FG Tasks Nation’s Varsities On Ethical Academics, Calls For Code Of Ethics For Staff

OGBONNA IWUAGWU

The Federal Government has admonished governing councils and managements of the nation’s universities to formulate policies and regulations that would guard against unethical academic activities, sexual harassment as well as establishing a code of ethics for staff.

These policies it said would help promote academic excellence and create a healthy system for teaching, learning and research.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who gave the directive at the 32^nd convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) held over the weekend, said that the country looks up to tertiary institutions in the country to provide  solutions to  national problems.

“They should produce graduates with knowledge, skills and values as well as undertake cutting edges and research to address our contemporary societal challenges. They are also expected to conceive and to develop programmes and curricula that match the expectations and requirements of our growing economy”.

Represented by  the Minister of  State for  Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, the President however, assured that the Federal Government would continue to support the improvement of  facilities in the nation’s  universities  so as to  create a conducive environment for development of future manpower needs.

According to him, already interventions by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and the release of revitalization fund to Federal Universities had been instrumental in the rehabilitation of dilapidated facilities and development of new projects.

“As the Federal government continues to pursue the core  objectives of the Economic Recovery and Growth  Plan (ERGP) of restoring  growth,  investing in the citizens and building a globally competitive economy, certain reforms are inevitable  in achieving sustainable  growth and development.”

The President listed such reforms to include; boosting revenue through  tax reforms, blocking leakages, creating the enabling environment for manufacturers and  businesses, promotion of consumption of locally manufactured products and creating access to low interest credit for small and medium  scale businesses.

“Our universities and indeed, every well meaning Nigerian should support the current administration’s transformation towards a self reliant economy.”

While congratulating the graduating students on the successful completion of their programmes, the President urged them to contribute to the development of the country by translating ideas and experience gained from their alma mater into tangible products of entrepreneurship.

Prof. Francis C. Eze, Vice Chancellor of the institution, in an address earlier, said that in her quest for distinction in teaching and learning, the institution is focusing attention on the use of online teaching tools and technique.

“We recently conducted trainings to disseminate online teaching and learning skills to our academic staff to be abreast with modern skills for knowledge dissemination.”

“Furthermore, we have continued to produce and to deploy I.T facilities in teaching, learning and other aspects of the University administration” he said.

Eze, who dwelt on the accreditation of academic programme, teaching learning and ICT Development governance and administration of the institution, infrastructural development, waste recycling management, staff and students welfare listed funding and foundry facilities, insufficient laboratory equipment, standard stadium, encroachment on the university land, lack of perimeter fence, unstable public power supply as among the challenges confronting the 39 year old institution.