Vice President of Nigeria, yemi osinbajoHe has advised the country’s universities to explore private funding as an alternative to government interventions, saying doing so is vital to the sustainability of academic institutions.
Mr Osinbajo was speaking Tuesday at the official opening of the auditorium donated to the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Ibadan School of Public Health by the Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation.
According to the vice president, the Nigerian government’s annual budget is inadequate to meet national development needs, urging universities to “embark on aggressive marketing to meet their needs rather than blame the government for all their shortcomings.”
Mr Osinbajo also praised UI’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics for its past role in the Nigerian food chain, even as he urged the department to become more involved in research “that is in synergy with the needs of relevant government agencies.” .
Represented by State Government Secretary Olubanwo Adeosun, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State thanked the foundation for the donation, noting that Mr. Adebutu is “a philanthropic Nigerian who donates generously regardless of the political or religious affiliations of the beneficiaries”.
Appreciation
The rector of the university, Kayode Adebowale, represented by his deputy in charge of Administration, Ezekiel Ayoola, thanked the donor organization and assured that the auditorium will be put to good use and maintenance.
He noted that “the project was particularly significant and commendable at a time like this in which the Federal Universities required all the support they could get from all sectors.”
In her remarks, the Chancellor of the Faculty of Medicine, Olayinka Omigbodun, urged the government to “relax its policies like the TSA, which are strangling research efforts at universities.”
ALSO READ: Buhari, others salute Osinbajo at book launch in honor of VP
He also urged the government to transform universities to discourage brain drain.
KAAF Auditorium
Kola Oyefeso, who delivered Mr. Adebutu’s message, noted that the foundation was established when the donor turned 70 in 2005.
He said the foundation is “a special purpose vehicle to give back to society,” especially in education, healthcare provision, job creation and religious institutions, among others.
The 250-seat KAAF Auditorium is said to have been built at a total cost of N315 million.
He said it is fully air-conditioned with multimedia facilities: a 150 KVA generator with a 10 KV backup inverter connected to solar panels and a 15 KVA lithium battery.
The interim head of the beneficiary department, Oluyemisi Folasire, assured that the auditorium would be a space dedicated to giving lectures, presentations, speeches and performances to large audiences, facilitating effective communication, knowledge sharing and community participation.