Tinubu Calls for Collaborative Efforts with Nigeria Varsities for National Integration, Development

•Says, dialogue, negotiation should be prioritised by labour unions 

Fidelis David in Akure

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday called on the organized private sector operators and international partners to collaborate with Nigeria universities and research institutes in the areas of research funding and utilization of research outputs for national integration and development. 

President Tinubu, speaking at the 33rd convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), said since everyone was aware that University education is capital-intensive and for adequate funding, therefore, all the stakeholders have a role to play, because Government alone cannot do the funding.

Tinubu, represented by former President of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS), and a visiting Professor of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor King David Terna Yawe said: “This will also rub on our graduates in the areas of value addition, experience, hands-on training, exposure and less expenditure on employees’ engagement and training. If this kind of learning environment is achieved, we will definitely have students who will be well focused, eschew all forms of violence and other anti-social behaviours. Hence, it is my belief that today’s graduands have been certified not only for their academic standing, but also for being worthy in character.”

On strike actions by labour unions in universities, President Tinubu said constructive dialogue and negotiation should be prioritized over actions that negatively impact the welfare and future of Nigerian students.

“I would like to enjoin all the unions in our universities to cooperate with the Government in order to deliver the needed development by ensuring an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity on our campuses. On our part, we will ensure that motivational activities are put in place to ensure improved productivity. 

“Reciprocative actions would be expected from our universities as Government works hard to raise the bar of conducive teaching and learning environment. To whom much is given, much is expected. 

“Dialogue, patience, and positive engagements are better means of achieving results over strike actions. Industrial disharmony does nothing but to disrupt life, waste time and elongate academic calendar. Therefore, all avenues for dialogue must be explored and exhausted before strike actions are considered, and as the last resort,” he stressed.

He said his government is not unaware of the challenges facing higher educational institutions in the country, particularly universities, assuring all Nigerians that his government is making frantic efforts to address the situation holistically. 

“We will ensure that educational institutions get their dues in order to perform their statutory duties optimally. To put this in motion, one of my first actions as the President of Nigeria after my inauguration was the signing of the Students Loan Bill into law. 

“This Act will enable indigent students in all our tertiary institutions have access to interest-free loans which they would pay back at their convenience in future when they are gainfully employed. Under my watch and as I have said in my manifesto, no student will drop out of school as a result of inability to pay school charges.

“There are many good plans this government have in the pipeline for the University community in particular and higher education sector in general. Your welfare, including human and infrastructural development will be the priority of Federal Government and I have no doubt that we can achieve stability in the University academic calendar if we come together as critical stakeholders. However, this cannot be achieved unless a peaceful teaching and learning environment is guaranteed, and purposeful and participatory governance is fostered,” Tinubu stressed.

Besides, the president congratulated the institution on the occasion of the 33rd Convocation Ceremony), saying, “It is worth noting that this ceremony is taking place at this auspicious time when FUTA is being celebrated across the nation for its recent achievement as one of the best universities in Nigeria and the world. 

“According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the year 2024, FUTA is rated Third (3rd) Best University in Nigeria. For over two decades, FUTA has maintained its lead as the Best University of Technology in Nigeria. This is no mean feat, and it would not have been possible without the able leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Management and responsible followership of staff and students of this great Institution, who have worked tirelessly to make this achievements a reality. This is a clear evidence that this University is actively committed to excellence in spite of its challenges.”

Earlier in her address, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, said a total of 195 students of the institution graduated with First Class honours in various programs at the university.

The VC mentioned that the first-class students are among the 3,491 students who were conferred with first degrees in the nine faculties at the convocation of the institution.

The first female VC of the institution revealed that out of the total number, 195 students have first class, 1,510 have second class honors (upper division), 1,515 students have second class honors (lower division), while 254 and two students graduated with third class and pass, respectively.

She added that Miss Oluwanifemi Favour Olajuyigbe, a student of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, is the best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.93.

She further disclosed that the university also confered Postgraduate Diploma, Master, and Doctoral degrees on 1,806 graduates.

The Vice-Chancellor, who revealed that FUTA products are globally recognized, announced that efforts are underway to catch up with trending artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

According to her, Postgraduate Diploma – 490, Postgraduate Diploma in Management – 61, Master of Business Administration – 86, Masters – 940, PhD – 229.

She emphasised that, “there are currently 52 academic programmes in the University and none has been denied accreditation. In our efforts to broaden and deepen the impact of the University on our society, new academic programmes have been introduced. Medical Laboratory Science and Entrepreneurship had taken off after due approval by the NUC

“We are awaiting resource verification for B.Sc Public Health, B.Ed Education Technology, B.Tech Securities and Investment, and Business Information Technology. The University also secured approval for the take-off of the Open and Distance Learning programme in Computer Science.

Additionally, the VC said the new FUTA School of Professional Development has taken off, offering courses in many fields of Management, while the Centre for Continuing Education has increased the number of short-term courses on offer.

“FUTA now has a wide range of courses to address the developmental challenges of Nigeria in addition to over 25,000 products that have been making considerable impacts in various fields of human endeavours.”