He asserted that universities, by their very nature, are to produce ideas, raise the best leaders and be places where students could build and sustain academic excellence.
Prof Jerry Gana, a former minister of Information and National Orientation, has stated that many universities In Nigeria are still lacking basic facilities.
He asserted that universities, by their very nature, are to produce ideas, raise the best leaders and be places where students could build and sustain academic excellence.
Gana made this known in Abuja while speaking during the inauguration of the 74-man project implementation committee of the planned University of public relations and leadership university in Nasarawa State.
The elder statesman explained that a good university has to be first rated by infrastructure for research, adding that a number of Nigerian universities unfortunately lacked facilities and amenities for the students.
He said; “Good university has to be first rated by infrastructure for research; teaching in a class that is meant for about 30 people, 300 should not be put there. This is happening in a number of universities in Nigeria because of lack of facilities. Students are sitting on the windows taking lectures.
“I thank God I never saw anything like that when I was a lecturer. We used to have some of the best, but these days they’ve been reduced to the various minimums. Please, we must not go for that.
“There must be very much, provision of infrastructure for teaching and research. Again, I’ve given a number of very good ideas from universities that have really excelled.
“Good university must also embrace technology and innovation in teaching, learning and research that can be the subject of a whole lecture. This is the wall of innovation.
“Technology is the thing now, and therefore this public relations and leadership University might be the center of embracing technology in innovation, in teaching and learning and research, very important. We must therefore have both our students and staff very versatile, very, much in tune with the new technology.
“There must be continuous improvement and evaluation, continuous achieving academic excellence requires tenacity of purpose and very strong commitment to very high standards. Sustaining academic excellence in a world class university system requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses faculty development, research, innovation, student engagement, technology driven teaching and the learning skills.”
At the event, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) announced plans to establish a public relations and leadership university in Nasarawa State.
The Chairman of NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, said it would be situated in Nasarawa because the government offered a suitable location. Noting that the idea of Nasarawa was greeted with criticism as most stakeholders preferred the FCT.
