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Oyebanji urges governing councils to reposition Ekiti State’s tertiary institutions for greatness

By Ayodele Afolabi, Ado-Ekiti
14 April 2023   |   3:20 am
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has called on the governing councils of the three tertiary institutions in the state to work assiduously and end academic instability, students’ restiveness, unpaid salaries and bureaucratic slackness that make it impossible to get certificate and transcript ready on time.

Biodun Oyebanji

Says govt alone can’t run 21st century varsity
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has called on the governing councils of the three tertiary institutions in the state to work assiduously and end academic instability, students’ restiveness, unpaid salaries and bureaucratic slackness that make it impossible to get certificate and transcript ready on time.

The governor gave the charge, yesterday, in Ado Ekiti, during the inauguration of the chairmen and members of the Governing Council of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti (EKSU), Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI) and Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti (EKSUTH).

Chairmen of the governing councils of the three tertiary institutions included Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) for BOUEST, Prof. Akin Oyebode for EKSU and Dr. Adedamola Dada for EKSUTH and other members.

According to Oyebanji, these institutions are still faced with the challenge of meeting their emolument and overhead cost, just as institutional governance is a big issue.

Oyebanji said the governing councils must act rightly and cause a progressive change in the life of institutions under their care.

He said: “There has been too many instabilities in the academic calendar of the institutions, especially EKSU, which has greatly eroded stakeholders’ confidence in its stability and competitiveness.

“The Councils must work towards ensuring stability in the academic calendar and full accreditation of programmes.

“I urge the Council and the management to come up with a rescue agenda on how to reposition the institutions to an enviable height. In the world of today, where new generation universities are giving the older ones a run for their money, our universities must strive to be on top of the league in research, endowment and training of globally competitive students.

“To attain this status, new approaches to funding, learning culture/environment, structure, pedagogy, infrastructure, recruitment and incentives should be developed if the institutions will have to be competitive and relevant.”

The governor said that the task of running a 21st century university could not be solely rested on government’s subvention.

which is meant to subsidise tertiary education and to ensure that the economically-disadvantaged segment of the society is not denied access to higher education.

“In reality, direct government subvention should be the least ratio in the sources of funding for a university.

“The university is supposed to be the repository of knowledge, invention, innovation and talents. It should be the society’s guide on how to create wealth for self and collective prosperity.

“Therefore, the university itself should not be a poster model for lack, parasitic dependence, poverty and helplessness. The university should be self-sustaining, a wealth producer, a solution provider and a model for excellence and innovation,” the governor added.

He, therefore, challenged various stakeholders to come up with the way forward on how to attract and retain the best in those universities and to develop a blue-print on how to make them self-sustaining, competitive and of first choice.

Responding on behalf of the three council members, Prof. Akin Oyebode assured the governor that they would all do their best to position the institutions where they are supposed to be to produce the best and the brightest.

Oyebode pledged their loyalty and commitment to their new assignment.

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