‘Role of universities in democracy, good governance vital’

THE role of Nigerian universities in the sustainability of democracy and good governance has been described as vital.

Head of Department of History, University of Ibadan, Professor Olutayo Adesina, made the submission while featuring as a guest speaker during the maiden University Lecture of Dominion University, Ibadan, titled:’Democracy and Good Governance in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects’ on Friday.

Adesina noted that: “The universities are expected to begin to fulfil their mandate of training the young minds and in training these young minds, we expect them also to accede to leadership positions that would enable them to also play role in the national scheme of things.

“Also, the universities are not supposed to be only for certificates but also to make sure that this generation is well-placed and well-positioned to play significant roles in nation-building.”

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He further stated that: “Historically, the universities had always been at the forefront of human progress. Right now, our governments dismiss with a wave of the hand the intellectual agendas of Nigerian Universities. Our universities are neither respected nor well-funded.

“The entire education sector itself is seen as a plaything. This is because the government has no need of the knowledge produced by the sector. Already, the sector has been buffeted by structural inequities that have defined access,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of Dominion University, Professor Theophilus Ebijuwa, while speaking on the reason the university organised its maiden lecture few months after take-off and choice of the topic, he said: “The main direction of the university is to raise generational leaders. And in raising generational leaders, we are of the opinion that our students need to know more about leadership.

“Leadership cannot be separated from the idea of democracy and good governance so in trying to relate the two, we are of the opinion that while we are planning to raise generational leaders we feel that our students should have a feel of what is happening in the society especially as it has to do with the current practice of democracy in Nigeria.”

Chancellor of the university, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, while speaking shortly after the lecture, posited that for any nation to thrive, there must be peace, the economy must be vibrant, there must be quality education for the younger ones and godliness.