The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, has urged the Federal Government to increase level of funding to universities for quality research and ICT infrastructure development.
The Vice Chancellor made the appeal on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at the institution’s 74th Foundation Day/Convocation ceremonies held at the institution’s International Conference Centre.
The Vice Chancellor, who said that though funding had been the greatest challenge facing the Nigerian university system, UI, however, ranks first in the country and West Africa, and has moved to the seventh in Africa.
He said that the feat was a testimony to the excellence of plan and hardwork of the previous Vice Chancellors, administration and staff.
Prof. Adebowale also expressed joy at the sustained and surpassed commitment and dedication to programmes being offered by the institution, saying that they had continued to enjoy accreditation year in, year out.
In his remarks, President Muhammadu Buhari, called on Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to shun the use of strike action as a tool to achieving their demands.
President Buhari, the Visitor to the University, was represented at the event by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed.
Buhari described as the situation that saw all the universities trade unions declaring protracted trade disputes in the outgoing year as disheartening.
He said that the action came with dire consequences, not only for the economy, but also feelings of frustration and insecurity among the youths.
Saluting the University for its leading role and the production of the much needed academic staff for tertiary institutions within and outside Nigeria, President Buhari said: “As we are all aware, the university system holds the key to the future for any nation.
“Therefore, there is the need for discipline and stability in our universities.
“It is disheartening that in the outgoing year, virtually all the university trade unions, ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAT declared protracted trade disputes with dire consequences for our economy.
“Unnecessary disruption of the academic calendar of our universities and the consequent feelings of frustration and insecurity among our youths.
“I must state clearly that there is need for the trade unions especially ASUU to shun the weapon of strike action as a tool for pressing home their demands.
“Strike actions only compound the already poor state of our education sector and erode the national and international reputations of our public universities.
“I therefore wish to appeal to our unions to always show restrains and seek their goals through negotiation and mutual respect at all times.
The Chancellor of the institution, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, in his remarks also appealed to unions to shun using strike action to press home their demands, saying that it would only compound the already poor state of education sector.
Pointing to the disrupted academic calendar during the eight-month-old strike by ASUU, the Sultan said that it kept students at home, to the detriment of their education.
He said that though the feats recorded by the University of Ibadan in recent times gladdens the heart, the situation could be made better if there is harmony between the staff unions and the government.
He eulogized the institution’s researchers who he said had continued to play a key role in tackling the challenges currently being experienced by the nation.
Sultan Abubakar said “According to the Times Higher Education ranking for the year 2023, UI was ranked first in Nigeria, 7th in Africa and among the first 500 universities in the world.
“The feat gladdens my heart at this prestigious university has been forged through decades of achievements and a tradition of innovation. I must remind us that outstanding performance require outstanding facilities, we therefore solicit for more funding to sustain our cutting-edge research and remain the best.”
Also, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of UI, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, please with the academic staff unions to sheathe their sword and ensure a crisis-free and uninterrupted academic session in the interest of youths who are the future generations.
“As the governing council of this university, we have demonstrated at all times that we are always ready to listen and dialogue with the various unions with a view to satisfying legitimate demand with the ambits of rules and resources available to the university”, Odigie-Oyegun stated.
At the event, 153 candidates from various disciplines bagged the Doctor of Philosophy degrees (PhD), with the Faculty of Education leading the pack with 29 doctoral graduands, followed by Faculty of Arts with 24.
