Clement Idoko, Author at Tribune Online

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has ordered the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and other relevant agencies of government to go after illegal tertiary institutions so as to safeguard the education sector from quack and fake institutions, warning that the integrity of the nation’s academic system must not be compromised. He specifically directed the agencies to ensure that the activities of certificate millers are checked and put to a stop permanently while reaffirming the commitment of his administration towards improving the quality of education delivery in the country. The president gave the directive on Saturday at the 14th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja, where Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives were conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degrees. While Adesina was conferred with the Honorary Doctorate Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) (Honoris Causa), Abbas bagged Honorary Doctorate Degree of Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) (Honoris Causa). The convocation ceremony also witnessed the graduation of 51 inmates from different correctional centres across the country. While 41 were undergraduates, 10 were postgraduates students. The President who was represented by Hajiya Rakiya Gambo Ilyasu, Director of Universities Education, also charged universities to evolve innovative policies to ensure that graduates are well-prepared for the world of work, equipped with both academic excellence and the critical soft skills needed for success in today’s digital world. He noted that internationally, economies are shifting towards knowledge-based systems and Nigeria must not be left behind, highlighting urgent need for emphasis on innovation and digital skills. He emphasised the need to put an end to proliferation of illegal universities and other tertiary institutions in the country. “At this juncture, it has become imperative to reiterate that this administration remains committed to strengthening the integration of all agencies involved in the administration of education to enhance efficiency and quality.” “The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) are working in alignment to improve the quality of education and ensure that cases of forgery and unrecognized institutions both within and outside the country have no place in our education ecosystem. “I therefore charge the heads of these agencies to remain steadfast in upholding government’s resolution to safeguard our education sector from quack and fake institutions as the integrity of our academic system must not be compromised and that the activities of certificate millers are checked and put to a stop permanently,” he stated. President Tinubu also charged the National Open University of Nigeria to take the lead in building a digitally skilled workforce that would drive Nigeria’s economic growth and global competitiveness, saying NOUN holds the potential to shape the future of Nigeria’s education and modern-day skills development. He equally called on the management of NOUN to ensure transition of the institution into a fully online university in light of its expertise and mastery of Open and Distance Learning (ODL). “I am therefore directing that the University take its delivery system to the fullest potential by embracing technology holistically. This transition requires NOUN to fully leverage cutting-edge digital tools to enhance accessibility, flexibility, and the overall quality of education,” he said. READ ALSO: Tinubu orders crackdown on transnational car thieves, cybercriminals