The executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, has stressed the need for Nigerian universities to reposition themselves as hubs for education, research, and innovation.
He said there’s a need for Nigerian universities to respond positively to global changes in the education sector to enhance the development of higher education in the country.
He added that the response to the shifts in the changing world of education must include rethinking new ways of funding universities and new ways of teaching and learning.
Ribadu stated this in a keynote address he delivered at the 3rd KU8+ international conference themed : ” Innovation and Sustainability of Higher Education in a Changing World,” held at the Kwara State University( KWASU ), Malete.
Represented by former acting vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Ademola Ekanola, the NUC boss also tasked the universities with ensuring that they produce graduates capable of solving the nation’s developmental challenges by rethinking functions and aligning themselves with society’s needs.
According to the chairman of the local organising committee and KWASU deputy vice chancellor, Prof.Olubukola Dada, the conference, billed for 6th—8th August, this year alone received over 1,200 abstracts covering all 25 sub-themes from across every geopolitical zone in Nigeria and beyond.
“Of this impressive number, 1,089 abstracts were accepted for presentation, a testament to the depth and quality of scholarship within our network. Over 650 participants have registered to attend this conference, both virtually and on-site”, she said.
In his welcome address, Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), chairman of the KU8+ Consortium and vice chancellor of the University of Ilorin, urged the consortium to leverage partnerships to achieve the goals for which the various universities were established.
“In a world marked by rapid change, complex challenges, and increasing interconnectedness, no university, no institution, can thrive in isolation. The future of quality education, impactful research, and sustainable development lies in partnership — in our ability to move forward by moving together”, he said.
The vice chancellor of KWASU, Prof. Shaykh Luqman- Jimoh, said the “conference, like the ones before it, reflects the intentional efforts of the KU8+ Consortium to embrace global trends and take bold steps in sustaining higher education for future generations”.
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