Revd Joseph Akinfenwa, the chairman of the Supra Diocesan Board (West) of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has called upon the Federal Government to confront the systemic challenges adversely impacting the quality of education in the nation.
During the 15th convocation ceremony of Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo, Akinfenwa highlighted critical issues such as poor infrastructure, insecurity, and inadequate internet access as major hindrances to the growth of tertiary institutions.
He lamented the lack of a truly international faculty and student population, attributing this shortfall to broader national problems, including economic instability and a less-than-positive global image.
The archbishop stressed, “Our national economy, signposted by the exchange rate, makes it practically impossible to bring in academics from the developed world to work in our universities, not even for their sabbaticals.”
Akinfenwa urged the government to prioritize stabilizing the economy and projecting a positive image of the nation globally, emphasizing that addressing these systemic issues is crucial for Nigeria to become a recognized destination for international education.
Chancellor Chief Tunde Afolabi echoed the call for support, urging the government and stakeholders to back innovations in the tertiary education sector, particularly in improving curriculum design.
He emphasized the importance of contextual analysis and quality assurance in academic activities.
Olutoyin Okeowo, the pro-chancellor of the university, appealed for donations to the N5b Ajayi Crowther University Development Fund, aimed at enhancing physical infrastructure and deploying state-of-the-art facilities.
Timothy Adebayo congratulated the 30 graduating students conferred with doctor of philosophy degrees, encouraging them to commit to continuous learning.
Adebayo highlighted the remarkable expansion of the Department of Nursing into the Faculty of Nursing Sciences, citing it as a positive indicator of the evolving grand plan for the College of Medicine.
The convocation also witnessed the conferral of honourary doctorate degrees in finance, science, and business administration to notable figures Gbolahan Olukayode Afolayan, Kate Isa, and Taiwo Afolabi, respectively, recognizing their outstanding contributions to their respective fieldso.
