Nigeria Universities Updates

The Minister of Education, Dr Sam Ominyi Egwu, has called on tertiary institutions in the country to initiate means of generating internal revenue to complement government’s efforts.

Dr Egwu, who spoke at the 26th convocation of Yaba College of Technology, last Friday, said the burden of funding education should not rest on government alone.

He charged academic institutions to engage in profitable ventures without compromising standards.
Hear him: “Education continues to be a priority in Government spending, however, the burden cannot rest on Government’s shoulders alone.

“Tertiary education institutions should therefore begin to look inwards to generate revenue through enterprise, and research and development to complement Government subvention.”
The Minister maintained that the present administration of President Yar’Adua remains unwavering in its resolve to catapult Nigeria to the world’s leading economies. He identified education as a veritable tool for the attainment of this lofty ambition.

To achieve this feat, Egwu urged the Governing Councils of different tertiary institutions to acquaint themselves with the role of the education sector in the realization of Vision 20:2020.
He said: “The Federal Ministry of Education, in consultation with a broad spectrum of stakeholders has put in place a Roadmap, which encapsulates a 4-Point Agenda, to facilitate the attainment of this goal. The 4-Point Agenda focuses on Access, Quality, Assurance and Vocational Education Training and Funding, resource mobilization and utilization.”

The Minister promised that the government will continue positively to workers’ genuine demand for improved working conditions in the education sector. According to him: “Recently, the Federal Government approved the implementation of CONTISS 15 in the Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.”

Egwu said also that plans were underway to enact a law that would ensure the running of B.Tech degree programmes in Nigerian polytechnics. He said the removal of the disparity between the polytechnics and the universities has become necessary in order to accelerate technological development.

While admitting that technology would elude any nation that fails to lay adequate technological foundation, he expressed government’s determination to develop the sector.
“The government recognizes the fact that no nation can develop without adequate technology, and as such, places much premium on science and technology.

The significance of technology in nation building is captured in the Roadmap for Nigeria’s Education sector. To encourage and accelerate technological development in the country, the removal of the disparity between the polytechnics and the universities, has become necessary as both sub-sectors have vital roles to play in uplifting Nigeria.

It is our expectation that the present government posture will be reflected in the 2010 budget”.
He commended Yabatech as the first higher institution in the country to establish an entrepreneurship development programme as a compulsory course for all students.

“This will, no doubt, give the institution’s graduates the enablement for self reliance through wealth creation upon graduation. All our tertiary institutions are hereby enjoined to step up their entrepreneurship programmes”, he said.

Egwu explained that Yabatech was selected as one of the first beneficiaries of the Special Intervention by the Education Trust Fund, a grant of N1.5b, and praised the institution for maintaining a peaceful learning environment over the years.

He congratulated the outgoing Rector, Mr Olubunmi Owoso, for his able leadership and the giant strides the college has achieved during his tenure. “He has certainly given a good account of himself and we are proud of him”, he added.

In his valedictory address, Mr. Owoso who is handing over the mantle of leadership to a new Rector tomorrow, said that the combined convocation ceremony for the three sessions produced 14,364 graduating students at the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels.

“For the last 2007/2008 session, out of the 1140 Higher National Diploma graduating students, a total of 23 graduating students obtained distinction grade, 391 upper credit, 509 lower credit, and 217 pass grade. At the ND level, out of 1090 graduating students, 41 obtained distinction, 198 with upper credit, 448 passed with lower credit, and 353 others had pass grade”, he explained.

The Rector stated that over 60 programmes of the college have all been accredited, with other new courses introduced. Some of the new programmes include: HND Marketing, ND Banking and Finance, ND Mass Communication, HND Science Laboratory Technology (Environmental Biology and Toxiology option) among others.

He expressed appreciation for the support he received from the Honourable Minister of Education, the Executive secretary of the National Board for technical Education, Dr Nuru Yakubu, the British Council, World Banks, indigenous banks, among others.

The highlight of the occasion was the conferment of fellowship awards on notable personalities including, the Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, and the Executive Secretary of education Trust Fund, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. The National President, Yaba College of Technology Alumni Association, Chief Emma Unachukwu and the Pro-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Senator Olu Alabi were received the award.

Responding on behalf of the awardees, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ngozi Osarenren, who represented the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, assured that the awardees would be good ambassadors of the institution.
Activities marking the 26th convocation ceremony began on Wednesday, December 2, with a convocation lecture entitled: Synergy for Science and Technology Institutions- Towards an Innovative National Development.

The Guest Speaker, Professor Oye Ibidapo, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science and former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, highlighted the critical role of education in development, harping on the need to inculcate science, technology and innovation as the nucleus of national re-orientation and advancement.

He said: “Education is critical to the development of a nation. It is an antidote to poverty and ‘leveler’ in the emerging knowledge society-Nigeria’s prosperity depends solely on a well-educated citizenry. A key and perhaps central element in the National Vision and Goals Strategy, be it vision 2010; Millennium Development Goals, NEEDS, Vision 2020 and the 7-Point Agenda, is the need to strengthen education as a public good.”

According to him, the challenges of development in the country epitomized by corruption, poverty, disease and poor implementation of good policies can be surmounted if the citizenry is educated.
To take the country out of the poverty circle, he maintained that tertiary institutions are expected to be at the vanguard of the national rebirth.

His words: “The world has moved from commodity-based and military power ranking to knowledge economies society. Inherent in this paradigm shift is science, technology and innovation. Science must be at the heart of development. In enthroning science as the key to re-inventing a better society, colleges of technology and universities have an essential role to play in building the capacity for high quality education and training in agriculture, engineering and health”.

Popularity: 17% [?]