Proper funding of higher education in Nigeria and the need for inclusivity formed the nexus of discussion between the management of the University of Ibadan and the Deputy Governor of Lagos state, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat at his conferment of the University of Ibadan @ 75 Ambassador.
At the inauguration, Dr. Hamzat while appreciating the gesture of his conferment stated that for a country like Nigeria to be great, it is imperative to invest in her universities as it is the only place where ideas and innovation can come up.
While receiving the Chairman and Members of the University of Ibadan @ 75 Anniversary Committee, who paid a courtesy visit to him at his office at the Roundhouse, Alausa, Ikeja, Dr Hamzat noted that “as a matter of urgency, there is a need to invest in our universities, innovation is coming through universities, in doing this we must be realistic, our union, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) must be realistic, the government must be realistic and all of us must also be realistic in our approach to the issues at stake because it is the only way we can turn this country around as expected”.
He added that the idea that the government alone can fund universities in a country of over 200 million people, doesn’t seem realistic, stating that every citizen must participate in its development and growth, stressing that by helping the Universities, we are also helping the country.
“All of us must come together to build the universities in our country because, for me, universities are the only institution where almost everybody is educated,” he said.
Citing examples of the issues in the Niger Republic, the deputy governor stressed that it is not just the government that solves problems, as the people that went there are not government officials, but prominent have been Nigerians going there to talk to military men and they are almost at resolving the issues in amicable form.
Speaking further, Dr. Hamzat said during the period of late Obafemi Awolowo majority of the people who came up with the ideas of all they did as government were from the universities, the students and professors are there, among other individuals and groups.
While appreciating the University of Ibadan for its achievements so far, he stated that the university has grown well and is not deteriorating. He charged the university to do more work in the area of technology development, noting that the world is taken over by technology.
Earlier speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale said that the university after careful consideration conferred the Deputy Governor to be designated as the University of Ibadan @ 75 ambassador.
Prof. Adebowale stated that the government involvement in terms of financing the universities in the country cannot do it alone, stating that there is a need to involve the alumni in the development of higher education.
He pointed out the need to involve the alumni members in the development programmes appealed by the university, he also called on everyone who had passed through the university to join hands with the institution on their bid to expand and equip it with modern infrastructure and equipment, needed for research and teaching in line with the current global best practices.
Besides, “we must join hands together to ensure that we provide awards for students that perform expectation ally in their areas of discipline and the ingredient one who may lack the financial wherewithal to pursue their academic dreams”, said Adebowale.
