AIYEDATIWA CHARTS NEW COURSE FOR HIGHER INSTITUTIONS FUNDING, SECURITY , GOVERNANCE

The Ondo State Government has identified a decentralised governance model that empowers higher institutions with greater decision making authority as the panacea for enhanced delivery of the institutions

The State Governor, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa made this position known at the opening of an international conference with the theme ‘New Trajectory in Higher Education Governance, Security and Funding in Africa’ held at the Public Service Training Institute, PSTI, Ilara-Mokin on Wednesday.

While acknowledging inadequate funding administrative deficiencies and emerging security threats as some of the challenges limiting optimal performance at the institutions across Africa, Governor Aiyedatiwa, who was represented at the event by the Head of Service, Bayo Philip, advocated for the constitution of Governing Councils composed of diverse stakeholders from the academic, industry and community leaders.

Addressing the emerging security issues, he hinted that his administration has put in place a new security architecture in all higher institutions to reduce acts of criminality and cyber vulnerability as well as invested   in campus policing.

He stressed the need for additional alternative sources of funding such as Public-Private Partnership, Alumni endowment and foreign grants for the institutions if they must function effectively and deliver on their mandate, adding that the instructions too must devise means to improve their internally generated revenue leveraging on their research.

‘Towards making our ivory towers to function effectively and deliver on their mandate, there is the need for diversified funding streams. Government alone cannot bear the enormous responsibility.’ He said.

‘It is my position that this conference must not merely be a platform for discourse, it must be a launchpad for actions and results. I challenge every leader, academic and policymaker here today to move beyond theoretical solutions and commit to actionable strategies.’

‘Let us reimagine funding models
that liberate our institutions from financial constraints. Let us recommend decisive strategies and action plans that will dismantle governance bottlenecks that hinders progress in our institutions. I also charge you all to examine and deliver robust security frameworks that will protect our campuses as sanctuaries of knowledge.’ The governor concluded.

Earlier in his remarks, the Director General of the institute, Dr Olumide Asere the desire to bridge the gap between the community and the tertiary institutions necessitated putting the conference together by PSTI in collaboration with the Olusungun Agagu University of Technology, OAUSTECH, Okitipupa, expressing optimism that the outcome would address some of the problems in the education sector.

Also speaking at the event, the OAUSTECH Vice Chancellor Prof. Ologunorisa lauded the collaboration with the PSTI, saying it was one of the ways of achieving his dream of linking the government, the institution and the industry.

This, according to Ologunorisa informed his establishment of the OAUSTECH Leadership Academy upon his assumption of office as the University Vice Chancellor to train the next generation of leaders. He called on participants to make good use of the opportunity provided by the conference.

Sina Adeyeye,
Director Information,
Office of the HOS