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Find lasting solutions to ASUU strike, other crises in sector, VC tells govt 

By Rotimi Agboluaje and Moyosore Salami, Ibadan
22 December 2022   |   3:32 am
The management of Grooming Centre, a microfinance institution, has disbursed N18 million research grants to 60 undergraduates and 60 postgraduate students from across 47 public and private universities and polytechnics in the country.

The Vice Chancellor of the Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof Kabiru Adeyemo, has urged government at all levels to find a holistic solution to the incessant strikes of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and create a conducive atmosphere for growth of university education.

Adeyemo, who said this at the 15th convocation ceremony of the institution, said government should do the needful by paying salaries of lecturers and charged both parties to forge a better course for the future of tertiary education sub-sector.

Adeyemo said: “The Federal Government should find a holistic solution to the lingering and recurring ASUU strike and do the needful by paying salaries of lecturers and create a conducive atmosphere for growth of the university system. 
“Besides, government at all levels should come to the aid of candidates seeking admission to private universities so that their dreams will become a reality and they can also enjoy dividends of democracy.”
  
The guest lecturer, Dr Charles Akinola, urged the graduating students to actively participate in politics to re-engineer national development.
Akinola, who spoke on the theme: “Interrogating ‘Japa’: Youth and talent exodus, national development in uncertain times,’’ said the country has been experiencing unprecedented exodus of young people to other parts of the world in search of proverbial greener pastures due to the demanding economic realities.
 
The former chief of staff said youths must convert their disappointments and frustrations about the developmental failures of the country to a rigorous and passionate devotion to solution finding for a greater future for the nation.
‘’International mobility of highly skilled professionals will continue to be a very important local and global issue of debate as Nigeria and indeed the rest of Africa search for options to mobilise critical resources for development on the continent. Nigeria cannot afford to neglect this most valuable asset, especially with globalisation and increased competitiveness.
‘’It should be obvious that what I am advocating is the need to create informed conversation around key elements of a comprehensive diaspora engagement policy and strategy,’’ he said. 

 
He challenged the graduands to pay more than casual attention to politics, saying, “our lives and nation depend on it.”
Akinola urged them to take the ‘not too young to rule’ slogan beyond the realm of mere rhetoric to the arena of active engagement and expand the space for innovation.
 
Meanwhile, a renowned historian and don at the University of Texas at Austin, United States, Prof. Toyin Falola, was appointed Emeritus Professor at the institution.

Falola is an historian and Professor of African Studies. He is a Fellow of the Historical Society of Nigeria and Nigerian Academy of Letters.
Also, Mr. Tunde Kelani was given an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters. 

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