By Gami Tadanyigbe
The Accademic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has offered over five hundred thousand Naira worth of grants to some of its members across the various public universities in the country.
Emmanuel Osadeke, President of the Union made this known on Tuesday, during the celebration of past and present heroes at the ASUU Secretariat in Gwagwalada Abuja.
According to him, the Grants of five hundred thousand Naira per recipient are based on rigorous assessment of their proposals by experts in their various disciplines.
The President said it is a day specialy aside by the great Union to honor members who made great sacrifices for the Nigeria Educational system in general and the Nigerian public university system in particular.
“The choice of this date is not happenstance rather informed by the history of our Unions relentless struggles against powers and principalities bent on destroying the system.
“On 12th November 2013, at the peak of one of such struggles and in a most bizarre circumstances we lost a brilliant scholar, revolutionary intellectual, quintessential Administrator, litery icon, great patriot and past President of our union, Comrade Festus Iyayi.
“A professor of Business Administration in an accident involving the convoy of the then Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Ichala Wada (Rtd).
Prof. Suleiman Bala Mohammed, Former Vice-Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in his paper presentation said gains of ASUU’s struggles have been hard-won, and they must be defended with vigilance.
Sharpedgenews.com reports that the paper presentation is titled “The Gains of Accademic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Struggles in The Context of Deepening State Intervention in Universities By Governors in Nigeria.”
According to him, the deepening state intervention in universities, particularly by state governors, presents both opportunities and challenges.
While state governments have a role to play in ensuring that universities are adequately funded and aligned with the needs of society, this role must not come at the expense of university autonomy and academic freedom.
“As we move forward, ASUU must continue to advocate for a university system that is free from political interference, well-funded, and accountable to the public.
“This is the only way to ensure that Nigerian universities remain centers of excellence, where knowledge is created, shared, and applied for the benefit of humanity.
“Let us draw inspiration from the heroes who have come before us, and let us commit ourselves to the ongoing struggle for a better future for Nigerian universities,” he said.