Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said his administration is working assidiously to ensure the full implementation of autonomy for university in the country.
He said this at the University of Benin 48th Convocation cum 53rd Founders’ Day ceremonies.
President Tinubu, represented by the Hon. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, said granting the universities autonomy, it would help place our institutions of higher learning on pedestal that would enable them compete with their counterpart in the world.
“The university of Benin is well positioned to deliver on its mandate on the training of the critical man power need of the country taken into consideration the pedigree of staff and infrastructure.
“Our Administration is poised to change the narrative of higher education for the better and to place the institution of higher learning on pedestal that would help them compete with their counterpart in the world.
“The federal government is working towards the introduction of the policy of full university autonomy and this is premised on our conviction that university autonomy will provide the platform which the institution will developed.
“University autonomy transfer the responsibility performance directly to individual institution rather than the state of uncertainty.
“This administration believes that this is the right step in the right direction.
“We will do all that is possible to reposition tertiary institution and the education sector in the country for excellency service delivery”,Tinubu said.
Speaking in his own capacity as the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh said the institution having fallen within the Niger Delta region, he is going to liaise with the university to carry out Need Assessment on it order to know where the federal government can be of assistance.
On the part of the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, he said the 178 students who have graduated with First Class will be given automatic employment provided they are of Edo State indigenes.
He urged those vested with the various honours by the university to see it as a call to service and to do more for humanity.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lilian Salami, said the institution has made a lot giant strides since she saddled the helm of affairs as the VC of the university in various facets vis-a-vis in the area of developing environmental value and ethical orientation, ensuring quality academic programme, enhancing staff and students welfare and security, expanding and enhancing the physical, structural, development and management initiatives and increasing funding and sustainable initiatives.
Other areas include increasing the human and capital development and community impact initiative.
She said besides that, her administration has also faced a lot of challenges which cut across the various segments of the university.
She listed general lack of funds, dearth of staff, continued delay on payment of owed salaries as some of the challenges facing the institution