Category: Education

  • Truncated education, lost livelihoods: NEDC renews efforts to rebuild insurgency-ravaged Northeast

    Truncated education, lost livelihoods: NEDC renews efforts to rebuild insurgency-ravaged Northeast

    Complaints of yet-to-be-mended broken bridges, displaced communities, truncated education, lost livelihoods, and so on, became rife around Adamawa State on Monday, November 13, when members of the management board of North East Development Commission (NEDC) visited the state.

    The host governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, talking in particular about bridges along federal roads destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents, told the NEDC that his people in communities served by the destroyed bridges were still cut off from people and places they hitherto related with.

    The governor, addressing the members of the board who were on a tour of projects being executed by the NEDC around the state, expressed regret about how a certain contractor failed to deliver the Wuro-Ngayadi bridge project along the Michika-Madagali highway in the northern part of the state after dragging the contract for years.

    Fintiri said: “We are still without bridges and roads leading to some of the local government areas that were damaged by the Boko Haram. The state is making its effort, the NEDC has tried building one bridge; they tried to do the second one through a criminal contractor which was not realized.”

    The Nation recalls that three major bridges, located within Michika and Madagali local government areas and close to Adamawa’s borders with Borno State, were destroyed in 2014 when Boko Haram seized Michika, Madagali, and five other LGAs in Adamawa state.

    The newly reconstituted management of the NEDC was led to Adamawa State by the board chairman, General Paul Tarfa (rtd), who told the governor that the NEDC was in the state both to inspect its ongoing projects and to acquaint new members of the board with the projects.

    Tarfa, incidentally a citizen of Adamawa state, commended Governor Fintiri for the development projects that his government has executed for the people, saying the Commission was proud of him.

    He said: “Our mandate is to cooperate with the dynamic steps you and other governors are taking to put in place what is necessary for the North East zone as we are recuperating from the insurgency.”

    Some of the projects inspected in Adamawa State by the NEDC included the ongoing construction of a mega secondary school in Song, a Technical Training Centre rehabilitated by the commission in Jibiro, Girei LGA, and a new Emergency Complex at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola.

    At the different project sites, the Managing Director of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done.

    It could be recalled that the new mega school in Song, designed to house classes and other facilities for primary and secondary sections, is one of three such projects in Adamawa State. The other three are located in Guyuk and Lamurde respectively.

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    Each of the other five states of the North East has three mega schools, bringing the total number of schools to 18.

    The NEDC sees the mega schools in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe as its answer to the truncation of education by Boko Haram which destroyed many schools and left pupils and students in the cold.

    The technical training centre in Jibiro which the NEDC renovated came as part of the training in skills and empowerment of youths and women which the commission has done in the state to address the issue of lost livelihoods caused by Boko Haram attacks.

    Apart from the new Emergency Complex at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital in Yola which the NEDC is funding, the commission has earlier donated equipment to the hospital and intervened in other ways to improve health delivery which was affected by insurgency.

  • Contest Ondo Gov poll, group tells ex-Reps member Akinfolarin

    Contest Ondo Gov poll, group tells ex-Reps member Akinfolarin

    A group, Ondo Emancipation Forum (OEF), has called on former House of Representatives member, Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin, to contest the governorship election in 2024.

    The group said the former lawmaker deserves to be Governor, saying his tenure as lawmaker representing Ile Oluji Oke Igbo/Odigbo federal constituency witnessed unprecedented development, effectiveness and quality representation.

    A statement by the Convener of the group and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Olanrewaju Akinsola, said the ex lawmaker has what it takes to govern the State, having displayed qualities as a member of the Green Chamber for eight years. 

    He noted the former Ondo Deputy Speaker can be described as someone who works compulsively to change the fortune of his constituents where he served at the state and national assembly.

    “He used his position as Chairman, Federal Road Safety Commission (FSRC) of the House of Representatives to facilitate gainful employment, not just for his constituents, but the entire State,” it added. 

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    The group claimed to have compilation of what Akinfolarin achieved when he represented his constituents at the House of Representatives, saying they are rest assured that the former lawmaker will do more if elected as Governor. 

