The newly built administrative block of the Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute, University of Ibadan has been inaugurated.
The building, whose approval was given in July 2020, the Director, PAULESI, Prof. Titilayo Akinlabi, said, consists of nine office apartments having eight offices and one general office; nine rooms for lectures and seminars; and a washroom, kitchenette and store.
The property is designed to house the innovation hub awarded to the institute by the African Development Bank to Co-Creation Hub in Lagos.
The official opening ceremony of the building, held at the weekends, was attended by top functionaries, including the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro; Assistant Director, Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, African Union Commission, Hambani Masheleni; Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale; Deputy VC, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnership, Prof. Oluyemisi Bamigbose; DVC, Academics, Prof. Aderonke Bayeroju; Registrar, UI, Mrs Olubunmi Faluyi; Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun; and the Deputy Director, PAULESI, Dr Adeyinka Oladunjoye.
During the commissioning of the building, Bogoro tasked entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to rally round the government to ensure the growth and development of Nigerian universities. This, he said, would put them in good stead among the comity of universities across the globe.
Bogoro said, “In many and most cases our entrepreneurs and our privileged rich are reluctant to contribute to the ivory towers. The United States, United Kingdom, Japan, China, Germany and so on and the most competitive economy, including Switzerland, believe me; their strength lies in contributions through endowment or establishment of research foundations that have also been and have provided the funding for those universities in particular to grow.
“Today, some of the high universities, Yale and Harvard, have endowments that are larger or competing with the entire budget of Nigeria. That is a lesson for all of us. I have always prayed and looked forward to when we will get it right.”
According to him, lecturers and researchers in Nigeria should season the younger generation by engaging in researches in various disciplines in a bid to boost the fortune of the country.
Meanwhile, the African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Mohammed Belhocine, represented on the occasion by an Assistant Director, Hambani Masheleni, has said that there had been a higher demand for education with the increase in number of applications to tertiary institutions in Africa.
Belhocine said, “When the Heads of State and Government adopted our people-centred long term Agenda 2063, we ensured right from the onset that it is underpinned by education. Education is a critical enabler for addressing the human capital development needs of the continent.
“Africa has a high demand for well-trained engineers, scientists, innovators, artists and entrepreneurs among others, to drive and sustain our socio-economic development agenda.’’
Earlier, Prof. Akinlabi, describing the completion of the building which was initially approved for funding in 2014 as a dream come true, disclosed that the project was funded in 2020 by the Federal Government through the N250million (USD 602,410) awarded to PAULESI by TETFUND in agreement with UI.
The don said that she was inspired to push for the project when, on assumption to office in July 2020, she stumbled on a document of approval for funding of the building.
She said that “Owning a building by PAULESI is worthy of celebration as it would help in achieving the objectives of the Pan African University, which are developing continent-wide and world-class postgraduate programmes in science, technology, innovation, governance.
“This will also simulate collaboration being internationally competitive, conducting leading-edge fundamental and economic growth oriented research. And, it will enhance mobility of students and academic staff among African universities to improve teaching and collaborative research.
“We are confident that this new facility will provide the needed ambience for efficiency and a much improved environment.
“I would like to specially appreciate the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro, and every other TETFUND officials present and the VC, University of Ibadan, for their unwavering support towards the completion of this building.”
UI Vice-Chancellor explained on the occasion that the PAULESI, a continental initiative which the University of Ibadan won through competitive bidding, “Is to develop excellence in science, technology and innovation which will constitute bedrock for an African pool of higher education and research.”
