Tinubu Calls for Innovation-Driven Universities

Tinubu Calls for Innovation-Driven Universities
…Says University of Ibadan remains Nigeria’s best
…Africa’s future depends on you, PAULESI tells graduates at UI convocation

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for a sustainable and realistic funding model for Nigeria’s university system, warning that the country’s development aspirations will remain out of reach unless tertiary institutions reposition themselves as centres of innovation, knowledge creation and national progress.

Contents

EDITOR’S PICK
FURTHER READING

Eko Hot Blog reports that Tinubu made the call at the University of Ibadan’s 77th Foundation Day ceremony held at the International Conference Centre.

EDITOR’S PICK

Represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, the President praised the institution for maintaining its reputation as Nigeria’s premier university and for its longstanding contributions to scholarship and nation-building.

“University of Ibadan is a force to reckon with in the global realm. Through years of steadfastness and commitment, it has continued to maintain its position as the first and the best in Nigeria,” he said.

The President acknowledged persistent challenges in the higher education sector, especially inadequate funding, noting that these issues weaken Nigeria’s global competitiveness. He commended university unions for consistently drawing attention to the funding crisis and assured that the problems were solvable with collective commitment.

Tinubu outlined the measures introduced since 2023 to strengthen education financing, including increased support for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

In his remarks, the Chancellor of the University and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, expressed optimism that Nigeria’s economic fortunes would improve to support the implementation of the government’s education policies.

Tinubu Calls for Innovation-Driven Universities

Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Bisi Akande, attributed recurring disputes between the Federal Government and staff unions particularly repeated ASUU strikes to over-centralised bureaucracy and avoidable official interference. He said these issues could be minimised through sincere and consistent adherence to university laws, rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, during the fifth day of the university’s convocation ceremonies, the Pan-African University Life and Health Sciences Institute (PAULESI) charged its graduates to deploy their research expertise and continental exposure toward building a stronger Africa.

PAULESI Director, Prof Mubo Sonibare, urged the graduating scholars to return to their home countries as innovators and problem solvers committed to advancing the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

She emphasised that Africa’s growth in health, agriculture, science, technology and governance would depend on applying the practical knowledge gained during their postgraduate training.