The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Florence Obi, has called on the government at all levels to prioritise the funding of university education in Nigeria.
Prof. Obi made the call while speaking at the 7th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors that was jointly hosted by the Vice-Chancellors of Lagos State University, Lagos State University of Education and Lagos State University of Science and Technology.
The VC said that adequate funding of Education in Nigeria will harness the country’s human capacity for technology development.
According to her, developed nations of the world appropriate adequate funding for the education sector as they know the benefits thereof.
She noted that the budgets of some top-ranking universities in the world were more than the budgets of some countries.
She, however, cautioned that university administrators should be prudent and transparent in managing the scarce resources of their universities to build more confidence in the government to invest more in the university system as well as corporate organisations and individuals who are interested in supporting universities.
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The conference, which attracted Commissioners of Education across the states, state universities Vice-Chancellors and many distinguished Nigerians, was chaired by Sen. Joshua Lidani, Chairman of the Pro-Chancellors’ Committee and Pro-Chancellor of Gombe State University.
Other speakers at the conference include; Prof. Julius Okojie and Prof. Peter Okebukola, both former Executive Secretaries of NUC; Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary General, Committee of Vice-Chancellors, Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, Prof. Dayo Asaju all former Vice-Chancellors and Prof. Nuhu Oneida Yaqub, a former Vice-Chancellor who was the keynote speaker.
Other speakers at the conference were; the immediate past Chief of Staff to former President Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara.