…. As varsity graduates 634 students
From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Bamitale Omole, has called for an immediate declaration of a state of emergency in the nation’s education sector.
To this end, the former Vice-Chancellor tasked governments at all levels to invest more in education, as all the development indices of the country centre on the education sector.
Additionally, Prof. Omole urged political office holders in the country to release part of their salaries and allowances for the development of the education sector.
The former Vice-Chancellor expressed worry over the budgetary allocation of the federal government to the education sector since independence, which he said is below the 20% recommended by the United Nations.
Delivering the 10th anniversary lecture of the Ondo State-owned University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, on Wednesday, Prof. Omole noted that only a few states in the country prioritise the education of their people, as shown in their budgetary allocations, while others show little concern.
The former Vice-Chancellor spoke on “The Leviathan Debacle: Re-imagining University Education in Nigeria in an Age of Governmental Backsliding.”
According to the don, ineptitude and indifference from governments at all levels have almost destroyed the nation’s education sector.
He said the budgetary allocation to the education sector from 1960 to date is not encouraging, hence the need for the government to show more interest in the sector.
The former Vice-Chancellor attributed the poor technical know-how and lack of professionals in many fields to the government’s lack of interest in education, as reflected in the poor funding of the sector.
Omole stated that “Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore have channelled a huge percentage of their budgets to education” and advised the federal government to borrow a leaf from these countries. According to him, these nations are more developed due to their interest in education.
The development of the education sector, he said, will lead to the development of the socio-economic status of the country and bring about progress in all sectors of the economy.
“A nation that forsakes the education of the people will be backward in all areas of life. For a nation to be developed, there’s the need to develop the education sector, as education is the bedrock of transformation in life,” he stressed.
He added that “education brings enlightenment and civilization of minds, hence the need for the government to concentrate on the development of the education sector, as that is the only way through which the country can move forward.”
Omole submitted that for universities to be responsive, there is a need for a paradigm shift in the nation’s educational system.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 634 students of the Ondo State-owned University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, will graduate from the institution on Thursday.
Briefing newsmen at a pre-convocation press conference, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, disclosed that the graduands are from various departments of the university.
He revealed that 539 students shall graduate from the first degree programmes, while 95 shall graduate from the postgraduate programmes.
Giving a breakdown of the graduands, Prof. Fatusi disclosed that 34 have first-class grades, 223 have second class upper grades, 145 have second class lower grades, and nine have third class grades, while 127 will graduate with unclassified degrees.
He explained that those with unclassified degrees include 41 medical doctors, 23 dental surgeons, and 64 physiotherapists.
The Vice-Chancellor also announced that the university will confer awards on some distinguished personalities, including the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, and Chief Isaac Akintade, a past member of the university’s governing council.
The awards, he said, are in recognition of the meritorious contributions of the awardees to the growth and development of the university.
He further disclosed that the university’s first Ph.D. graduate, Sunday Olarewaju, will receive his degree at the convocation ceremony, which will take place at the university’s main campus on Thursday.