From Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Honourable Chancellor, Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), Sir Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, at the weekend, tasked the graduating students of the institution to strive to make a difference and be agents of positive change in the country.
He gave the advice at the 22nd convocation ceremony of the institution at Okada, Edo State.
Chief Igbinedion, represented by the Deputy Chancellor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, reminded the graduating students that they are going into a world that is repleted with numerous challenges and exciting possibilities, adding that they must embrace the challenges with a spirit of excellence and courage; seize the possibilities with the best of their creative and innovative capacities.
He, however, urged them to carry forward the values of integrity, self-worth, and dedicated service which define the institution.
In his address, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, Vice-Chancelleor of the University, said a total of 855 students comprising 717 undergraduates and 138 postgraduate students would be added to the list of distinguished graduates spreading across the seven colleges.
Ezemonye, who recounted the success of the university in the last one year, said all the courses currently being run by the institution were fully accredited by the NUC and the relevant regulatory councils.
He disclosed that the institution is digitalised with the integration of information and communication technology within academic and administrative functions.
He announced that in the last one year, the university had secured an increase in admission quota for various professional courses such as Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Science as well as Nursing Sciences.
Mr. Chris Maiyaki, acting executive secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), said the commission will continue to encourage establishment of more universities notwithstanding criticism.
He said Nigeria needed more universities, considering the country’s population and its low literacy level, but assured that the commission would not do anything to compromise the quality of university education in the country.
He disclosed that available statistics and studies show that Nigeria needs more universities to harness and unlock its potential.
“The commission in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, as a matter of deliberate policy, will encourage expansion of our universities and approve more.” Maiyaki, nonetheless, called on Nigerian universities to prioritise and improve on the capacity building of the staff, saying that recent reports indicated a fallout in the area.
He also decried the state of facilities in Nigerian universities, calling for good governance and management culture in the administration of university’s resources.
To reposition Nigeria’s university system, the NUC chief advocated restoration of normalcy to the academic calendar by jettisoning unwarranted incessant industrial actions.
“There is also a need for the review of our curriculum, application of ICT and massive expansion of facilities.
“Partnership and internationalisation is necessary too to join the global landscape of university,” Maiyaki advocated.