THE Federal Government has said that it
was taking serious consideration at
reintroducing compulsory hostel
accommodation at universities, stressing that
the system in the past contributed to a better
and quality students.

The Executive Secretary of Nigerian
Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius
Okojie, who disclosed this while representing
President Muhammadu Buhari at the 21st
convocation ceremony of University of Uyo
(UNIUYO) at the weekend, said this has
become expedient, as it would address the
dwindling quality of graduates being
produced from these tertiary institutions.
Also, the NUC boss explained that
government was also taking seriously the
issue of reducing the lecturer/student ratio
and reinventing the universities to become
centres of inventions.
He, therefore, challenged lecturers in the
country’s institutions of higher learning to
do more in the area of researches that would
be of great benefit to Nigerians, adding that
a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree would
soon become the least qualification for all
academic members of staff of the country’s
universities.

He tasked managements of universities on
accountability and prudence in the
applications of funds, urging them to
endeavour to build synergies with state
governments, public and private institutions
and organisations to address some of their
challenges.

According to Prof. Okojie, universities in the
country did not fare well in the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) but assured that
shortcomings of the country’s tertiary
institutions would be carried over to the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Addressing the Visitor and graduands of the
university, the Vice Chancellor of UNIUYO,
Prof. Comfort Ekpo, expressed satisfaction
with the progress made by the university
during her tenure, noting that the university
has become the 10th most preferred
university in the country with more than
40,000 applicants selecting it in the 2015
UME examinations while it was given an
admission quota of 6,659 during the period.
The university, she also stated, is currently
ranked as the 55th best in Africa in 2015
with 98 per cent of its programmes having
full accreditation.

“All these progress was made possible
because we have maintained a high
academic standard. Ninety-eight per cent of
our academic programmes have been
accredited by the National Universities
Commission, including Pharmacy, which
always had problems in the past having full
accreditation status while we are working
on getting accreditation for Efik/Ibibio.
“The university had had full accreditation
for seven years with seven programmes
presented for accreditation recently found
worthy to be accredited. We have also
played host to international conferences and
lectures attracting resource persons from
across the globe.

“Eighty per cent of our academic members
of staff have at least Masters degrees while
we have also strengthened our student
support programme with 41 indigent but
brilliant students benefitting from the
programme since 2013”, she said.
She commended the university Senate and
the two management teams during her
tenure for the complementary role they
played, saying that she would be leaving the
institution better than she met it.
Three eminent Nigerians, including Senior
Special Assistant to the President on National
Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita
Enang; an industrialist, Mrs. Folurunsho
Alakija and a music maestro, Chief Uko
Akpan Umana, bagged honorary doctorate
degree in Law, Humanities and Music
respectively.

The occasion also witnessed the installation
of Alhaji Abubakar Maje, the Emir of
Hadejia and chairman, Jigawa State Council
of Chiefs, as the university’s Fourth
Chancellor.

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