Dr. Tejuoso, Chief Oyegun, other Chairmen of Governing Council of Federal Varsities & Members Inaugurated

The affected universities are the University of Ibadan (UI) University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) University of  Lagos (UNILAG) Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife and Maritime University in Delta.

According to the list released by Mr. Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, members of the New Council for University of Ibadan are Chief Odigie Oyegun, Chairman; Mr Masud Kazaure, Abba Yaro, Alhaji Abubakar Maikafi and Mr Emeka Nwagbo as members.

For  UNIPORT, the Governing Council members are Senator Andrew Uchendu as Chairman while Mr. Kolo Uzamat, Cdre. D. T. Hinga, Mohammed Makarfi and Ahmed Al-Mustapha are members.

For UNILAG, are Dr. Lanre Tejuoso as Chairman,  with  Dr Aminu Ahmed, Dr Uro Gardner, Chief Chinedu Adindi and Mr Mustafa Salihu as members.

Also, OAU  has Chief Oscar Udoji as Chairman with Capt. Bala Jibrin, Mr Eugene Odo, Dr Lateef Babata and Alhaji Saidu Bako as members.

The Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Delta has Dr Elias Courson as Chairman and  Mr Nelson Alapa, Mr Victor Giadono, Alhaji Bello Dukku and Mr Godwin Ananghe as members.

The inauguration, which took place at the National University Commission, Abuja, was kick-started with the address by Executive Secretary of National University Commission, Prof Abubakar Rasheed, who charged the new Governing Councils to take the various institutions to enviable heights.

Prof Rasheed said, “NUC has been fully acquainted with the circumstances leading to the dissolution of the Governing Councils of the universities of Lagos, Port Harcourt and Ibadan”.

He said the NUC had been committed to the task of rapid revitalisation of university education through curriculum re-engineering, review of accreditation, research and postgraduate development, empowering women among others.

The Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who was ably represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Sonny Echono, urged the Federal Universities Governing Councils and members to ensure fair representation and change the negative narratives in those institutions, advising them to work with the Federal Character Commission to ensure compliance.

Mallam Adamu expressed concern that some universities had become “parochial and primordial enclaves and the concept of universalism in education has been jettisoned, especially in matters regarding staff employment”.

The Honourable Minister urged the Councils to tackle other challenges affecting smooth running of universities.

“One of the challenges which Governing Councils should tackle in the course of their tenure is the appointment of Principal Officers.”

“The Councils must ensure that proper attention and priority is accorded to relevant university laws and government guidelines in the process of such appointments.”

“Governing Councils must ensure that transparency, probity and due process are followed in the selection and appointment processes to ensure the emergence of the best candidates for these positions,” he said.

He urged the Councils to encourage responsive and responsible unionism in their respective institutions to ensure stability and smooth running of the academic programmes.

“You should effectively cooperate with the visitation panels that have just been sent to your universities.”

“The primary aim of the visitation panels is to examine the challenges confronting each university and make appropriate recommendations for dealing with them,” he said.

The Minister, Adamu, asked them to shun conflicts, saying, clash of interests, values, actions or directions often led to conflicts between Managements and Governing Councils of tertiary institutions.

He warned that the Ministry will not hesitate in recommending dissolution of any Governing Council involved in “persistent, unwarranted or self-inflicted crises”.

He further harped on the need to ensure proper management of funds among others, to revamp tertiary institutions in the country.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, assured that TETFund would support universities to carry out their mandate by providing the needed support.

He said, “We are ready to impact on every aspect of tertiary education”.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for placing premium on education.

Responding on behalf of other Governing Council Chairmen, Chief Oyegun assured of their readiness to set the schools on the path of excellence.

“It is a challenge to us to hear that the President chose competent and notable hands to drive this process.”

“Since he considers us fit we promise to be part of the reinvigoration of tertiary institutions in the country.”

“We are going into this committed and to build on what we have met and correct any errors that might have been inflicted on the system,” Oyegun said.

He pledged that the Chairmen and members would work hard to change the negative narratives in the various Federal universities. 

In the same vein, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Health in the 8th Assembly, Senator Dr. Lanre Tejuoso, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for choosing them to steer the ship of the respected Federal institutions of higher learning at this time.

Dr. Tejuoso promised on behalf of the University of Lagos Governing Council to do their best to justify President Muhammadu Buhari’s confidence in their capacity to deliver.

Watch the inauguration proceedings:

Written By: AISHA ABUBAKAR

PM Express

Read more: https://pmexpressng.com/dr-tejuoso-chief-oyegun-other-chairmen-of-governing-council-of-federal-varsities-members-inaugurated/