Yilwatda Lauds Education Reforms In Akwa Ibom

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, has described the efforts of Akwa Ibom State governor, Umo Eno, at transforming the facilities and quality of outputs at the Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU), as highly impressive and exemplary, and a good signpost of his administration’s reforms in the education sector.

Prof Yilwatda, who was in the state to give the convocation lecture at the Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU), Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin local government area, made the remarks while responding to questions from newsmen upon his arrival at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo.

He said, “I’m very impressed with what I saw there in terms of the quality of infrastructure the quality of the lecturers and the upgrading of the university to give it a first class stature.”

Prof Yilwatda commended Governor Eno “for his remarkable investment in the institution to make it one of the best universities to reckon with in Nigeria.”

While delivering his lecture as part of the university’s combined 6th, 7th and 8th convocation ceremonies, Prof Yilwatda launched a Research Endowment of N100 million to motivate quality researches among students.

In the Lecture titled, “Leveraging Emerging Technology to Enhance University Education and National Development,” Prof Yilwatda urged Akwa Ibom State to invest in algorithm to develop its human capacity in order to diversify its economic sources and strength.

He challenged the management of the university to run a world-class university that exists locally but operates globally.

According to Prof Yilwatda, four factors that make a university truly universal include international visibility, employability of its graduates in a digital economy, research approach and the quality of teaching and learning.

In his welcome address, the vice chancellor of the university, Prof Otoabasi Akpan, appreciated Prof Yilwatda for honouring the institution’s invitation to deliver the convocation lecture.

Prof Akpan also thanked Governor Umo Eno for turning the university around through improved facilities, upgrade of programmes and quality staff maintenance.

He disclosed that in terms of standard, the Akwa Ibom State University, with the student population of over 15,000 and staff strength of about 1,500, ranks first among state universities in the South-South region; 4th position amongst all universities in the South-South region and 23rd place in the list of Nigerian universities.