The Federal Government has been tasked to redouble its efforts in the funding of universities in the country.
A former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola made this call recently, adding that the poor funding of the universities in the nation, accounts for their lack of relevance in the society.
He was speaking Mountain Top University’s third lecture titled: “More Investment, More Harvest: Agenda for Enhancing Social Responsibility of Nigerian Universities,” held in Lagos State.
According to him, FG’s efforts at tackling climate change, food, national, health and security challenges would fail if such is not done.
“Proprietors and managers of Nigerian universities,” he said, “”will need to at least quadruple the financial investment in the institutions to give hope that there will be a doubling of the scores on social relevance.”
Recall that poor funding has been one of the major reasons why the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), cites for going on industrial action – a development which has crippled the educational calendar.