He said, ‘’I served as a member of the University Autonomy Committees in 2001 as the Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors. In the final analysis, the universities had partial autonomy. They were given administrative autonomy but not financial autonomy. If universities want true autonomy, the Act should be revisited.”
Speaking on the theme, ‘The Nigerian Education System at a Crossroads,’ during the third convocation of KolaDaisi University, Ibadan, Oyo State, held at the Agbeke Memorial Hall of the university, Okojie suggested that the public universities should act as enterprises.
He, however, noted that they should generate funds in agreement with the government policies while stretching hands of cooperation to the private sector for effective collaboration in research and services provision.
The former NUC scribe condemned the domination of university councils by politicians, saying, “The councils of universities should not be dominated by political stalwarts who are professional politicians. They should be respectable and knowledgeable in the major programmes of the university.
‘’The role played by politics, religion and ethnicity are destroying our universities. Our universities are not productive. They should be challenged with national problems on environment, climate change, economic development, relevant research and inventions and so on, and be positively involved in national discuss.”
He said research institutes should be encouraged to work with the universities in the innovation and development endeavours of the nation.
Okojie also lamented that polytechnics were going into extinction, calling for urgent steps to reverse the situation.
‘’The polytechnics are going into extinction with poor subscription by students and fewer students finishing their studies every year. The government may consider turning them into polytechnic universities.
“Our academics and experts in the diaspora should be encouraged to work with the home-base experts and professionals in the areas of research, including blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and emotional intelligence.’’
Earlier, the VC of the institution, Prof. Adeniyi Olatunbosun, urged the graduating students to go and make a difference in society.
“My dear graduates, again, I congratulate you as you have attained a great feat in your life’s journey. I am optimistic that with the knowledge imbued in you while studying here, you are poised to be a game-changer. I charge you to go out there and join in transforming Nigeria into a global reckoning.”
He said out of 123 graduands, 12 of them have first-class, 50 with second-class upper division, 39 with second-class lower division, and 22 with third-class degrees.
The Founder and Chancellor of the university, Chief Kola Daisi, who stressed that the institution would continue to live up to the expectations, added that ‘’our country, indeed the world today is in desperate need of individuals whose innovation and creativity can help resolve the humongous challenges confronting us.’’
