The Association of
Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) has urged the federal
government to radically increase their investments in the country’s education
in order to enhance access to quality education.
The association also advocated that the nation’s universities
should be repositioned to enable them effectively respond to the needs of the
nation through strategic collaborations with industries to carry out research
and develop prototypes that serve the needs of society.
This was contained in
a communique issued at the end of its four- day conference held at the Kwara
State University, Malete, a copy of which was made available to journalists in
Ilorin yesterday and signed by AVCNU’ s Secretary- General, Prof M. O Faborode.
It said bursaries, students’ loans, and scholarships for
indigent students should be institutionalised to increase access to quality
education.
It added that: “Accountability, transparency, and internal
quality assurance measures should be institutionalised to strongly confront
corrupt tendencies in the Nigerian university system.
“As access to quality education is crucial to attaining
sustainable development, universities should mainstream the SDGs, offer
insightful analyses and proffer solutions to challenges of climate change. Data
acquired in the course of research should be shared to improve research geared
towards development.
.”Nigerian universities should key into the internationalisation
agenda by leveraging on existing networks and also improving visibility to
boost their profiles.
“The enabling environment for students of Nigerian universities
to acquire the right entrepreneurial skills should be provided. Student
Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) should be leveraged to improve
hands-on experience in industrial and entrepreneurial training.
“Research and students’ projects should be innovative, purpose
driven and tailored towards improving graduate employability, job creation as
well as solving societal problems.
“Nigerian universities should encourage research findings to be
in the public domain through budgeting for, and promoting open access
publishing.Universities in Nigeria should continue to strive to improve on
their global recognition”.
The AVCNU thanked the host university, the government and the
people of Kwara State for the excellent hosting.
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