Ekiti state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has charged management of Ekiti State University to proffer solutions to societal challenges bedevling Nigeria through research.
He tasked the management to prioritize research and commercialize it to further position the institution to rank among the best in the world rather than relying on meagre subvention given to the institution.
The governor made the call at the 27th convocation of post graduate students held at the school main auditorium on Thursday.
While addressing the gathering, Governor Oyebanji said the skills, innovations and knowledge acquired by the graduands should be used to frontally combat mirage of societal problems. He added that the graduands should be job creators rather than job seekers, saying there are limited job spaces which are highly competitive .
Oyebanji However tasked the school management to suggest solutions for emoluments and overhead cost issues. Advising Labour unions in the school to co-operate with the management in resolving issues without resorting to strike which he said usually have negative impact on the institution.
While promising his unalloyed support for the institution to be ranked one of the best in the world, Oyebanji called on the school management, governing Councils and Alumni Association of the institution to fully involve in the Development and transformation of the institution.
Governor Oyebanji further reiterated his administration’s commitment to Job creation, human capital Development and youth empowerments. He said as part of his efforts to upscale digital education for job creation, his administration had launched Ekiti Digital Skill Academy with distribution of 100 laptops with accessories to youths, saying that 500 youths are targeted to facilitate learning.
The Governor also said his administration had secured Federal Government approval for Ekiti Knowledge Zone to become a Free Trade Zone which was a good requirement for investment inflow for the development of the zone.
He added that Ekiti knowledge zone was a major infrastructure milestone which was conceived to be a digital innovation, technology and creativity hub. He added that it is an idea and innovation ecosystem where highly talented young people could utilize their energy in productive ventures.
“The recently approved Ekiti Knowledge Zone by the federal government, distribution of Laptops to students/ youths , Schorlarship worth 22.3millon to Law students in Ekiti last year, Scholarship and bursaries to the state indigenes were to equip them to be responsive to twenty-first century challenges.
Earlier, the Pro -Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Prof. Akin Oyebode hinted that the Governing Council had resolved to use their skills, expertise , resources and track records to advance the progress of the institution.
He commended Governor Oyebanji for paying one out of the two outstanding emoluments of the institution. While advising the graduands, the Pro -Chancellor urged them to uphold the good name of the institution wherever they find themselves, saying, tenets of the institution includes: High morality, unalloy integrity, transparency, accountability, truitfulness and commitment to the society which the graduands should follow religiously in their daily pursuits.
Also, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Edward Olanipekun reeled out the achievements of the institution to includes : accreditation of 70 programmes out of 80 , sayings the remaining would Soon be accredited. Induction of MBBS graduates into medical profession has been achieved.
Prof Olanipekun who stressed further that the institution international college , Afao Ekiti has increased from 12 to 82 students with State of the art equipment and qualified teachers.
He said the breakthrough of the institution in ICT had made the activities of the institution fast and seamless, thereby making the institution competing with world class around the globe. Saying within 72 hours, transcripts of graduates are available on request while certificates are given to graduands on convocation day.
The Vice Chancellor added that many complex, laboratories, lecture theatres have been constructed and modern equipments have been procured for students use that are ready for commissioning.
He added that staff and students welfare are critically looked into .
207 graduands were covnoked by the institution; 58 Ph.D, 86 Masters and 63 PGD.
Dignitaries at the convocation includes: Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba; Secretary to the state Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro, members of the Governing Council, members of the state executive council; Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof. J.B Ayodele and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development), Prof. Raphael Adeleke, Mr Sola Ogunmiluyi, Rtd Permanent Secrertary, Ekiti State, family and well wishers among others.