Saraki charges varsities to be agents of development

By Martin Paul
Abuja

The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has urged Nigerian universities to be agents of community development rather than running all-comers’ programmes.
Saraki gave the advice in a goodwill message at the 3rd Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities in Abuja.
He was represented by Sen. Jubril Barawo, Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund.

Saraki 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 whom could not address their special needs.

“There is, therefore, the need for Nigerian universities to change from being conventional sources of graduates to becoming engines of community development.
“Nigeria needs a new generation universities that can serve as engines of community development and social renewal,’’ Saraki said.

He said that 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 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 and called for an end to labour disputes in higher institutions.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, identified resource constraints as one of the challenges facing the universities and called on the university authorities to effectively manage the available resources at their disposal.
The minister, who was represented by the Director, Tertiary Education, Hajia Fatima Gidum, urged the conference to come up with a framework for the funding of tertiary education.
The conference had the theme, “Sustainable Tertiary Education in a Harsh Economic Environment’’, ended yesterday.

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