Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro, a former executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has urged universities and other tertiary institutions in the nation to focus on research and community service.
Speaking at the Nile University’s 11th Convocation Lecture, titled ‘Reasserting the Pivotal University Roles of Research and Community Service for National Development,’ he emphasised the need of universities emerging as think tanks for national development.
“It is very important that the ultimate objectives for both Theoretical and Applied Research are carried out to conclusion.
“This being why the justification for any research enterprise is clearly expressed in all research proposals,” Bogoro said.
He noted that there must always be justifiable anticipated deliverables that are problem-solving, noting that it needed the injection of science and innovation for Malaysia to import the oil palm and develop its numerous Value Chain into a goldmine throughout the years.
According to him, it is the necessity for university-industry collaboration through research, such as the TETFund Research and Development Standing Committee (RDSC), where academic and industry were expertly combined.
He proposed that colleges provide services in their communities in order to be relevant in both local and wider settings.
He lauded President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in paying four of the eight months of delayed salary owing to academics in public institutions due to strikes, and he applauded the establishment of a Student Loan Scheme targeted at alleviating students of impoverished parents.
cc: Daily Post Ng