    The group added: “We have no doubt about his integrity, and his commitment to the people, we beckon on him at this time to salvage and restore the lost glory of the state.”

    “As a group, we will support him in whatever capacity by mobilising human and material resources to see that this dream come to fruition.”

  • Bill to establish Federal Varsity of Medical Sciences in Abia passes second reading

    Bill to establish Federal Varsity of Medical Sciences in Abia passes second reading

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed through second reading a Bill for an Act to establish Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, in Item Bende, Abia State.

    The proposed legislation titled: “Bill for an Act to Establish Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Item Bende to make Comprehensive Provisions for its Due Management and Administration and for Related Matters,” is sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Hon. Wole Oke and five other lawmakers.

    Leading the debate on the general principles of the Bill, Hon. Oke said the Bill seeks to establish a university charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.

    He noted that specialised medical universities have become very important in Nigeria as there was increasing demand for medical and health professionals, especially now that the country keep losing her trained medical and health personnel to other countries of the world.

    He also noted that the rising wave of external migration of medical and allied health professionals seeking greener pastures in more developed countries further compounds the problem.

    The lawmaker said the university when established will encourage the advancement of learning and hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction, the opportunity of acquiring a higher education in Medicine and other Health Sciences.

    He also said the university will develop and offer academic and professional programs leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate research and higher degrees with emphasis on planning, technical, maintenance, developmental and productive skills in the field of Medicine and allied professional disciplines relating to health resources.

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    Oke said: “The importance of education in the society cannot be over-emphasized. It is important for a happy and stable life, for better income and livelihood and for social equality. Furthermore, it is important to have specialized universities especially in the field of medical and health sciences. This will help in filling the gaps seen in conventional universities’ run medical faculties which often grapple with lack of resources among other things. Recall that in the past the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria had recommended that universities should consider the establishment of independently administered Colleges of Medicine as a way to partly decentralize power and garner additional resources for medical schools. You will recall also the successes of specialized medical universities around the globe.

    “Some critically needed health professionals are not adequately produced in the country at the moment. Clearly, government cannot completely halt the emigration of trained medical and health personnel. It would be more appropriate to tap into the huge export market of trained medical and health personnel, by investing more into the education and training of medical personal in large numbers to meet both domestic and international demands. Health indicators may continue to decline in the absence of aggressive interventions to reverse the trend. More doctors and other health professionals leaving the country has led to a shortage of medical professionals in the country. This has in turn resulted into heavy strain and dissatisfaction among those medical professionals remaining in the country.

    “The general objects/purposes of the University shall, among other things, shall be to – offer to the general population, as a form of public service, the results of training and research in medicine and allied disciplines and to foster the practical application of those results; and establish appropriate relationships with other national institutions involved in training, research and development of health care.”

    After the debate, the Bill was put to a voice vote by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, who presided over the session, after which it was passed and subsequently referred to the House Committee on University Education for further legislative input.

  • 40% IGR deduction: Burden will be passed to parents, colleges of education union warns FG

    40% IGR deduction: Burden will be passed to parents, colleges of education union warns FG

    The Senior Staff Union at the College of Education, Nigeria (SSUCOEN) has rejected the planned implementation of a 40 percent deduction from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of tertiary institutions.

    The union said the burden would be passed to parents if the federal government goes ahead to implement the policy.

    President of SSUCOEN, Danladi Msheliza said this in a statement on Tuesday, November 14, in Abuja.

    The policy of 40 percent auto-deduction of gross IGR is in line with the Finance Circular with reference number FMFBNP/OTHERS/IGR/CRF/12/2021 dated December 20, 2021.

    The circular limits the annual budgetary expenditure from IGR of the partially funded federal government.

    However, unions in the nation’s tertiary institutions have rejected the policy with many of them threatening to embark on strike.

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    The statement said: “All the Adjustments in the revenue will now pass unto the parents because students have to be charged the 40% to each subhead as IGR to the government. Otherwise, no College of education in Nigeria can survive.

    “For the record, Colleges of Education do not have anything called IGR. What students pay (as paltry sums) are service charges for student ID cards, hostel maintenance, games, etc.

