Abuja: The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has inaugurated the newly appointed members of the Governing Councils of selected federal tertiary institutions and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Education. Alausa, who presented letters of appointment to the appointees on Tuesday, charged them to provide visionary and accountable leadership to reposition Nigeria’s universities and colleges for global competitiveness.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the minister congratulated the appointees on their nominations and confirmation, stating that their appointment was both a recognition of their individual achievements and a call to national service. He highlighted the significant role of governing councils as the highest policy-making bodies in tertiary institutions, emphasizing their responsibilities in institutional governance, policy formulation, financial oversight, and ensuring academic and administrative excellence.
Alausa acknowledged the numerous challenges facing the tertiary education sector, including funding constraints, infrastructural deficits, industrial disputes, and declining global rankings. He urged the new council members to provide strategic oversight while respecting the autonomy of university management. The minister emphasized that university autonomy must be matched with transparency and accountability in procurement, budgeting, appointments, and contract awards.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to revitalizing the tertiary education sector under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The administration, he mentioned, is investing in infrastructure, promoting solar energy solutions for campus electrification, enhancing staff welfare, and improving access to quality education. Alausa noted that strategic engagements with stakeholders have led to policy reforms aimed at fostering institutional autonomy, promoting research and innovation, and ensuring industrial harmony.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, Sen. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and assured the Federal Government of the councils’ collective resolve to support the transformation of the nation’s education sector.
The newly appointed chairpersons include retired Vice Admiral Victor Ombu, Chairman of the Governing Council, Admiralty University of Nigeria, Ibusa, Delta State; Prof. Oluremi Aina, Chairman, Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State; Prof. Shuaibu Aliyu, Executive Secretary, National Mass Education Commission (NMEC); Adebayo Onigbanjo, National Coordinator, Special Programmes Operations and Implementation Unit (SPOIU); and Hon. Chidi Nwogu, Chairman, African Aviation and Aerospace University, Abuja. Also appointed were Dr Folashade Kareem, Chairman, University of Jos; Dr Olusina Adeniyi, Chairman, Federal University of Technology, Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State; and Babatunde Olokun, Chairman, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, among others.