President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disclosed plans by the Federal Government to grant autonomy to tertiary institutions in the country.
He made the disclosure through the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, who represented him at the 48th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Benin, held inside the Akin Deko Auditorium of the main campus of the University on Saturday.
According to the President the idea is informed by the desire to change tertiary education in the country for the better so that Nigeria universities can compete favourably with their peers all over the world.
“It is pertinent to commend the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Lillian Salami, for promoting excellence and infrastructural development as well as innovation to propel the University to greater heights
“The Federal Government is working towards the introduction of University autonomy. This new policy direction is premised on our conviction that University autonomy will provide funds for the University to develop. This administration believes that this is the right step in the right direction in order to reposition tertiary education in Nigeria,” Hon. Momoh divulged.
In her address, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Lilian Salami, said the University has continued to record phenomenal progress in the pursuit of academic distinction and development of important infrastructure.
According to her, “since the last convocation, so much has been accomplished by this administration. This is in spite of the numerous challenges that have resulted in the operation of two sessions in one year in order for students not to lose valuable academic milestones.
“This has happened at great cost, sacrifice and commitment by all staff, especially academic staff of the University. The students too have resilience and zeal even in the face of otherwise daunting challenges. We encourage all to remain steadfast because there is always a silver lining at the end of the tunnel.”
Chancellor of the University, His Majesty Orcivirigh, Professor James Ayatse, Tor Tiv drew the attention of the Federal Government to the “precarious funding situation of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”
He thanked President Tinubu for rescinding the earlier directive to the Universities to remit forty percent of their internally generated revenue to the Federal government.
“No doubt this timely review of the directive has saved universities from the spate of student unrest which would have arisen from implementation of the directive. It is also a demonstration of how proactive and responsive this administration is to issues that will negatively affect our universities and tertiary education in general.”
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki commended Prof. Salami for delivering quality governance and repositioning the institution for the many successes it has achieved. He reiterated the state government promise to provide automatic employment for its indigenes that graduate with first class from any recognized University in Nigeria.
Highlight of the well attended ceremony was the award of PhD, Masters and Postgraduate Diplomas to 4,046 graduands and also the conferment of honorary degrees on some eminent personalities which included Babatunde Raji Fashola, former Governor of Lagos State and immediate past Minister of Works and Betsy Obaseki, wife of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
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