    “It is unbelievable and mind blogging to note that the federal government wants Colleges of Education that are barely struggling to survive, and whose overhead cannot even pay for diesel or electricity bills, not to talk of students hostels and other logistics, would be asked to remit 40% of what they collect as registration fee from students as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the federal government coffers to fund political elites’ indulgences.

    “This action, which can be likened to squeezing water out of stone and depositing it into an ocean, is, in our opinion, a deliberate effort by the government to systematically phase out Public Tertiary Educational Institutions in Nigeria just like they did to public Primary and Secondary Schools.”

    The union urged the federal government to reverse the policy of facing industrial unrest in the nation’s colleges of education.

    The statement added: “Government needs to, therefore, reverse with immediate effects, this anti-people policy and, allow the children of the poor to ‘breathe’ and go to school like the children of the elites.

    “If this is not done, Colleges of Education can no longer train teachers for Nigerian Schools. Additionally, the Union may have no option than to down tool and further mobilise students across all Colleges of Education in Nigeria to go to the streets and react to this anti masses policies.”

  • 179 Nigerian students leave for BEA scholarship in Russia

    179 Nigerian students leave for BEA scholarship in Russia

    One hundred and seventy-nine Nigerian students have departed to Russia to pursue undergraduate degrees under the 2023/2024 Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA).

    The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, at a pre-departure press conference on Tuesday, November 14, in Abuja, urged the scholars to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in Russia.

    He said their selection as scholars was part of a broader plan of deepening the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which ensures that brilliant Nigerians are supported to get the necessary knowledge, skills and competence that would be useful in Nigeria’s development agenda.

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    The minister, who was represented by the Director of Tertiary Education in the ministry, Rakiya Iliyasu, urged the scholars to uphold good values and focus on their studies.

    He said: “I therefore need to advise you not to see this as uncontrolled freedom to do things that would be a disgrace to you, your parents, and the country.

    “Nigeria is investing a lot in you and expects that the returns of the investment would manifest in your coming back to help move your nation forward.

    Speaking on behalf of the scholars, Moses Inalegu, thanked the federal government and the Russian Federation for the opportunity, promising not to let their guard down.

  • Nigerians needs quality not free education – Imafidon

    Nigerians needs quality not free education – Imafidon

    An educationist, Dr. Dennis Imafidon, has urged Federal and State government to prioritise quality education above free education that has no value for Nigerians.

    He condemned large turn-out of graduates across the nation into labour market with less productivity.

    Speaking after been conferred an honourary doctorate degree in education management of Prowess University, Delaware, USA with its 5th induction and investiture of Fellowship Award of Eccolrite Institute of Peace Advancement, Imafidon lamented that free education programmes by some Governors have begun to fail.

    Imafidon, who is the Director, Apex Olive College and Apex Tutor, Ile-Ife, Osun State, said Nigerians should be concerned about quality education that would impacted their lives not free education with less or no value.

    According to him: “You cannot say education is free, then you now give something that is watery, whitewashed, lacking lustre, and at the end of the day, people are not properly educated, and by the time they are through, finish the so-called education, they can”t establish, stand alone, defend their certification, and that is where the problem is, a lot of graduates turned out from our many institutions are not employable in the company, firm, industry.

    “If we have the qualitative education that is free, it will do us good. Like in our school ,Apex Olive College, we promote education of high repute, including 

    procurement of laboratory gadgets, facilities and infrastructure to aid education advancement.”

    He however urged government at all levels, stakeholders in education, parents, school management and students to be sincere with funding of education. 

    While appreciating essence of student loan by the government, Imafidon said it would greatly reduce mass illiteracy in the country but raised concerns over the loan, calling for its sincere implementation to give its target audience education privileges.

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    A Togolese Professor of Economics, Olubodun Olayiwola while delivering a lecture titled “Evaluation of Human Capital Development as a strategy for increasing productivity in an organization”, emphasized the need for regular training of workers, believed reliance on good certification has been a bane of human capital development of every African country.

