Ekiti State University - PRESIDENT MAHAMA STRESSES THE NEED FOR AFRICA TO HAVE WORLD CLASS UNIVERSITIES

[EKSUAdoEkiti]

Governments at all levels in Africa have been told to fund research in universities in the continent, particularly those that would be relevant to their governments.

The President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr John Dramani Mahama gave the advice while delivering the University lecture at the 18th convocation of Ekiti State University (EKSU).

Dr Mahama was represented by the Minister of Education in Ghana, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemong at the occasion. In the lecture with the theme: "University Governance and Re-claiming the Lost Glory: The Challenges of Attaining World Class Universities in Africa," he stressed that African universities must subject themselves to serious and vigorous scientific evaluation of their operations in order to design the appropriate and sound policies that will lead to the emergence of world-class institutions of higher learning in the region.

He also said that Universities should undertake further reforms in their management practices to deepen their commitment to the principles of accountability and transparency noting that currently, aspects of the governance and decision making mechanism in several Universities across are shrouded in secrecy under the guise of academic freedom.

The President of the Republic of Ghana admonished Universities in Africa to jealously protect and promote academic freedom in the African context saying 'it is important for Universities desirous to attain world class status to ensure that crucial management decisions involving recruitment of faculty and students retention, promotion, provision of sabbatical leaves, allocation of workloads, award of research grants, supervision of graduate students, and institutional disciplinary framework as well as appeals processes are open and transparent'.

Recounting past efforts Mahama said it had always been the efforts of pan-African leaders like Dr Julius Nyerere, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe that Africa should produce world class universities, saying the dream would continue to be a mirage unless the concept or autonomy was embraced.

Dr Mahama added that creation or enabling environment for exchange programmes among the African Universities was long overdue, adding that "nothing stops us from doing this if we can be doing it with Universities in Europe and America."

The Governor of Ekiti State and Visitor to the University, Dr Kayode Fayemi who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mr Kehinde Ojo in his remarks noted that the extensive reforms in the education sector were aimed at repositioning institutions in the state. He commended the President, of the Republic of Ghana for the thought-provoking lecture.

Also, the Pro- Chancellor of the University , Professor Akinjide Osuntokun commended the President of Ghana represented by Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemong for accepting to deliver the University Lecture. Professor Osuntokun used the occasion to state the relationship existing between Nigeria and Ghana culturally and economically for years including similarity in language. The University lecture attracted several dignitaries from far and near including Universities



Via: Ekiti State University (EKSU)