THE need to find an urgent solution to the frequent industrial actions and other problems bedeviling the nation’s tertiary institutions was on the front burner yesterday at the 16th convocation ceremony of Igbinedion University, Okada, Ovia North East local government area of Edo state.
At the ceremony, former Ghanaian President John Mahama Dramani was conferred with an doctorate of letters while Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo bagged the honorary doctorate of law and the Edo state chairman of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih was awarded the honorary doctorate of Political Science.
The chancellor of the university, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion called on the government to strive to get close to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Research Organisation (UNESCO) prescription of 25 per cent budgetary allocation to education.
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Igbinedion appealed to the federal government to find a lasting solution to perennial strikes which are now the trademark of the nation’s tertiary institutions.
The Esama of Benin said that it was worrisome that school kids in Nigeria still sits on the floor and under the shade of trees to learn.
He said: “The government should find a solution to the present cases of strikes in our tertiary institutions. Any country that toys with its education has no future for the children.”
Speaking in the same vein, the pro-chancellor, Prof. Sheikh Ahmed Abdullahi tasked the federal government on the need to critically look into all issues between it and the Academic Staff Union Universities (ASUU) in order to stop the current industrial action by the union.
University dons are currently on a nationwide strike over poor funding of public universities and improved conditions of service.
Abdullahi lamented that there is no doubt that the nation cannot quantify loses it incurs, each time the union goes on nationwide strike.
The pro-chancellor advised: “The government therefore, should find a lasting solution to all cases of industrial actions because such incidences are signs of under development. Nigeria as a former colony of Britain should look up to its master. We rarely hear of cases of workers in Britain and the United States embarking on industrial actions.”
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Dramani said that the recognition will further strengthen the bond of unity between Ghana and Nigeria which share the same history being colonies of Britain.
Being the two largest economies in the West African subregion, the former Ghanaian president remarked that the two countries should work closely together and be the engine of growth of the subregion.
The vice-chancellor, Prof Lawrence Ezemonye disclosed that all the courses at the school have been duly accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
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