President Tinubu's Charge to Nigerian Universities
President Bola Tinubu has issued a compelling challenge to Nigeria's academic community, urging them to accelerate the development of research that provides concrete solutions to the country's pressing problems. The President delivered this message during the 36th Convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), where postgraduate certificates were presented to graduating students.
Represented by Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), President Tinubu expressed strong confidence in FUTA's capacity to lead this charge. He described the institution as being endowed with high-quality and innovative researchers capable of tackling national challenges head-on.
Rethinking Education Funding Models
The President emphasized that while the Federal Government remains committed to supporting higher education institutions, the traditional model of exclusive reliance on government funding must be revisited. Tinubu called for a fundamental reorganization of the educational system to achieve sustainable financing through improved collaboration between universities and industries.
"The time has come for all stakeholders to revisit the old model of absolute reliance on government funding and to reorganise the educational system for sustainable financing," the President stated through his representative. He stressed that funding universities worldwide represents a collective responsibility shared by all stakeholders.
President Tinubu particularly highlighted the critical need to strengthen connections between tertiary institutions and industry, ensuring that research outputs become more impactful and practically applicable for commercial utilization.
FUTA's Academic Achievements and Graduating Class
During the ceremony, FUTA's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, revealed that the institution graduated a total of 1,030 students from its School of Postgraduate Studies. The breakdown included 91 Postgraduate Diplomas, 647 Master of Technology degrees, 169 Doctor of Philosophy awards, and 123 from the School of Professional Development.
Professor Oladiji announced a significant milestone: the university produced its first-ever doctoral graduates in Renewable Energy Technology, marking an important advancement in Nigeria's clean energy education.
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the institution's continuing excellence, noting that all programs presented to the NUC received full accreditation status. She revealed that FUTA maintains its position as a leading center of academic and scientific excellence, with numerous staff and alumni recognized among the world's top two percent scientists according to prestigious rankings by Stanford University and Elsevier.
"In the just-concluded academic session, three research groups in the university won separate international grants worth 136,511.00 pounds," Professor Oladiji announced, demonstrating the institution's growing international recognition and research capabilities.
Call for Graduate Entrepreneurship and Institutional Harmony
President Tinubu, serving as Visitor to the university, challenged the new graduates to apply their acquired skills in entrepreneurial activities, agricultural ventures, and information technology. He emphasized that this approach would not only generate employment opportunities but also foster self-reliance among the young professionals.
The Vice-Chancellor urged the graduating class to become worthy ambassadors of FUTA, an institution renowned for its self-reliance and integrity. She encouraged them to uphold these values as they progress in their professional careers.
Professor Nora Daduut, the Pro-Chancellor of FUTA, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and reform initiatives aimed at repositioning Nigeria. She acknowledged that the governing council's achievements were made possible through cooperative relationships with management and other stakeholders.
"The harmonious relationship with management and students has created an enabling environment for teaching, learning and research," Professor Daduut stated. She further noted that staff welfare remains a priority while infrastructure development has improved tremendously under this collaborative framework.
