Yekeen Nurudeen

Nigeria can only make expected impacts among the comity of nations  and record remarkable development if its Ivory Towers produce cutting edge researches, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, Abdullahi Baffa, has said.

Baffa who stated this while delivering a Convocation Lecture titled “Research, Funding Higher Education and the Role of Universities” at the 25th and 26th Convocation ceremony of  Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, described research as the singular tool available to the scholar in the development and dissemination of new knowledge.

Represented by the Director Academic Staff Training and Development of the Fund, Jacob Alada, he urged government to make sustainable improvements in policy frameworks and adopt new management systems in order to overcome the various challenges inhibiting execution of meaningful research work in Nigerian higher educational institutions.

“The adoption of new concepts and proven models from other progressive countries will go a long way in halting the decline in research activities in Nigerian higher educational institutions”, he said.

Highlighting some models of funding that have been developed and adopted in the administration of higher educational institutions the world over, the lecturer pointed out that in view of the fact that there are more public owned higher institutions than privately owned ones in Nigeria, funding has been majorly carried out by government through such intervention funds as the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund and Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, among others.

Speaking earlier, Vice-Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Saburi Adesanya commended TETFund for its role in the provision of state of the art infrastructure in the university and other tertiary institutions in the country.

Adesanya, a professor, expressed appreciation to the  Management of TETFund for its interest in the university, saying that the University has witnessed unparalleled development in terms of  physical infrastructure, facilities and equipment in all campuses of the University.

“To achieve the above, Management judiciously utilized the allocations from TETFund, FGN-NEEDS and IGR to build befitting structures that now adorn the various campuses of the University.

“Presently, we have about 29 new building projects most of which had been completed and occupied while others are nearing completion. In fact, some of these buildings were commissioned as part of highlights of events for this Convocation Ceremony in the University, by the donors,” he said.

Adesanya further stated that the building projects embarked upon have succeeded in assisting the University to meet its accreditation needs as well as transforming the landscape and aesthetic value of the institution.

The Vice-Chancellor also added that the buildings have provided the much needed space for staff and students of the University for the smooth running of its academic activities noting that  students and researchers are now able to conduct their researches in their various laboratories with less stress.

A total number of 5,450 graduands were awarded different degrees at the ceremony which attracted several dignitaries including Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Ishaq Oloyede, Director of Finance and Investment of TETFund, Idris Saidu, Ag. Director, Education Support Services of TETFund, Dr. Salihu Girei, Vice Chancellors from sister universities.