The President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Prof Sola Akinrinade, has called on the federal government to come up with a firm position on funding and cost-sharing in the universities to solve the reccurring problems in the system.
Akinrinade, who delivered the 12th and 13th convocation lecture of the Osun State University at the main campus, Osogbo, Thursday, spoke on “The Universality of the University System: A case for Functional University Education in Nigeria.”
He stated that government has a lot of roles to play just as the management of the institutions and students, to ensure functional education, global competitiveness, and national relevance.
The pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the university said, “Our governments should permit the functioning of the prescribed autonomous governance structures as enshrined in the establishment laws of these institutions.
“In addition, the government should make resources available as the provision of a good university education costs money. Government, particularly at the federal level, should come up with a firm position on funding and cost-sharing in the universities. If each university is truly autonomous, many of these issues would not even come up.”
He challenged politicians to provide good governance and stop the distribution of palliative that will not solve the problem of Nigerians.
The Chancellor of the university, Dr. Folorunso Alakija, in her address, disclosed that the hospital donated on behalf of her family, which foundation was laid on 30th November 2018 is now completed and fully equipped, saying that the project was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Odunayo Adebooye, who reeled out the achievements in students-related activities, personnel, and physical and infrastructural developments, stated that plans have been concluded to hold graduation every September that follows students’ final examinations in July of the same year.
He stated that five staff of the university who have distinguished themselves in the attraction of research grants have been selected for the Research Excellence Award.
