The federal authorities has ordered the Nationwide Universities Fee (NUC), the Nationwide Board for Technical Schooling (NBTE), and different related authorities companies to clamp down on unlawful tertiary establishments to guard the sector from quackery.
It particularly directed the companies to make sure that the actions of certificates mills are completely put to an finish.
President Bola Tinubu said this on the 14th convocation ceremony of the Nationwide Open College of Nigeria (NOUN).
Tinubu, who was represented by the Director of College Schooling, Hajiya Rakiya Ilyasu, emphasised that the integrity of the nation’s tutorial system should not be compromised.
He charged universities with implementing modern insurance policies that guarantee graduates are well-prepared for the workforce and geared up with tutorial excellence and important mushy expertise for achievement in immediately’s digital world.
Tinubu famous that globally, economies are shifting towards knowledge-based methods, and Nigeria should not be left behind.
He highlighted the pressing must prioritise innovation and digital expertise whereas stressing the necessity to finish the nation’s proliferation of unlawful universities and different tertiary establishments.
“At this juncture, it has turn into crucial to reiterate that this administration stays dedicated to strengthening the combination of all companies concerned within the administration of training to boost effectivity and high quality.
“The Nationwide Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), NUC, NBTE, and the Nationwide Fee for Schools of Schooling (NCCE) are collaborating to enhance the standard of training and be certain that instances of forgery and unrecognised establishments, each inside and outdoors the nation, are eradicated from our training system.
“The integrity of our tutorial system should not be compromised, and the actions of certificates mills have to be checked and completely stopped,” he said.
President Tinubu additionally tasked NOUN to take the lead in constructing a digitally expert workforce to drive Nigeria’s financial progress and international competitiveness, noting that the establishment has the potential to form the way forward for training and expertise improvement within the nation.
He referred to as on the college’s administration to transition NOUN into a totally on-line establishment, leveraging its Open and Distance Studying (ODL) experience.
He pledged his administration’s assist for training via data know-how to boost studying.
“By way of strategic interventions, we’re making certain that training stays inclusive and technologically pushed,” he added.
He disclosed that the federal authorities, via the Tertiary Schooling Belief Fund (TETFund), is financing the set up of fibre optics infrastructure at NOUN to offer seamless web entry for college kids at research centres nationwide.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, mentioned the convocation was held concurrently in Abuja and throughout the 36 state centres.
He disclosed {that a} whole of 17,420 college students, comprising 10,967 undergraduates and 6,413 postgraduates, graduated from the varied colleges.
He added that the college’s dedication to fairness and equal alternative is clear in its efforts to advertise lifelong studying and widen entry, particularly for inmates in correctional centres.
Up to now, 139 inmates have benefited from NOUN’s scholarship programmes throughout undergraduate and postgraduate ranges.
He urged the graduating college students to uphold integrity, pursue excellence, and use their training to influence society positively.
He inspired them to stay linked to their alma mater by actively supporting the college’s improvement efforts, each individually and collectively.
The convocation additionally noticed the commencement of 51 inmates from completely different correctional centres throughout the nation, comprising 41 undergraduates and 10 postgraduate college students.
