NUC boss, Rasheed, to speak on ‘future of higher education in Nigeria’ at UNIFEMGA’s national reunion

THE Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Rasheed, will on Saturday, May 13, deliver the 2023 annual national reunion lecture of the Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

A statement by the chairman of the planning committee of the reunion, Mohammed Buari and the association’s Public Relations Officer, Samsudeen Adenopo, said the three-day conference, of which the lecture is a part, will hold at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, from Friday, May 12, to Sunday, May 14.

According to the statement, the NUC boss will speak on the theme, ‘The Future of Higher Education in Nigeria: Emerging Trends, Challenges and Opportunities’, at the conference where the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, will be the royal father of the day.

It said Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN) will chair the occasion on Saturday with the university’s vice chancellor, Professor Adebayo Bamire, as the host.

There will be a networking dinner on Friday, May 12, to be hosted by the chairman the Board of Trustees (BoT) of UNIFEMGA and pro-chancellor of Summit University, Offa, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, with Dr Akintoye Akindele as the guest speaker and Alhaji Munirudeen Animasahun, chairman, the statement said.

It added: “The topic for discussion is ‘Entrepreneurship and the Future of Work’.

“The dinner will hold at Ifeloju Hall at OAU, Ile-Ife, from 9.00 p.m.

“The reunion activities will commence with a special Jumat service at the OAU Central Mosque, inauguration of an ultramodern library donated to UNIFEMGA in memory of the late Baba Adinni of OAU Muslim Community, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, by his children within the mosque premises, a courtesy call on the new vice chancellor and a welcome reception for all delegates.

“Other lined-up activities include presentation of scholarship grants to students of the university, Annual General Meeting as well as BHQ AGM meeting.

“Other highlights of the three-day conference include keep-fit exercise, novelty match among the branches, family retreat and children’s visit to OAU National History Museum as well as a press conference on Sunday.”

UNIFEMGA National President, Alhaji Abdulfattah Olanlege, said this year’s reunion will be used to find a lasting solution to incessant crisis in the education sector and take stock of UNIFEMGA’s contributions to the university and the society at large.

Over 200 delegates from all branches, including those in the Diaspora, will participate in the conference.ax