    Olayiwola reiterated that the the country Nigeria must imitate other developed countries, including USA, China who do not only get satisfied by certificate, but with skills acquired by an individual.

    The African Representatives, Prowess University, Delaware, USA, Prof. Eze C. Nwauba, represented by Dr. Olaolu Ayodele, from the federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, charged every education stakeholder to form a synergy for a worthwhile education delivery.

  • David Ajiga’s data-driven breakthrough in U.S. student loan reform

    David Ajiga’s data-driven breakthrough in U.S. student loan reform

    In the complex and highly regulated world of financial analytics, few professionals distinguish themselves through both technical excellence and public-impact outcomes. David Ajiga emerges as one such individual—playing a mission-critical role in one of the most consequential financial compliance and risk management projects of this decade.

    Independent proudly spotlights David Ajiga for his extraordinary contributions to regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and operational transformation during the landmark $10 billion sale of Discover Financial Services’ student loan portfolio. His work stands as a case study in how analytics, when purposefully applied, can help restore consumer trust, meet stringent regulatory mandates, and deliver sustainable enterprise value.

    David Ajiga assumes a senior analytics role within Discover’s Student Loans (DSL) division just as the company navigates a turbulent regulatory climate. Discover’s student loan servicing unit comes under intense scrutiny from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), both of which issue a Consent Order requiring sweeping reforms.

    While many view this as a legal and compliance challenge, Ajiga approaches it as a systemic data problem—one that demands not just accurate reporting, but operational transformation.

    Ajiga designs a suite of analytics solutions that serve as the bedrock for Discover’s response to the Consent Order. His frameworks identify over 500,000 potentially misclassified student loan accounts, allowing for timely remediation and ensuring that the company’s servicing practices meet federal standards before the portfolio is transitioned.

    “Data, when aligned with ethics and accountability, can create real protection for consumers,” Ajiga says. “This is never about just moving numbers—it is about restoring transparency in a system that millions rely on.”

    Ajiga’s first breakthrough comes in the form of a SQL-driven harm monitoring engine capable of scanning, flagging, and classifying errors in loan servicing logic. His system captures anomalies across hundreds of thousands of loan accounts, many of which would otherwise go undetected. This single act prevents significant financial harm to borrowers and positions Discover as a credible actor in the eyes of regulators.

    He then develops predictive compensation models using Python, allowing the organization to automate accurate disbursements to affected customers with 99% precision. Previously reliant on time-consuming and error-prone manual reviews, Discover now processes remediation faster, with greater transparency and auditable controls—all thanks to Ajiga’s innovation.

    To ensure long-term stability, he also automates over 15 reporting and risk dashboards, saving more than 30 hours per month in manual labor and improving internal decision-making speed.

    As Discover prepares to offload the $10 billion DSL portfolio to a leading financial institution, operational soundness becomes paramount. Regulatory risk, customer confidence, and portfolio performance all depend on what happens behind the scenes—where Ajiga’s analytics ecosystem now governs system health, validates remediations, and certifies regulatory alignment.

    His work proves instrumental.

    Through carefully structured A/B tests, Ajiga boosts customer retention rates by 12% for targeted loan segments. His segmentation models increase engagement effectiveness by 25%, allowing Discover to enhance borrower experience while simultaneously driving portfolio value.

    When Discover officially announces the sale agreement, industry analysts cite “portfolio readiness and operational clarity” as factors that contribute to the transaction’s success. These metrics are traceable to the frameworks and reporting systems Ajiga and his team put in place.

    Ajiga’s work earns high-level visibility across Discover’s leadership. Directors refer to his contributions as “enterprise-saving,” particularly in their ability to preempt regulatory penalties and avoid post-sale litigation risks.

    But his influence extends beyond the four walls of Discover.

    Ajiga publishes peer-reviewed articles that explore the use of AI and predictive analytics in financial forecasting and customer risk profiling. His research is cited by other academics studying reform pathways in student lending and fintech ethics. His thought leadership positions him not just as a technical expert—but as a voice in the policy and governance discussions surrounding student debt and financial inclusion.

