Education
NUC, NOUN couch VCs, others on development, use of electronic management dashboards
The National Universities Commission (NUC) in partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has trained some Vice-Chancellors and other officials in the University system on development and use of electronic management dashboards for effective governance of the universities.
The 12-week intensive training course was concluded for 321 participants made up of Vice-Chancellors, Directors of Academic Planning, Directors of ICT and staff of NUC and other national quality assurance agencies in Africa on “Development and Use of Management Dashboards for Academic Planning” to aid governance of the universities.
Addressing the press after the graduation ceremony, Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola who is the Director/Facilitator-General of the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE), the platform for delivering the fully-practical and fully-virtual training, said the participants were trained on skills to set up governance dashboards that could uptake streamed data in real time for effective planning and management of their institutions.
He noted that this was in the continuing effort to build capacities of staff in the Nigerian university system in the implementation of the Blueprint on Rapid Revitalisation of University Education in Nigeria (2019-2023) which wass heralding the “Rasheed Revolution”.
He added, “NOUN is providing the technical platform and technical expertise at no cost for now to participants while resource persons for VICBHE Modules are experts drawn from all over the world”.
The Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed who is heading the governance structure of VICBHE said VICBHE was initiated by the NUC Strategy Advisory Committee (STRADVCOM).
Okebukola who is also the Chairman of the govering of the National Open University of Nigerian, NOUN, applauded the efforts of the participants, 152 of which earned distinction and thanked the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN Professor Olufemi Peters for showing once again, that NOUN is the No. 1 open and distance learning institution in Africa.
Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed in his remark, noted that it was heartwarming that since its inauguration in 2021, VICBHE has successfully completed four training modules, and the feedback from stakeholders has been superlatively encouraging.
He commended the vice-chancellors that have consistently participated in the capacity-building programmes of VICBHE and encouraged others to emulate such exemplary leadership.
Two Vice-Chancellors, Professor Ibiyinka Fuwape of Michael and Cecilia Ibru University and Professor Elisabetha Smaranda Olarinde of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUA), won special awards for earning distinction in all four modules already implemented by VICBHE. Late Dr. Maryam Sali, former Director of Accreditation of NUC was given a posthumous award as facilitator on the programme.
In his keynote address at the graduation ceremony, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos noted that management dashboards are “very important and artistic way of placing decision before management to help in taking action or deciding on what they need to do to move the university forward”.
Ogundipe underscored that readily available key performance data would help increase the reputation of universities across the country and contribute to the proper ranking of Nigerian universities globally.
He commended the efforts of VICBHE in developing the capacity of directors of academic planning and other members of the university community in essential areas.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, Professor Olufemi Peters, underscored the importance of integrating IT tools and solutions into everyday operational activities.
He noted that the beneficiaries of the concluded training programme, directors of academic planning, vice-chancellors and senior academics, would find the skills useful for their daily tasks.
In his remarks, one of the resource persons, Engr Damilola Bamiro, tasked the graduating class to focus on making an impact in their respective institutions by implementing the concepts taught in the course.
He outlined six keywords encapsulating effective data management practices: transparency, trust, efficiency, innovation, collaboration and timeliness.
He further noted that the university or organization of the future is where the vice-chancellor or chief executive looks at multiple dashboards taking inputs from different sources to make impactful decisions.
The Managing Director and CEO of the Bank of Industry (BOI), Dr. Olasupo Olusi, has called for a comprehensive curriculum overhaul in Nigerian universities to better align with global trends and equip graduates with practical skills. Speaking at the 10th special convention of the Ekiti State University Alumni Association in Abuja, Dr. Olusi highlighted the urgent need to bridge the gap between theory and practical application in Nigerian higher education.
Dr. Olusi noted that while Nigeria is rich in human and natural resources, progress in technology and economic development remains slow due to universities’ focus on theoretical knowledge over hands-on training. He emphasized that significant investments in research and technical skill development are essential for positioning Nigeria as a competitive force in the global economy.
Echoing this sentiment, Ekiti State University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ayodele, called on alumni to contribute to their alma mater, emphasizing that alumni support plays a critical role in building a strong academic foundation and fostering innovative research. The institution’s Chancellor, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, similarly urged alumni associations to prioritize initiatives that support university growth and student success.
