Obi advises Nigerian varsities to look inwards

Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi, has advised Nigerian universities to look inwards for the development of their various schools. He gave the advice during his visit to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

Sharing managerial experiences with some principal officers of the University of Nsukka led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Igwe, and that of Awka led by Prof. Charles Esimone, Obi emphasised the need to work with dedicated men who understand that leadership is about service and embracing values that would encourage scholarship.

He challenged the leadership of institutions like the universities to study other successful universities worldwide such as Harvard in the USA and Oxford in the UK for factors that made for their successes and apply the same to their various institutions.

Elaborating, Obi said that universities in Nigeria should seek alternative means of increasing their finances. “Alumni support and research are examples,” Obi said while quoting statistics to show that some universities in America and Europe, through effective alumni networking, have billions in investment. “Frontline schools like Nsukka and Lagos can actually pioneer such efforts by diligently studying how the West does it,” Obi submitted.

He contended that such effective use of alumni associations would stem what he called the “uninspiring dependence on moneybags to build structures and be given honorary degrees as if it has cash value.”

Responding, both vice chancellors thanked Obi for the visit and for his priceless advice which stemmed from his practical experiential pedigree.