective fields.
In the area of international engagement, the Vice- Chancellor stated that PCU has established partnerships with Girne American University, Mount Royal University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Saint Louis University and Oral Roberts University.
The institution also recorded notable achievements among its students and staff. Peace Abiodun Olajide ranked 130th among the SCIVAL/Scopus Top 500 African Authors in Agricultural and Biological Sciences for the 2022–2025 period, while David Ojadale Ogboji secured a fully funded Global Graduate Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence at Saint Louis University, United States.
Beyond Degrees, The Challenge of Relevance
The Guest Lecturer, Reverend Ayodeji Olabode of Enthronement Assembly, Lagos, challenged the graduating students to look beyond academic qualifications and professional skills, insisting that human values would increasingly determine who distinguished themselves in a competitive world.
Delivering the Convocation Lecture titled “From Degree to Relevance: Thriving in a Skills-Driven World,” Olabode observed that the world was experiencing significant changes and overwhelming complexity, making it necessary for graduates to rethink what it takes to achieve lasting professional success.
He argued that although skills remained important, they could no longer guarantee the competitive advantage individuals needed to thrive, particularly as digital platforms had made knowledge and skills more accessible. He therefore urged the graduands to combine the knowledge and skills acquired with rare human values, identifying gratitude, trustworthiness and truthfulness as qualities that could distinguish them.
He concluded by reminding the graduates of the importance of maintaining their relationship with Jesus Christ, describing Him as the best partner in life’s journey.
Best Graduating Student Emphasises Collective Effort
The overall Best Graduating Student, Adelaja Temidayo Fiyinfoluwa, of the Department of International Relations, emerged with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.85 on a 5.00 scale.
In her valedictory address, she expressed gratitude to God for making the occasion possible, while acknowledging the contributions of lecturers, parents, guardians, friends and others whose investments, prayers and support had contributed to the graduates’ achievements.
She observed that although the honour of valedictorian was often attached to an individual, the achievement behind it was the product of collective effort. Reflecting on her University experience, she recalled the assignments, projects, examination periods, friendships and challenges that shaped her academic journey.
Emphasizing the spiritual foundation of the institution, she told her fellow graduands: “Jesus is that Precious Cornerstone. “She explained that a cornerstone provides direction, alignment and stability to a building, adding that while degrees, certificates and professional skills could open doors and create opportunities, they must never replace Jesus Christ in their lives.
Temidayo who attributed her academic achievement to hard work, consistency, dedication, diligence and God’s grace, advised students to understand their individual learning styles and remain committed to the methods that worked best for them, stressing the importance of consistent reading and the ability to understand and answer examination questions.
She also called on government to implement more free education initiatives, noting that poverty and inadequate educational facilities continue to prevent some people from accessing education.
The 148 graduands comprised 25 First-Class graduates, 69 Second-Class Upper Division graduates, 44 Second-Class Lower Division graduates and 10 Third-Class graduates, bringing the total number of graduates produced by the university since its inception to 604.
The 5th Convocation Ceremony formed part of PCU’s 8th Founder’s Day celebration, marking another milestone in the institution’s development and its drive to strengthen academic excellence, research, entrepreneurship, Christian character and global engagement.
