Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that his administration is working towards the introduction of a policy that will grant full autonomy to Nigerian universities.
Tinubu made the pledge during the 48th convocation of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) at the weekend.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, said that he believed that university autonomy would improve the quality of university education in the country.
He also said that he was committed to repositioning tertiary institutions and the education sector for excellent service delivery.
“Our administration is poised to change the narrative of higher education for the better and to place the institution of higher learning on a pedestal that would enable them to compete with their counterparts across the world,” he said.
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Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki, who was also present at the convocation, assured that the first-class graduates of UNIBEN who are of Edo origin would be offered automatic employment in the state’s civil and public service.
He congratulated the graduates and urged them to be good ambassadors of the state and the nation at large.
The chancellor of the institution, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, Tor Tiv V, highlighted some of the challenges facing the institution, such as inadequate funding, poor research opportunities, inadequate academic staff, inadequate infrastructure and corruption.
He appealed to the federal and state governments, as well as other stakeholders, to support the institution in overcoming these challenges. He also commended the vice-chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, for her visionary leadership and achievements.