GOVERNOR FAYEMI CHALLENGES UNIVERSITIES TO SOLVE LOCAL AND GLOBAL PROBLEMS
Universities as centres of learning should discover and maximize new knowledge and enable cultural and political understanding by creating environments that promote civil dialogue and debate.
The Visitor to Ekiti State University (EKSU) and the Governor of Ekiti State , Dr Kayode Fayemi gave the admonition in his speech at the 18th convocation ceremony of EKSU. According to him "Universities cannot be seen as places where certificates are doled out to the graduates after the period of time- where young people are churned out certificated but barely educated . It is a place where practical solutions to our developmental problems are crafted. The challenge of higher learning in the knowledge economy is to bridge the gulf between town and gown; between the academy and the public square.
Dr Fayemi noted that the realities learnt in the classroom would be far removed from the realities being encountered in the offices and board rooms saying "only by locating itself at the centre of society's concerns can the University fufill its mandate to be fulcrum of the progress and innovation.
The Visitor to the University revealed that the extensive reforms being carried out by his administration were aimed at repositioning institutions of learning in the State. Dr Fayemi gave an insight to what led to the consolidation of several legacy higher institutions into one strong and sustainable University. He commended the Ekiti State University's Governing Council, Senate, Faculty and Students, as well as all stakeholders, for working working hard to justify our actions taken in the best interest of Ekiti State.
"The success of the consolidation that birthed Ekiti State University is now being celebrated and recommended to other state governments by the Nigeria Universities Commission. Our dear EKSU is moving resolutely in the direction of proper alignment with the crucial role Universities are meant to play in the society", the Ekiti State Governor said.
Dr Fayemi also commented on the relationship between the University and His Excellency, Dr John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, saying " the entire Ekiti State University, as well as the honourable people of Ekiti State, Nigeria, are proud to be associated with the achievements of President Mahama, which have been validated by the good people of the Republic of Ghana, who voted for him overwhelming in an election that has become a model for peaceful democratic transitions in Africa.
The Visitor to the University congratulated the graduands who he described as those that worked hard over the last few years to earn degrees from the various Faculties and Colleges of EKSU.
In His address, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Patrick Oladipo Aina said that the University has been growing from strength to strength revealing that the University recently presented 45 programmes in the faculties Agricultural Sciences, Arts, Education, Management Sciences, Engineering, Science and Social Sciences- for accreditation by the National Universities Commission(NUC) and none was denied accreditation. He also said that the NUC has granted the University permission to run the Science Laboratory Technology degree programme on full time basis.
Professor Aina told the congregation that the academic staff of the University have been engaged in high quality research in relevant areas of renewable energy, food, security, biotechnology, peace and conflict studies among others.
On academic programmes , the Vice Chancellor hinted that some of them are to be reviewed with the possible replacement with new programmes to enhance global competitiveness. He mentioned the new programmes in the offing to include Distance or Blended Learning, Center for Gender and Development, Institute of Forensic Science in Collaboration with Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, India, Theater and Media Arts, Architecture, and Institute of Governance.
Professor Aina used the occasion to disclose that the University had finally been hooked to the National Electric Power grid through a dedicated power line from Basiri Ado- Ekiti adding that the University has an alternative energy source from solar power infrastructure.
On Information Communication Technology (ICT), the Vice Chancellor noted that the University has made a remarkable progress in the provision of internet connectivity on campus "EKSU is about concluding partnership agreement with Google Africa on a Google Apps project which will deliver state of the art e-learning facility and very cheap internet access on campus.
Professor Aina mentioned several corporate social responsibility projects benefited by the University including donation from First Bank Plc for sports facilities and book donations from individuals and organizations. The Vice Chancellor congratulated the graduands and urged them to be good ambassadors of the University and their parents.
At the occasion 4,439 first degree students graduated. Of this number, 11 earned First Class Honours degrees, 705 emerged in the Second Class Upper Honours category, 2,715 in Second Class lower Honours, 944 in Third Class and 64 obtained a Pass degree. The best graduating student is Abdulahi, Niyi Ezekiel with CGPA 4.69 in Mechanical Engineering. Two hundred and sixty seven graduating Postgraduate students comprise 27 PhD,92 Masters and 148 Post Graduate Diploma.
Via: Ekiti State University