Akeredolu tasks education administrators on research
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has charged university administrators to reinforce their research efforts to solve contemporary societal problems.
Akeredolu, who spoke at the 10th and 11th convocation ceremonies of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), said scholarly interventions were required at this critical time in the nation’s history.
“The truth is we are living in a time when true scholarly interventions are required to illuminate gloomy paths and it is time for our state’s institutions, particularly AAUA, to take the lead in this area.”
As a first step, he tasked education managers to review the curriculum to meet societal needs.
He said: “We must deliberately work towards bridging the gap between the theory we give our students and practical needs of the society, thus, making them employable. “Entrepreneurial training is also imperative now than before because white-collar jobs are no longer available.”
To this end, Akeredolu said research and learning centres must be prepared to come up with new ideas on how to best cultivate what the country produces and feed the citizenry.
“The outlandish repetition of inapplicable theories taught in educational institutions would only result in highly qualified citizens who lack the ability to tackle basic problems,” he said.
While congratulating the graduands, the governor, who was represented by Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Oladunni Odu, advised them to create value for the society and become employers of labour.
He also called on philanthropists and well-meaning Nigerians to support the government in expanding the frontiers of infrastructural development in the state-owned university.
The vice-chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, charged the graduands to go and conquer, having been given the necessary internationally equivalent tools.
He identified funding as a major obstacle hindering the university from attaining its full capacities.
“The university’s capacity to meet the obligation of wage payment, research funding, infrastructural growth, and governance has been severely hampered by the paucity of funds,” he said.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN
