Tuesday, 19th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Varsities must support host communities to thrive, says VC

By Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin
14 June 2018   |   4:11 am
Vice Chancellor, Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Prof Abdurasheed Na’Allah has canvassed better Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from Nigerian universities to boost the nation’s Gross Development Projects (GDP).

Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah

Vice Chancellor, Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Prof Abdurasheed Na’Allah has canvassed better Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from Nigerian universities to boost the nation’s Gross Development Projects (GDP).

Na’Allah while addressing reporters in Ilorin said universities the world over have responsibilities to their host communities saying Nigeria could not be an exception.

He disclosed that KWASU, since its establishment nine years ago has contributed immensely to the development of Malete, stressing that no graduate of the institution could finish his or her course without a CSR project to the community.

“Our other name at KWASU is CSR. Our students are doing it too. In fact our students are required to execute projects with their own money for the host community. This is a good thing and we will continue to sustain it.

“As a university, we have intervened in the areas of health, education, agriculture, trading and empowerment for women. We teach them skills like soaping making and dyeing among others. I think other institutions should emulate this gesture to boost the nation’s GDP.”

In another development, Prof Na’Allah has disclosed that persons with full professorial status should periodically be rated by their contributions to research and community development.

The vice chancellor, at the first Professional Achievement Award (PAA), of the institution said full professors should be seen as persons with repository of knowledge and harbingers of innovation and development.

“KWASU Professional Achievement Award (PAA) has been in the institution’s evaluation criteria since 2009. It is a post professorial review process designed for keeping full professors active and productive in the tripartite areas of teaching, research and community development.

To qualify for PPA, except on accelerated circumstances, a full Professor must spend three years circle. Just like other categories of promotions, applicants are expected to submit portfolios to the university evaluation committee for assessment.

“The committee shall identify qualified applicants for the award. Annually, the Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Research (CITR) has the mandate to celebrate the awardees in a colourful event. During the 2016/2017 session, the committee received six portfolios for this award and after a careful assessment, only one of the applicants was recommended for the award, a Professor of Computer Science, Kazeem Gbolagade. “

The Vice Chancellor while congratulating Gbolagade on the award, promised monetary rewards to future winners, adding, “If the budget allows it, KWASU with mandates for research, teaching and community development, would continue to promote excellence and reward scholarship.

0 Comments