- Tinubu Urges Dialogue With ASUU for Lasting Industrial Peace
- Reiterate plans to strengthen collaboration between universities, industry and government
- Describe raduand as the hope of a better Nigeria
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to dialogue as the most effective path to lasting industrial peace in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, urging the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other academic unions to prioritise engagement over confrontation.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the President made the call at the 49th Convocation Ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, stressing that sustained dialogue would ensure universities remain open, stable, conducive and productive.
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Represented at the event by former Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Kabir Bala, Tinubu said his administration was intensifying efforts to review the conditions of service and remuneration of university staff to reflect current economic realities.
According to him, the Federal Government is working with relevant staff unions and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to develop a sustainable framework that rewards dedication, innovation and productivity while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
“Government remains committed to dialogue as the surest path to lasting industrial peace in our tertiary institutions,” Tinubu said. “We must continue to resolve our differences through dialogue and mutual respect so that our universities can remain open, stable, conducive and productive.”
The President also reiterated plans to strengthen collaboration between universities, industry and government, commercialise research outcomes, promote entrepreneurship and create jobs for graduates.
He said revitalising the education sector remains a top priority of his administration through reforms, infrastructure renewal and expanded access to learning.
Tinubu highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a key intervention to promote equity in education, noting that indigent students in public tertiary institutions can now access interest-free loans. He added that from the 2025/2026 academic session, the scheme would be expanded to cover vocational and technical education, alongside book and accommodation allowances.
Addressing the graduands, the President described them as the hope of a better Nigeria
and urged them to uphold the values of excellence, courage and progress as ambassadors of the institution.
Earlier, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in a convocation lecture delivered on his behalf by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, called on universities to establish departments dedicated to leadership studies, arguing that leadership training should be institutionalised within the university system.
He disclosed that the 10th National Assembly would support the establishment of a leadership centre at OAU, provided the university creates a department for awarding degrees in leadership.
In his address, OAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, announced that 6,454 students graduated during the 49th convocation. He gave a breakdown as follows: 54 undergraduate diplomas, 5,253 classified degrees, 295 unclassified degrees and 959 postgraduate degrees.
The university also conferred honorary doctorate degrees on distinguished Nigerians, including Emeritus Prof. Olu Aina, Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, Engineer Demola Aladekomo and Alhaji Adeyemi Adeniji.
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