President Bola Tinubu has challenged Nigerian universities to develop solution-driven research to tackle myriads of socio-economic problems bedevilling the country.
Tinubu, who spoke at the weekend during the eighth convocation ceremony of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, said that universities were supposed to be fertile centres for scientific and technological innovation and discoveries.
The president, represented by the deputy Senate president, Senator Barau Jibrin stressed the need for the academics to come up with innovative research that could bring sustainable development.
He added that his government remained committed to tackling the challenges of funding for cutting-edge research and innovations, saying he was not unaware of the importance of research in national development.
He noted: “Let me reiterate the urgent need for our universities to adjust to the ever-changing demands of the twenty-first century, where technology is upgrading both the global, community and individual intelligence from time to time.
“The Institutions of higher learning must recognise the next possible disruption that technology may bring and must be positioned to mitigate challenges and must from time to time take charge of innovation.
“Without education playing the catalytic role, development cannot be recorded in any nation in this century. Universities in particular should be the vanguard of cutting-edge research, teaching, and community service in line with the tripartite mandate.
“Our universities must take the lead in championing demand-driven research that would serve the society in improving the quality of human lives. We recognise the place of our intellectual to undertake innovative research that will address the nation’s development.”
While reiterating his government’s resolve to improve the nation’s education sector, President Tinubu berated the critics of the student loan scheme introduced by his administration.
He said the federal government will go ahead with the scheme despite what he called “baffling responses from several quarters on the credibility and workability of the scheme.”
Tinubu said that education remains one of the crucial aspects of his renewed hope agenda, adding his administration was working round the clock to ensure that education was made accessible by all willing Nigerians through pragmatic funding and realistic policies.
He said: “One thing that should be known is that education is not cheap anywhere in the world. This government is not ready to endorse the education that will not advance this nation.
“Student loan schemes are not rocket science initiatives, they are designed to grant access to all who are willing and who know the value of education in a way to take the burden off numerous individuals and communities who may have been intervening painfully in sending their wards to school.
“I expect that scholars would advise the government by calling our attention to how best this could be managed in their respective institutions, rather than cast aspersions on the idea.
The high point of the ceremony was the conferment of honorary degrees of the university on the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Solomon Adeola, and the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Gadji.
Speaking on behalf of the honourees, the Senate majority leader, Senator Bamidele said they valued the honour conferred on them by the university and expressed their profound appreciation for the recognition bestowed upon them
Bamidele said that the honourary degree conferred on them serves as a testament to their dedication, achievements as well as commitment to excellence in their respective fields.
Let him give them hunger- solving-payment first. As it now, there are glitches surrounding research which can only be addressed with inflation-solving-payment.