    Ajiga’s personal philosophy underpins his professional approach: data must serve people. “When you analyze a loan system, you’re not just evaluating risk. You’re interacting with people’s futures—their education, their financial security, their trust in the system,” he reflects.

    That conviction shapes every aspect of his contributions—from designing automation tools that protect low-income borrowers from overcharges, to creating audit trails that regulators can rely on to assess systemic fairness.

    Ajiga transitions to a new leadership role within Discover’s Operational Risk Oversight division, where he now validates high-risk system deployments and ensures that regulatory standards are built into product lifecycles from day one.

    His focus moves from crisis remediation to systemic prevention—working across teams to embed machine learning and analytics into the organization’s risk DNA.

    Ajiga’s rise and results reflect the evolution of the modern data scientist: one who moves beyond dashboards to deliver institutional resilience, ethical outcomes, and measurable public good.

    David Ajiga’s story is not one of routine performance, but of extraordinary contribution in a time of institutional pressure and public accountability. His data-driven interventions protect borrowers, satisfy regulators, and enable one of the largest student loan sales in U.S. history to proceed without disruption.

    In the eyes of Independent Ajiga represents the gold standard for impact-driven analytics. His work is not only technically brilliant—it is socially conscious, globally relevant, and deeply human.

  • Rector advocates technology to curb unemployment

    Rector advocates technology to curb unemployment

    The Rector Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Oyo State, Dr. Taofeek Abdul-Hameed, has advocated use of technology to boost the nation’s economy, saying this would curb the menace of unemployment in Nigeria.

    He urged government at all levels to leverage on technology so as to solve unemployment which according to him has given birth to other national and societal challenges.

    Speaking while delivering the 29th convocation lecture of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin with the theme: “Technological Innovation: A Panacea to Emerging National Challenges”, Abdul-Hameed noted that high rate of violence across the nation is mostly caused by unemployed youth.

    He called on governments to channel the education system towards marketable skills like technology and vocational education with a view to advance it technologically.

    According to him : “Violence is rising in Nigeria due to young unemployment. Nigeria’s population topped 200 million in 2018. Over 50% of the population is young, aged between 15 and 34.

    “Unfortunately, the unemployment rate rises with the youth population. Indeed, 11.1 million young people were unemployed in 2012. This indicates extreme poverty in the region. This may encourage illegal activities.

    “Citizens must learn and employ the required skills for a nation to survive and prosper economically, the claim is that a country’s educational system should teach pupils marketable skills, such as technology, and vocational education, to advance technologically.

    “Technology and vocational education are essential in light of the country’s economic woes. Technology and vocational education help generate competent leaders in construction, electrical and electronics, mechanical/automobile, home economics, and agriculture as well as related industries.

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    “The disciplines include every culture’s basic needs, including clothing, food, shelter and health.”

    He advised leaders to invest heavily in human capital development, noting that nations with strong intellectual resources enjoy the fastest economic development and scientific as well as technological advances.

    “Knowledge acquisition is vital to solving many social and environmental issues and has significant economic rewards.”

  • 20-year-old emerges overall best student at Baze University

    20-year-old emerges overall best student at Baze University

    Twenty-year-old, Morenikeji Adebanjo, from Ogun State has emerged the overall best student at the 10th Convention Ceremony of Baze University.

    Speaking during the convocation ceremony of the school in Abuja on Saturday, Adebanjo attributed her success to collective efforts of her lecturers, families and the institution.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adebanjo, a graduate of Law, came overall best with the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.81 on a scale of 4.0, from the 388 undergraduate candidates

    Also, Oseloka Zikora, a Mass Communication student, came overall best with 5.0 CGPA on a scale of 5.0 in the Masters programme among 225 candidates.

    Adebanjo, while promising to be a helpful member of the society through mentorship, said this was the only way to give back to the school and the society at large.

    “A lot actually inspired me, first is God, second my family and this achievement is not an individual achievement but a collective achievement through Baze University.

    “My lecturers also were of great help to me. Sometimes going to meet them for extra explanation and taking the time to really understand, I appreciate their efforts. It was a collective effort.

