Senate President advises Nigerian Universities to act as an agent of development
The Senate President of Nigeria, Dr. Bukola Saraki represented by Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Education, Sen. Jubril Barawo, has urged Nigerian Universities to act as agents of community development rather than running all-comers’ programmes at Abuja, during a 3rd Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian University.
He said in the past, Nigerian universities were known to have experts in certain programmes but this was no longer the case.
“Today, it is a different scenario, as many Nigerian universities want to run all programmes from university teaching hospital to having a nuclear department.”
He said the development had paved way for the influx of unprepared students many of who could not address their special needs.
“Nigeria needs a new generation of universities that can serve as engines of community development and social renewal,’’Saraki said.
He he also highlighted that the fundamental reforms would be needed in the curriculum design of the universities to boost their efforts in proffering lasting solution to the nation’s economic social and environmental challenges.
Saraki therefore, urged the committee to look into some other unwholesome practices by some lecturers who took delight in taking up multiple appointments or full time employment in more than one university.
He said the development accounted for the reduction in the quality of graduates, as a result of lack of adequate supervision by lecturers.
He called for an end to labour disputes in higher institutions to check strikes, adding that better funding would make them relevant “in the ever-competitive contemporary education.”
The Minister of Education, MalamAdamuAdamu represented by The director ,Tertairy Education in the Ministry, Hajia Fatima Gidum, however, identified resource constraints as one of the challenges facing the universities.
He, however, called on the university authorities to manage the available resources at their disposal effectively and efficiently to achieve their aims and objectives.
