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Vice-Chancellors tells FG: “We don’t want politicians as Universities Board Council chairmen”

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The Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities [AVCNU] has warned the government to stop appointing politicians as Chairmen of University Board Councils.

The association, however appealed to the government to consider such juicy position for people who have integrity and working experience at the University level.

This was contained in a communique issued and signed by the AVCNU Chairman, Prof. M.H Muhammed shortly after its 28th annual conference held at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, [FUTA], the Ondo State Capital.

Speaking on the theme of the conference; “The Nigerian University System and the Challenges and Prospects of Globalization”, the Vice-chancellors noted that considering competent and credible people for the position would help Nigerian Universities to achieve their targets of being rated among the best in the world.

AVCNU, which comprises both Private and Public Universities’ Vice-Chancellors also called for more funding of the higher institutions, adding that the government should also extend financial assistance to private Universities.

They noted that Universities do not operate under the same circumstances, having been established by various entities but inadequacy of funding by university proprietors was a major cause of declining educational quality in all universities.

The Vice-Chancellors warned that proliferation of universities without increased funding will pose challenges to new public universities.

The communique reads, “Teaching/learning and research take place in resource-poor contexts, therefore making it near impossible for Nigerian universities to measure up in an increasingly competitive global knowledge economy. The availability of infrastructure such as energy and telecommunication is a critical need in Nigerian universities.

“Universities therefore need to seek innovative sources of financing education, outside government and private proprietor funding, such as student loans and scholarships, and private sector contributions. Curriculum review should be regular and industry driven.

“There is a need for STEM education at all tiers of the Nigerian education system to make room for the development of intellectual capability, creativity and innovation

“There is a need to seek innovative and workable solutions to instability in the university occasioned by student and staff union issues. There is a need to put Unionism in the right perspectiveto be responsive and responsible to nation building as it used to be.

“Funding from the private sector is inadequate because Nigerians do not know how to give to worthy causes. Philanthropy should be encouraged in order to have more advancement in the University system while differentiating between genuine advancement and ‘Cash and Carry Advancement’ that compromises our integrity.

“Lastly, the AVCNU received the sad news of the passing on of Prof Festus Iyayi of the University of Benin, and a past President of ASUU in a ghastly motor accident on the Lokoja-Abuja road with shock and devastation. The conference mourned his loss and prayed for his family, ASUU and the University of Benin and indeed the entire NUS to be strengthened with fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.