By Chinonye Anyatonwu
Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, has called for more investment in Open Universities in the country and expansion of capacities of tertiary institutions.
The Vice President who was represented by the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo made this call at the 20th Convocation of the Igbinedion University, Okada
The Vice President said “expansion of tertiary institutions would accommodate more youths who constitute 70 percent of the country’s population”
He also inferred that the expansion would also enhance and engender quality and healthy competition with foreign tertiary institutions.
“As a nation, we must Invest in more Open Universities. With the number of youths accounting for about 70 per cent of our population, we cannot overemphasize the need to expand the capacity of our tertiary education landscape cost-effectively.
“According to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in 2019, the carrying capacity across our Tertiary Institutions stood at 750,000 while no fewer than 1.9 million candidates apply yearly.
“There is need to encourage Transnational Education by deliberately attracting top foreign Universities across the world to set up their campuses in Nigeria.
“This will enhance quality and engender healthy competition with tertiary institutions around the world,” he said.
Referencing the former Prime Minister, Republic of Guinea, Sambo said it is no longer news that the world is a Global village and that universities across Africa must align with international best practices.
“This will help to deliver standards and qualitative education to their students. Anything short of this, our continent would be uncompetitive,” he added.
The Vice President said tertiary education sector like other industries has several governing bodies and agencies dedicated to ensuring that quality and standards are maintained.
He subsequently called on governing bodies and agencies to efficiemtly contribute their quota towards ensuring world class tertiary institutions are operated in the country.
