By Undie arnd Marian .
In order to stem the tide of certificate racketeering and reposition the nations tertiary institutions, the House of Representatives has mandated it’s joint Committees on Education to probe the lot in the tertiary institutions and sanitize it for optimal productivity.
This Special Intervention Joint committee is chaired by Hon.Abubakar H Fulake, and Co-Chaired by Hon.Wole Oke, and recently held it’s seating at the House Conference Room 231.
Stakeholders who attended the sitting were drawn from diverse interests in sectors including the Ministry of foreign Affairs, Immigration and various Vice chancellors of universities in Nigeria to investigate the academic sector, and stem the scourge in the educational development of Nigeria.
Speaking at the sitting, Prof. Francisca Oladipo, the Vice Chancellor Thomas Adewunmi university remarked that the Excellency that the Nigerian youths are looking for in overseas Universities is here in the country, “just that most of them travelled for the sake of Japa syndrome”
Speaking further, she said, if they can afford going to study abroad on their own, there is no challenge, but enjoys them to bring back their wealth of knowledge to develop Nigeria. Talking about synergy between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Foreign Affairs, Prof Olafipo said, there have been synergy in existence, sighting example of when she was teaching in Uganda, said Nigerian students certificates are cleared by the Federal Ministry of Education before been admitted into the universities in Uganda.
On his part, Engr.Prof Abdulrahman A. Salawu, the Vice Chancellor, Conference University of Science and Technology, Osara, Kogi State, commended the House Joint committee of Education, for the oversight function investigating all alleged fake corticate racketeering from neighboring Countries with the aim of ensuing that graduates are worth their onions in order no to have adverse effects on our development.
He advised the committee to partner with the state security services because they can do underground checks and uncover those institutions and personalities involved in certificate racketeering.
Similarly, Prof. Aniekan Efiiong, representing the Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said the Committee’s oversight function, was worthwhile, because it aimed at ensuring quality control interms of funding of the universities. Prof. Efiong who commended the Federal government for financial support for federal universities, also advised for Increased funding so as to tacking the myriads of challenges confronting the educational sector particularly the tertiary institutions.
The erudite Professor is of the view that since the Private Universities may not be benefiting from the Federal funds, it beholves on Private institutions to look inwards and improve on their facilities in order to ensure that their students comes out better than even those in the public institutions.
Other Stakeholders in attendance were Jelwel Ojuade Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin; Prof, Matawali Ajagana Director, Borno State University, Academic planning, represented Prof, Babagana Gutti. Prof..Saleh Abdullahi of Benham University. Prof Williams Oluwale Adebayo Deputy Vice Chancellors (Academic) Ekiti State University Ado-Ekiti.
The media interaction was capturned by the members of the National Assembly Independent Publishers Covering the senate and the House of Representatives.