L-R: The Chairman of the occasion, Engr Neyin Alex, FUPRE VC – Engr Prof Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, Incoming VC- Prof. Ezekiel Agbalagba at the lecture on Monday
By Ejiro Nesisa
The out going Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area Delta, Engr Prof Akpofure Rim-Rukeh has urged the Universities in Nigeria to embark on several researches to enable them find solutions to the societal problems just as he called on the Society to work in synergy with Universities so that the problems that plague the society can be solved.
Engr Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh gave this advice at the lecture organized by the institution in his honour as he winds up his single five years tenure of his administration of the Ivory Tower at the school’s 500 capacity Auditorium on Monday. He said, the gap between the Gown(University System) and Town( Outside the University System) is too wide in Nigeria adding, this is
unlike other climes where there is synergy and called for the bridging of the gaps. His words:” There is wide gap between the Gown and the Town. We, as University who are the Gown should re-engineer the system to ensure the gap is closed”.
Engr Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh said, there are lots of research done in the University(Gown) but the level of acceptance by the Gown(Town) is poor. According to him, during FUPRE and Innovation Fair, where research products were displayed, the Town( Society) was not well represented adding, the cause of poor representation boils down to the issues of Character. According to him, the past ASSU leaders who were shooting “Aluta Continua” years ago, when they got into power, (Government), could not make any positive changes to right the wrongs- all due to character. He expressed gratitude to the lecturer for a good job through his lecture which was educative.
On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, Engr. Neyin Alex said Universities should not wait for government but source for funds, embark on researches to find solutions to the societal problems. According to him, the University (Gown) should work in synergy with oil companies(Town) so that they can help ride the society of poverty. His words:” l worked in Oil Industry more than 46 years, and my background has Petroleum Engineering, outside here, it is the University that drives the industry, the Industry and University work hand- in-hand. We should be able to bring them to develop the place by also getting the people (Town) involved to create good commerce, good job for the people to live better life…”He therefore thanked the guest lecturer to have done justice to the topic of the day.
Earlier in delivering a lecture in honour of the outgoing Vice Chancellor, titled: Gown and Town in Nigeria: The Issues In- Between, Mr Abraham Ogbodo, former Editor-in-Chief, The Guardian Newspaper, said despite the numbers of Universities totaling 174 in Nigeria, they have not been able to carry out research to solve societal problems, this he said, is due to character adding that, since the Gown exists in the Town, it should be able to find solutions to its numerous problems.
According to him, the Gown(University)needs more than cash to spread fully as it needs character adding that, character and competence must combine in proportionate measure to create sustainable value. He said, competence is the totality of artistry, creativity and intellection that gives an edge while character is the spirituality to enforce competence for overall good saying that, competence without character is evil ingenuity.
His words:” :” All the Issues in between the Gown(University) and the Town(Society) can be reduced to one word: Character, when the opportunity to fix things are presented, the character to act will be lacking”.
Group photo of participants at lecture on Monday
According to him, as man increased in space and time, the need to task his senses, spirit and intellect to ensure his survival becomes, hence, the Gown(University) must remain constant enlargement to cover the Town (Society). He said, it is agreed that over the years, the budgetary allocation to education is low but University should not yield to such constraints but stand tall since University is a solution provider.
His words:”Whatever that cannot be determined in the University can only be referred to God for determination. And so, the starting point is for the Gown in Nigeria to understand its roles as being transcendental of and not incidental upon so-called favourable conditions. Therefore, part of the omnibus mandate of the Gown is to create or force the condition for its own survival”.
FUPRE VC and some staff
Mr Ogbodo said, all issues start and end in Government as the government owns everybody. According to him, ASUU has not got another way besides strike to make government comply with its dictates saying, this has been a challenge on the part of ASSU. He said, despite many government officials both past and present in ASSU, the problem of University remains the same.
His words:” ASSU as subordinates and ASSU as principals in government could not get government to listen to it” The former Editor in Chief of The Guardian Newspaper said, the way forward is to recognize that Gown has no choice but search for solutions adding that, it is human that makes University , not the physical structure. He said since Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun is an institution of technology that engages in technology generally, there are no impossibilities as every effort can yield good results in right direction- solving societal problems.
He said the issues in between are the hurdles the Gown must clear on its path to meet the Town. He therefore advocated that the Gown and Town should work together to achieve the desired results. Present at the programme are Principal officers of the school, among who is the incoming Vice Chancellor, Professor Ezekiel Agbalagba, and other academics among whom is Prof. G.G. Darah.The lecture which many people said, was educative, climaxed with questions and answers just as awards were presented to different dignitaries.