Universities Key To National Development -HOS …Commends Wike’s Funding Of Higher Education

Head of Service Rivers State, Barrister Rufus Godwins, has identified universities as key to national planning and development.
Godwins made this remark while delivering a lecture at the 39th and 40th convocation of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) on, “Nigerian Universities and the Challenges of National Development”, Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
He said the failure of government to in academics in the national planning scheme gave birth to the failure of those development blueprints.
He said that even with the current ninth development plan, the making and implementation of the plan has been wobbly, as academics were sidelined in the process.
He warned that the country would not move forward if it continues to emasculate the intelligentsia and eggheads in the planning of policies and programmes.
In his words, “no nation can be greater than its universities, or human resource produced by the universities.
Godwins blamed the military government for the brain drain, poor welfare and funding bedeviling the nation-ivory towers coupled with the deliberate posture of previous administrations relegate education to the background.
While commending Nigerian universities for producing world class products like Prof Soyinka, Chike Obi, Chinua Achebe, Kunle Olotokun, and Prof. Omowunmi Sadik, he stressed that universities should be given autonomy such that they can play the vital role of boosting knowledge and research.
Godwins also recommended the inclusion of universities as major stakeholders with advisory and implementation responsibilities as a way to drive policy formulation and national development.
He pointed out that the Nyesom Wike administration in the state has given adequate attention and funding to tertiary institutions, hence the reason why university lecturers are not on strike and there is smooth academic activities.
On his part, Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Prof Okechukwu Onuchuku, said the lecture was apt at a time the country is in dire need of economic rejuvenation.
Onuchuku emphasized that the country’s greatness can only be utilized when intellectuals are involved in the making of policies and programmes.
The acting vice chancellor maintained that research and knowledge are strong ingredients to move the nation forward.

By: Kevin Nengia