Global President of the Ekiti State University Alumni Association, Dipo Bamisaye, stressed the need for Nigerian universities to continuously pursue excellence to remain competitive globally. Dr. Wale Jegede, Chairman of the institution’s Board of Trustees, commended the state governor for his dedication to quality education, particularly through the appointment of capable academics to guide the university’s progress.
The convention also honored notable alumni who have made significant contributions to the university’s development. Among those recognized were Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, former presidential aide Mr. Kingsley Kuku, Chancellor Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, Vice-Chancellor Professor Joseph Ayodele, and BOI MD Dr. Olasupo Olusi.
Reinforcing its commitment to the institution’s advancement, the Bank of Industry recently proposed a 2.5 billion Naira development fund to Ekiti State University, underscoring its dedication to driving growth in Nigeria’s educational sector.
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have announced a nationwide indefinite strike beginning Monday.
This decision, coordinated by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non-teaching university staff unions, is in protest of unpaid salaries withheld during a past strike involving the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) under the previous administration.
The JAC, in a circular addressed to branch chairmen of NASU and SSANU, stated that the strike, initially set for October 23, was postponed to October 27 to align with the Trade Group Council meeting held in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The document, signed by NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, cited delays from the Ministry of Finance in implementing President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive to release 50 percent of the outstanding four-month salaries.
The unions expressed frustration over the government’s perceived lack of commitment to resolve the issue, emphasizing their readiness to maintain the strike until all withheld salaries are released.
The JAC’s circular read: “We express our deepest appreciation for your steadfast commitment to the leadership and we affirm our determination to persist in this struggle until ultimate victory is secured.”
The decision highlights ongoing labor tensions in Nigeria’s education sector, as non-teaching staff urge the government to uphold previous agreements and fulfill financial obligations.
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
A professor of Political Science and former Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akoko Akungba, Prof. Nahzeem Olufemi Mimiko, has advocated reimagining as the only way to overcome challenges bedeviling Nigerian universities.
He said that reimagining was requisite to make the institutions to be competitive, and capable of driving wholesome national development
Prof. Mimiko made the remarks in a lecture at the 8th Convocation Lecture of Federal University Lokoja (FUL) on the the topic: “Reimaging Nigeria’s (University) Education For Wholesome National Development” held at Felele Campus, Lokoja.
He also identified poor funding and corruption in the system as some of the major obstacles to the nation’s university education system
Mimiko noted that corruption has assumed endemic proportion requiring reimaging, radical rethink to reposition Nigeria’s university education system away from the negative status quo.
The foremost Nigeria. Educational Administrator and the only Vice Chancellor delegate at the National Conference in Nigeria held in 2014 under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan decried what he called mediocre level of funding of universities in Nigeria.
According to him Nigeria remains one of the countries in the world that are yet to meet the UNESCO-recommended threshold for education funding, at 15 to 20 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (UNESCO, 2015)”
Prof. Mimiko noted that physical facilities for teaching and learning in the Nigeria’s tertiary education were inadequate, dilapidated, overstretched/overcrowded and improvised.
The Professor of Political Science and International Relations reiterated his stance that the dearth of basic learning resources could equally be attributed to corruption adding that majority of the universities in the country were grossly understaffed.
“I reference corruption here not just in the narrow sense as financial corruption, but also reflected in inanities like provincialism; and cultivation of crop of indolent staff.
“The only way to overcome challenges bedeviling Nigerian universities is the reimagining requisite for making these institutions to be competitive, and capable of driving wholesome national development”
Comparing university education with that of Polytechnic, Professor Mimiko recommended that university education in Nigeria should remain focused on the more conceptual dimension of the knowledge enterprise.
He said that technical education as being administered by polytechnics should be devoted to producing middle level manpower in technical competencies.
Prof. Mimiko also maintained that the nation must adopt learning and teaching in local languages for it to grow and develop adding that teaching in the local languages remain the panacea.
He stated that the nation’s present educational system where learning is done in foreign languages was counterproductive urging Nigeria to take a cue from China, India, Japan among others that teach in their local languages.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi said that the lecture is geared towards providing intellectual discuss and described the guest lecturer as erudite scholar who knows his onions.
“We are committed to celebrating our academic excellence as the topic of the lecture is very relevant to our future career and guidance
“The lecture no doubt will contribute immensely to Nigeria’s educational and economic landscape” Professor Olayemi Akinwumi said. (Ends)
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