Nigerian Universities Not Compromising Quality – Committee of Vice-Chancellors

The Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, CVCNU, Professor Lilian Salami has said that despite challenges, the Nigerian University system does not compromise quality education which is the reason why the country’s graduates come top outside the shores of the country.

She stated this at the opening ceremony of the ongoing four-day international conference on Leadership and Gender organized to Mark the 60th year of CVCNU, in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital city.

She said as a commitment, the CVCNU will continue to ensure a solid foundation for the students of the Nigerian Universities.

“We always put in our best. When our students leave the Shores of this country, they are always tops. Is it that something has happened to their grey matter? No, it is because we have given them a good solid foundation.

“We never in spite of all challenges ever compromised the quality of the students we have churn out of the University. And that is our commitment as CVCNU, that we must continue to put in our very best despite challenges and I do not think it’s is not only peculiar to Nigeria. I think  globally there are issues,” said Professor Lilian.

She said the conference had brought together resource persons and other stakeholders driving the educational system to appraise gains, value addition to the eco system, challenges and chat ways forward.

“We talked about gains, the value we have added to the ecosystem and we have also talked about our challenges. So, when you are dealing with this group of persons you except that the trajectory will change, that they will go back and look at those challenges.

“This is why the gathering is not only to celebrate but to think, to rejig and then to re-engineer the system so that we have a better future, a better tomorrow, better posterity,” she said.

The Secretary General of CVCNU, Professor Yakubu Ochefu on his part said in the spirit of the 60th-year celebration, the group is opening doors for ideas, conventions, and new developments on how to improve the University system in Nigeria.

“We have made a lot of improvement in the University system, however, there is room for more improvement. We believe that now that we have opened our doors, our stakeholders can look at us and say this is how we can support the system. 

“It’s not the Federal Government, State and private actors alone who have decided to invest in the University system. It is about all of us because education is for the entire ecosystem. How are Alumni supporting their Alma mata? These are some of the supports we are talking about,” he said.

The Minister of Education Professor, Maman Tahir in a remark urged the University system to evolve ways using research and partnership with the industrial sector to make Nigeria an industrial and a manufacturing hub.

“A University system that ensures the use of Science and Technology as vehicles to solve problems,” he stressed.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in Nigeria Hon. Benjamin Kalu, also advised Vice Chancellors of various universities in Nigeria to leverage the contributions of the alumni association and other endowment funds to finance education.

He said those are the innovative funding models that will provide the financial stability needed to propel the universities to greater heights.

“One of the key areas where Nigerian universities can chart a new course for sustainable development is in innovative funding models. I am particularly encouraged by the efforts to leverage the vast network of alumni and the Triple-Helix model, involving collaboration with industries and the government. 

The CVCNU 60th-year celebration will hold for four days featuring paper presentations, Workshops, Exhibition and Awards with participants from in and outside the country.