Create enabling environment for varsities, govt urged

The Chancellor of Anchor University Lagos (AUL), Dr. William Kumuyi, has urged the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for varsities across the country by intensifying the fight against insecurity. He also canvassed support for private varsities.

“Nigeria 170 universities of which 79 are privately owned, while 43 and 48 are owned by the Federal and State governments, respectively, hence governments need to help the private universities by creating a better environment for development and growth of university education in the country,” he said.

Kumuyi, who is also the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, spoke last Friday at the maiden convocation of the university.

The Chancellor urged the graduates to cultivate the habit of hard work and be entrepreneurial.

He said: “We are sending the first fruits out to go and lift the banner of our core values high for the world to see. I charge you to excel in entrepreneurship and create jobs and bring relief to the society.”

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Afolayan, said the  institution produced 63 pioneer graduands.23 graduated with First Class, 27 had Second Class Upper while 13 students graduated with Second Class Lower.

He noted that  Miss Mary Enakireru, a Microbiology student emerged the overall best graduating student with  a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)  of 3.95 out of 4.00.

Afolayan said the institution was committed to research, hence, it established a Centre for Global Health to contribute to improvement in health through high-quality multi-disciplinary research.

He also said the centre would work with international organisations, stakeholders and researchers to address prevalent health challenges.

Afolayan also said a Laboratory for Space, Atmospheric and Radio waves Propagation has been set up following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the Indian Centre for Space Physics to address the dearth of research data in the region through the deployment of multiple facilities.

In his goodwill message, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Gboyega Soyombo lauded the varsity for emphasising godly character and spiritual values among students.

Source: The Nations newspaper.