Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia has been awarded an honorary doctorate degree, by the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, Sierra Leone.
Alia disclosed this through his social media handle to share the news with his supporters, expressing happiness that, “I am delighted to announce that today, the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, Sierra Leone, found me worthy of an honorary doctorate degree. I extend my appreciation to the entire leadership and staff of the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, Sierra Leone.”
At the 5th congregational ceremony for the conferment of degrees and award of diplomas and certificates to the 2022/2023 graduands of the university, in Magbura, Sierra Leone, Governor Alia, identified public/private partnership as a potential solution to the challenges of financing higher education in Africa.
He said the challenges of financing higher education in Africa have become daunting, stressing on the increasing nature of financial constraints faced by educational institutions, and the rising tuition fees that students and their families are facing to grapple with.
“In today’s rapidly evolving world, challenges of financing higher education have become daunting. educational institutions face increasing financial constraints, while students and their families grapple with rising tuition fees,” he said.
He said limited public funding, in addition to increasing students’ demands, has placed so much pressure on institutions, and threatens the quality and accessibility of education, which according to him, the public/private partnership, has emerged as a potential solution to sustain and enhance the quality of higher education in Africa.
The governor had a stint at the famous St. Joseph of Moriado Formation House, Makeni where he met with some seminarians of the Roman Catholic Church, and the head of the Formation House, Novice Master Bruno, in Sierra Leone.
He also participated in the feast day celebration of Michael Tansi Quasi Parish, Goderich Barracks, and was treated to dinner at the house of Most Rev Dr. Edward Tamba Charles, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Freetown.
