𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐒-𝐈𝐘𝐈𝐍 𝐕𝐂 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐬
…𝑨𝒔 𝑭𝑼𝑶𝒀𝑬, 𝑭𝑼𝑻𝑬𝑺-𝑰𝒀𝑰𝑵 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti (FUTES-IYIN), Professor Gbenga Aribisala, has urged Nigerian universities to place scholarship, research and academic excellence above financial considerations, saying revenue generation should always complement, not replace the core mandate of higher education.
Aribisala stated this while receiving the management of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), led by its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olalekan Ogunwole, during a courtesy visit to FUTES-IYIN.
The visit provided an opportunity for both institutions to exchange ideas on strengthening inter-university collaboration, institutional development, staff capacity building and the evolving role of universities in national development.
Speaking during the visit, Aribisala maintained that while internally generated revenue remains important for the sustainability of universities, academic institutions must never lose sight of their primary responsibilities of teaching, research and community service.
According to him, every initiative pursued by a university should ultimately strengthen scholarship and institutional excellence.
“The business of the university is research, teaching and community service. As universities continue to evolve, we must continue to strengthen these areas through collaboration, mutual support and strategic partnerships that ultimately benefit the entire higher education sector.
“Universities require sustainable funding to function effectively, but scholarship must always remain our priority. Every decision we take should reinforce quality teaching, impactful research and meaningful community service because those are the pillars upon which universities are established,” he said.
Earlier, the FUOYE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ogunwole, said the growing demands on universities across the country made collaboration among institutions more important than ever.
He explained that as older universities continue to expand, there is increasing need for emerging institutions to gradually grow into complementary roles within Nigeria’s higher education ecosystem.
Ogunwole said such partnerships would allow universities to remain focused on their statutory responsibilities while creating opportunities for knowledge sharing, academic exchange and institutional growth.
He noted that FUOYE would be pleased to collaborate with FUTES-IYIN in various academic initiatives as the institution continues to grow in line with the guidelines of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Responding, Aribisala welcomed the prospect of deeper collaboration.
He, however, observed that as a newly established university, FUTES-IYIN remains focused on consolidating its academic structures and institutional culture in line with the regulatory framework of the NUC.
“We sincerely appreciate the confidence and goodwill expressed by FUOYE. For us, this is a period of laying a solid foundation. We are committed to growing responsibly, strengthening our academic systems and positioning the University for sustainable excellence before taking on additional responsibilities,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor commended Ogunwole for his leadership at FUOYE, describing the institution’s growth over the years as worthy of recognition.
Aribisala, however, attributed the steady progress at FUTES-IYIN to the support of personalities like the Leader of the Senate, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, the Managing Director of PremiumTrust Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, and a quite number of other stakeholders who believed in the institution’s vision during its formative stage.
He added that beyond awarding degrees, FUTES-IYIN was deliberately nurturing a university culture that develops character, leadership and innovation.
“A university should leave an enduring imprint on everyone who passes through it. We are intentionally building an institution where academic excellence goes hand in hand with character, leadership and service to society,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor further reiterated that continuous staff development remained central to the University’s philosophy, noting that several capacity-building programmes had already been organised for both academic and non-academic staff within the institution’s first year.
Both institutions expressed confidence that the visit would open new frontiers of collaboration in research, staff development, innovation, academic exchange and community engagement, while strengthening the relationship between the two federal universities.