Nigerian universities should move from their traditional role of being ‘ivory tower' where knowledge is pursued for its own sake without it being attuned to the immediate needs and developmental aspirations of the society, Nigeria's former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar has said.Mr. Abubakar spoke over the weekend at the 5th annual founder's day of the American University of Nigeria, which he founded in 2005.
Speaking on the theme, "Nigeria at 50, AUN at 5, : The Role of Universities in Solving Societies problem," Mr. Abubakar said the country's attainment of the golden age of 50 is worth celebrating, adding that the country has come to stay.
"My position has always been that despite the current challenges, the fact that the various nationalities that make up the country have been together for this long despite occasional hiccups is worth celebrating," he said."Can you imagine 50 years of marriage without break up?
This is not to say that the generalized frustration and rising incidence of poverty, epileptic power supply, dilapidated infrastructure, collapse education and pervasive insecurity are not justified, though." Linking the challenges facing the nation to the ill-preparedness of the country's universities to provide solution to the challenges, he stressed the need for universities to be transformed to developmental institutions to help arrest the decay in the country.
He said his disenchantment with the country's tertiary education system, which he described as an "atmosphere where scholars engage in intellectual pursuit but are disconnected from the practical concerns of everyday life" was the main reason for the establishment of the AUN, which he called a "developmental university" that which seeks to take active participation in nation building.
Mr Abubakar said the distinction between the traditional and developmental university lies in the "consciousness" with which actively pursues its mission and of being an active partner in the development process.
"In a developmental university for instance, teaching and research are organized in such a way as to consciously meet the development needs of a country" Mr. Abubakar said.
Unaffordable luxury
Mr. Abubakar said the notion of universities as ivory towers is a luxury we cannot afford and called for universities in the country to move from their roles of being traditional universities to one where they become "active partners in both economic development and the nation building processes".
This founder's day was performed alongside the inauguration of the institution's third president, Margee Ensign. She joined the AUN in July 2010 from the University of the Pacific, California, where she was dean of the school of international studies.
Ms. Ensign, who said her appointment is a great leap,announced the establishment of an International centre for development and entrepreneur solutions and is to be named after its founder, Mr. Abubakar.
Those at the event are the deputy governor of Adamawa state, Bala James Ngillari; the Lamido of Adamawa,Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa; Bamanga Tukur; Ibrahim Bapetel; Dubem Onyia and Maxwell Gidado, among others.
Ahmed Joda, chairman of the university's Board of Trustees, said he was optimistic the AUN would play a critical role in the country's development.
Mr Ngillari said his adoption of the views espoused by Mr. Abubakar has made him a friend of the University.
Source:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5645069-147/atiku_challenges_universities_on_nation_building.csp
Speaking on the theme, "Nigeria at 50, AUN at 5, : The Role of Universities in Solving Societies problem," Mr. Abubakar said the country's attainment of the golden age of 50 is worth celebrating, adding that the country has come to stay.
"My position has always been that despite the current challenges, the fact that the various nationalities that make up the country have been together for this long despite occasional hiccups is worth celebrating," he said."Can you imagine 50 years of marriage without break up?
This is not to say that the generalized frustration and rising incidence of poverty, epileptic power supply, dilapidated infrastructure, collapse education and pervasive insecurity are not justified, though." Linking the challenges facing the nation to the ill-preparedness of the country's universities to provide solution to the challenges, he stressed the need for universities to be transformed to developmental institutions to help arrest the decay in the country.
He said his disenchantment with the country's tertiary education system, which he described as an "atmosphere where scholars engage in intellectual pursuit but are disconnected from the practical concerns of everyday life" was the main reason for the establishment of the AUN, which he called a "developmental university" that which seeks to take active participation in nation building.
Mr Abubakar said the distinction between the traditional and developmental university lies in the "consciousness" with which actively pursues its mission and of being an active partner in the development process.
"In a developmental university for instance, teaching and research are organized in such a way as to consciously meet the development needs of a country" Mr. Abubakar said.
Unaffordable luxury
Mr. Abubakar said the notion of universities as ivory towers is a luxury we cannot afford and called for universities in the country to move from their roles of being traditional universities to one where they become "active partners in both economic development and the nation building processes".
This founder's day was performed alongside the inauguration of the institution's third president, Margee Ensign. She joined the AUN in July 2010 from the University of the Pacific, California, where she was dean of the school of international studies.
Ms. Ensign, who said her appointment is a great leap,announced the establishment of an International centre for development and entrepreneur solutions and is to be named after its founder, Mr. Abubakar.
Those at the event are the deputy governor of Adamawa state, Bala James Ngillari; the Lamido of Adamawa,Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa; Bamanga Tukur; Ibrahim Bapetel; Dubem Onyia and Maxwell Gidado, among others.
Ahmed Joda, chairman of the university's Board of Trustees, said he was optimistic the AUN would play a critical role in the country's development.
Mr Ngillari said his adoption of the views espoused by Mr. Abubakar has made him a friend of the University.
Source:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5645069-147/atiku_challenges_universities_on_nation_building.csp
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