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    “I will try to be a helpful member of the society in any way I can. I intend to help first the undergraduates, give them some advice on how to succeed as well as using law as an instrument of change,” she said.

    In an address, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Kathleen Okafor, said the university has recorded a notable milestone, including growing academic programmes from 72 in 2022 to 102.

    Okafor said this comprised 43 undergraduate courses, 41 post-graduate (PGD and MSc) programmes and 18 PhD programmes.

    She said that the convocation was also to honour two Nigerians, late Justice Mohammed Bello with the Honorary Doctor of Letters, and late Hajiya Maryam Babangida, with an Honorary Doctor of Science degree.

    “Today, we present a list of 613 graduands, 388 at Undergraduate level and 225 at Postgraduate (Masters Degrees) level.

    “To us, the pleasure of producing another set of excellent intellectuals for the nation and the international community is limitless. We return all glory to the Almighty God who has made this possible,” she said.

    The acting vice-chancellor also said that women must participate to be in the quest for economic regeneration as well as engage in the family and national resources for fairness, equity and justice.

    She said that universities must henceforth impact education that is relevant and ethical, combating genocides and poverty, blatant breaches of the rule of law.

    “The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and World Bank research reports show that exposure of women to economic activities shot productively from about 17 per cent to 37 per cent within two years.

    “Women must be in this quest for economic regeneration, they must participate, they must collaborate and engage in the family and national resources for fairness, equity and justice .Them can be no peace without justice,” she said.

    She, therefore, advised the graduating students to pursue self development in their specialised discipline and as well join relevant professional associations to sharpen their digital skills.

    She said this was necessary because with the age of digital innovation and entrepreneurship, they would be well equipped to face the exigencies of work places.

    Another graduating student, Roosevelt Ken-Ebeku, encouraged the graduands to share and inculcate the values and lesson learnt from the school to the society at large.

    Ken-Ebeku, also the Student Union Government (SUG) President of the institution, commended the institution’s management for the numerous social activities the school offered, saying that the 10th convocation was the first of its kind the institution had witnessed.

    (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

  • 12 make First-class at KolaDaisi varsity’s third convocation

    12 make First-class at KolaDaisi varsity’s third convocation

    Twelve graduates made first-class honour at the third convocation of KolaDaisi University (KDU), Ibadan.

    The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Adeniyi Olatunbosun, disclosed this while speaking at the convocation ceremony held inside the institution.

    Olatubosun said: “123 students are graduating, 12 of the graduates have first-class, 50 have second-class upper division, 39 with second-class lower division, and 22 with third-class degrees.”

    He charged the graduating students to go and make a difference, saying: ‘’My dear graduates, again, I congratulate you as you have attained a great feat in your life’s journey.”

    He added: “I am optimistic that with the knowledge imbued in you while studying here, you are poised to be a game-changer. I charge you to go out there and join in transforming Nigeria into a global reckoning.”

    The Chancellor of the University, Chief Kola Daisi, urged the graduates to be creative, saying the world was waiting for their manifestation.

    ’’Our country, indeed the world today, is in desperate need of individuals whose innovation and creativity can help resolve the humongous challenges confronting us.”

    In his remark, a former minister and the Pro-chancellor and Governing Council Chairman of KDU, Remi Babalola urged graduands never to stop dreaming about the audacious future they strive to achieve.

    In his lecture titled ‘Nigerian Education System at a Crossroads’, former Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie decried the domination of Nigeria’s University Councils by politicians, saying politics, religion, and ethnicity are destroying Nigeria’s Universities.

    While lamenting that the Universities were not productive, Okojie said they should be challenged with national problems on environment, climate change, economic development, and relevant research that would result in patients and inventions.

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    He said: “The Councils of universities should not be dominated by political stalwarts who are professional politicians. They should be respectable and knowledgeable in the major programmes focus of the University.

    ‘’The role played by politics, religion, and ethnicity are destroying our universities.   Our universities are not productive. They should be challenged with national problems on environment, climate change, and economic development, relevant research that would result in patients and inventions and so on, and be positively involved in the national discussion.”

    “The Research Institutes should be encouraged to work with the universities in the innovation and development endeavou