He made this observation as a guest lecturer at the sixth Annual Registry Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) held at the institution last Thursday.
He spoke on: “Universities of the future: Roles of the Stakeholders.” Ibidapo–Obe, who is also a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Akoka, advised Nigerian universities to place premium on intellectual property production through purposeful research and development.
This, to him, is achievable through specialisation and branding, rather than broadbased teaching. He said the university that would be relevant in future will always occupy the “driver’s seat” in knowledge generation and transfer.
He said this was because every university is expected to provide solution to such challenges as poverty, war, insurgency, terrorism, famine and flooding confronting the society.
Speaking further, the don noted that Nigerian universities need constant collaboration with other world class institutions and research centres to remain relevant in the 21st Century.
Ibidapo-Obe, however, lamented the poor funding of university education in the country and called on relevant governments and other stakeholders to critically look into the issue of funding, deteriorating infrastructure, dearth of funds for research, university autonomy, students’ unrest and constant industrial actions, among other important issues with a view to taming the trend.
He said, “It is obvious that unless urgent revamping of the system is undertaken, the survival of the universities in the country is at a great risk.
“One of the gaping flaws in the system is that there is too much of government in the set-up and operation of these institutions and this bureaucracy kills innovation, creativity and inventiveness.”
In his address, the Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, represented by his deputy in charge of Academics, Prof. Adedayo Fasakin, said: “To build a university of the future, there is need to first assess our relevance and level of competitiveness in terms of output and professionalism.
“Since the registry is the hub of the wheel that runs the university and a reflector of the university’s reputation and attainment, it is important to build the capacity of its members so as to ensure its efficiency and relevance.”
0 Response to "How varsities can remain relevant, by Ibidapo-Obe"
Post a Comment