Protocols
Introduction
It is my pleasure to welcome the gentlemen of the press to this press conference to herald the 6th biennial conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-owned Universities in Nigeria (COPSUN) scheduled to hold between 21stand 25th March 2022. Osun State (the university’s owner) and the Osun State University were granted the hosting rights for the 6th biennial conference by the Committee at its 54th quarterly meeting in Abuja in December 2021. Due in large part to the glaring transformation of education and, by implication, higher education in this State and the leading position of Osun State in the comity of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.History of COPSUN
COPSUN, a platform for Pro-Chancellors of State-owned Universities (COPSUN), was established on 25th July 2005 in Abuja. The Committee came into existence out of the need to articulate and peer-review optimal governance practices to ensure effective uninterrupted delivery of high-quality university education and other services among State-owned universities. The Committee has grown from its initial few members to the current fifty-seven (57) State Universities in Nigeria with active membership of thirty state universities. The Committee’s constitution was approved on 28th September 2021, and it is now registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on 24th January 2022. The Committee in order to further its mission is planning to acquire land in Abuja to build its national secretariat.
The Committee’s mission is to promote efficient management and funding of state-owned universities across Nigeria. Its vision is to promote a focused and purposeful academic leadership through which proactive initiatives can be taken on matters concerning University Education. The Committees objectives include the following;
(a) promote efficient management and funding of state-owned universities across Nigeria;
(b) support and facilitate the maintenance of the highest standard of education in State-owned Nigerian Universities;
(c) promote a focused and purposeful academic leadership through which proactive initiatives can be taken on matters concerning University Education;
(d) promote optimal governance practices to ensure effective and uninterrupted delivery of high-quality tertiary education and other services in the State-owned Universities and devise and promote a peer-review mechanism;
(e) serve as an avenue for discussing common or peculiar problems relating but not limited to funding by the proprietors, Inter-University cooperation, maintenance of academic standards, Staff recruitment, International cooperation and linkages, general University development and matters related thereto;
(f) promote unity and cooperation among State-owned universities;
(g) ensure efficiency and cooperation in staff recruitment;
(h) serve as advocacy forum or avenue for promoting sound educational policies, particularly relating to tertiary education in Nigeria; and
(i) do any such thing as the Board of Trustees may deem proper or authorize.
The Committee has been fortunate to have been led by men of honour current, and past Chairmen of the Committee are:
1. Yusuf Ali SAN, FCIArb, Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council, Osun State University, Osogbo (20th January 2021 to date).
2. Sen. Maj. Gen. Mohammed Magoro (Rtd.), former Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council, Kebbi State University, Kebbi (26 July 2018 – 21 January 2021).
3. HRH Prof. G.I. Akenzua, OON, former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (28 July 2015 – 12 July 2018).
4. Hon. Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte, CON, CFR, former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Rivers State University, Port-Harcourt.
5. Prof. Biyi Afonja, former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.
6. Prof I.A. Abdulkadir, former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Kaduna State University
The current Vice-chairman of the Committee is Hon. Awwal Tukur, Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, Adamawa State University, Mubi.
Biennial Conferences
Since its establishment, one of its flagship programmes is the biennial conference, where topical issues that affect tertiary education in the country, especially those that affect state-owned Universities, are looked at, discussed, and scientific papers presented.
PREVIOUS CONFERENCES
The Committee has held five Biennial Conferences in the last seventeen years where fundamental issues were discussed and resolved in Nigeria.
– 1st Biennial Conference – Kaduna State University, Kaduna in 2010;
– 2nd Biennial Conference – River State University of Science & Technology, Port-Harcourt in 2012;
– 3rd Biennial Conference – Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State in 2014;
– 4th Biennial Conference – Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State in 2016; and
– 5th Biennial Conference – Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State in 2020
The Sixth Biennial Conference
As you are aware, the challenges of higher education in the country and the resulting negative impact on the quality of products of the system remain a burning issue that has, over time, engaged the keen attention of critical stakeholders, including the Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities. These include but are not limited to acute underfunding, disconnect between the curriculum and the demand and realities of our economy, graduate unemployment and employability, institutional instability leading to unstable academic calendar. Others issues are political interference in university governance, erosion of autonomy, poor infrastructural and research facilities, inadequate staffing, especially of academic staff, and weak linkages between universities and industries. Over time, the intervention role played by COPSUN has been very remarkable, and this year’s 6th Biennial conference will not be different.
The programmes for the sixth biennial conference are listed as follows:
DAY 1, MONDAY, 21 MARCH, 2022:
Arrival, Registration (10.00 am – 5.00 pm) and Welcome Cocktail and Cultural Performance (6.00 pm – 8.00 pm)
Venue: Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium, Main Campus, Osogbo
DAY 2, TUESDAY, 22 MARCH, 2022:
Opening Session under the chairmanship of H.E. Dr Kayode Fayemi, Governor, Ekiti State & Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, while the Chief Host, Governor of State Osun and Visitor, Osun State University, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, will declare the conference open.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Professor Is-haq Oloyede, Registrar/Chief Executive, Joint Admissions & Matriculation Board, will present the keynote address on the theme of the year’s conference “State Ownership Dynamics, University Councils and The Need For a New Social Contract Between Society and University.”
