Agency Report –
Prof. Abiodun Adebayo, immediate past Vice Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, has said that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, for tertiary institutions was grossly insufficient.
Mr Adebayo said this on Thursday in Calabar, during an interview with newsmen after a colloquium, to mark the 50th Anniversary of the University of Calabar, UniCal.
The colloquium had as its theme: ”University of Calabar and Its Contributions to National Development”.
The former VC, who is an alumnus of UniCal, said that there was the need for the Federal Government to start investing in dedicated research centres in universities, adding these would serve as centres of excellence.
Reacting on the need for facility enhancement in institution, Adebayo appealed to all alumni of the school to come together and develop it, while encouraging UniCal researchers to go global and secure grants.
“The Nigerian government needs to be more intentional, because no one will tell our stories better than us and until we begin to support our local content and researches, we will continue to go in circles.
“There are great minds in this country and we need to engage them productively by investing in the facilities of our universities and local researches that promote local content,” he said.
Earlier, Prof Florence Obi, the institution’s VC, said that UniCal had consistently demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence, innovation, infrastructural revolution and community service, in spite of coming from a humble beginning.
Obi said that the theme of the colloquium was a testament to the institution’s dedication to fostering intellectual discourse, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
According to her, as we celebrate our achievements, we look to the future with optimism, as our university remains committed to providing a transformative educational experience that prepares students in a complex world.
In his goodwill message, retired DIG Udom Ekpoudom, Pro Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the institution, commended the University for its Giant Strides, noting that after the celebration of UniCal at 50, the institution would not remain the same.
He said, though, the institution has had its fair share of challenges and bad eggs, which were not peculiar to it, those who were pushing for the institution’s continuous growth should not be discouraged.
UniCal was one of the second generation universities established by a decree in 1975 as an off-shoot of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and had Prof. Emmanuel Ayandele as its pioneer VC.