Keynote Address Discussants
1. Professor Mojeed Alabi, UNIOSUN
2. Professor Mustapha Mohammed-Akanbi, VC KWASU
There will be five Technical Sessions over the two-day conference with ten topical papers to be presented by eminent renowned scholars and Professors of repute from across the globe, including Distinguished Professors Peter Okebukola, OFR, Toyin Falola, Funmi Togonu-Bikesteth and Funmi Olonisakin. Other speakers are Professors Abiodun Alao, Simeon Segun Ilesanmi, Emmanuel Remi Aiyede, Nuhu Yaqub, OFR, Olanrenwaju Adigun Fagbohun, and Emmanuel Osodeke, the ASUU President.
Gentlemen of the press, permit me to also inform you that the topics to be addressed by these speakers were painstakingly selected to address various issues bothering on university governance, teaching and research, economy and future, the relevance of university training to society and the need to carve new roles for the university in the 21st Century.
To discuss the papers that will be presented during the conference, we have also assembled an array of thoroughbred scholars and university administrators from the Nigerian university system. The team of discussants include serving Vice-Chancellors, a former Vice-Chancellor, a former Speaker and Professors of repute.
Following the opening ceremony and keynote address presentation, Day 1 of the conference will continue with Technical sessions 1 and 2, while on Day 2, there will be three Technical Sessions (3, 4, and 5).
The breakdown of the Technical Sessions, Speakers and Discussants are presented below;
TECHNICAL SESSION I
1. Quality Assurance and the Demands for a Career-Ready Education in the21st Century and Beyond – Distinguished Professor Peter Okebukola, OFR, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, National Open University.
2. Strengthening Assessment Method for Teaching and Research – Professor Abiodun Alao, Kings College, London, England.
DISCUSSANTS
1. Professor Eddy Olanipekun, VC EKSU
2. Professor Mojeed Liasu, Acting Vice-Chancellor, LAUTECH
TECHNICAL SESSION II
1. Nigeria’s unfinished business on the governance and politics of federalism: Effects on State Universities – Professor Remi Emmanuel Aiyede, Head, Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan.
2. Social Issues Facing Higher Education in Nigeria – Professor Nuhu Yaqub, OFR, Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja.
DISCUSSANTS
1. Professor Ebitimitula Nicholas Etebu, VC Bayelsa Medical University
2. Professor Shehu Alhaji Musa, VC Kano University of Science & Technology
DAY 3, WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH, 2022:
TECHNICAL SESSION III
1. The Skill and Employability Gap: Tools and Tactics for an Evolving Economy – Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, Former Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University
2. A Curriculum that matters: How Can the Universities Teach Society’s Most Pressing Problems? – Professor Toyin Falola, University Texas at Austin, Texas, USA
DISCUSSANTS
1. Professor O.O. Obilade, Former VC TASUED
2. Professor Mala Mohammed Daura, VC Yobe State University
TECHNICAL SESSION IV
1. Right Mix of Academic Programmes: Making Decisions to Add, Cut, Grow and Shrink Departments and Degrees – Professor Funmi Olonisakin, Vice-President/Principal, International, Kings College, London, England.
2. Issues and Challenges in University Governance and Autonomy: Perspectives from the United States of America Higher Education System – Professor Simeon Segun Ilesanmi, Wake Forest University, North Carolina, USA.
DISCUSSANTS
1. Professor Olufemi Adeoluwa – VC Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti.
2. Professor L. Kehinde, Provost Postgraduate, UNIOSUN
TECHNICAL SESSION V
1. Today’s global university: Strategies for Reviving International Enrolments – Professor Funmi Togonu-Bickersteth, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Federal University, Birnin-Kebbi.
2. Challenges of Governance in State Universities and the New Roles for the 21st Century – Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, President, Academic Staff Union of Universities.
DISCUSSANTS
1. Professor Temi Ologunorisa – VC, Olusegun Agagu University of Science & Technology
2. Professor Koya Ogen – Professor of History, UNIOSUN
Presentation of the Conference Communiqué/Press Conference will take place on March 23rd
DAY 4, THURSDAY, 24 MARCH, 2022:
TOURS, VISITATION AND FAREWELL DINNER
DAY 5, FRIDAY, 25 MARCH, 2022:
DEPARTURE
CONCLUSIONS
Gentlemen of the press, as you can see from this address, the 6th Biennial conference promises to be an epoch-making event that will draw attention to the fundamental issues affecting higher education in Nigeria and issues of governance of universities, in particular state-owned universities.
Thank you for listening.