The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, has officially inaugurated the newly appointed members of the Governing Councils for selected federal tertiary institutions and education-related parastatals.
The inauguration ceremony took place on Tuesday in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, presented letters of appointment to the appointees.
In his keynote address, Dr. Alausa congratulated the appointees on their nominations and Senate confirmations. He emphasized that their appointments were not just honors for their individual accomplishments but a call to serve the nation.
“Your appointments are a testament to your past contributions to national development, but more importantly, they represent a solemn call to serve with integrity, strategic vision, and full accountability,” he stated.
The minister reminded the appointees that governing councils serve as the highest policy-making bodies in tertiary institutions and are pivotal in shaping institutional policies, ensuring sound financial management, and maintaining academic and administrative excellence.
He noted that while councils must provide oversight, they must also allow university administrations to function independently within the law. “Your role is not to be involved in daily operations but to give strategic direction and ensure that institutions operate in line with established laws and policies,” Alausa said.
He further stressed the importance of balancing institutional autonomy with responsibility, particularly in critical areas such as procurement processes, budgeting, appointments, and contract awards. According to the minister, transparency and accountability must remain at the heart of every council’s operations.
Highlighting some of the pressing challenges confronting Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, Dr. Alausa mentioned inadequate funding, decaying infrastructure, recurring industrial actions, and falling global rankings. He called on the newly appointed members to help reposition the nation’s educational institutions for global competitiveness.
The minister reaffirmed the current administration’s commitment to revitalizing the sector under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He cited several ongoing initiatives such as improved infrastructure investment, adoption of solar energy for campus electrification, better staff welfare, and efforts to enhance access to quality education across the country. “The administration is driving policy reforms that support research and innovation, strengthen institutional autonomy, and promote industrial peace,” he added.
Dr. Alausa urged the council members to take their responsibilities seriously, emphasizing that their roles were far from ceremonial. “This is a national duty that requires diligence, foresight, and steadfast leadership,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve. He pledged that all council members would work collectively with the Federal Government to transform the education sector.
The list of newly appointed council chairpersons includes distinguished individuals from diverse professional backgrounds. Among them are:
Retired Vice Admiral Victor Ombu, Chairman, Governing Council of Admiralty University of Nigeria, Ibusa, Delta State
Prof. Oluremi Aina, Chairman, Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State
Dr. Folashade Kareem, Chairman, University of Jos
Dr. Olusina Adeniyi, Chairman, Federal University of Technology, Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State
Babatunde Olokun, Chairman, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State
Prof. Shuaibu Aliyu, Executive Secretary, National Mass Education Commission (NMEC)
Adebayo Onigbanjo, National Coordinator, Special Programmes Operations and Implementation Unit (SPOIU)
Hon. Chidi Nwogu, Chairman, African Aviation and Aerospace University, Abuja
These appointments mark a significant step in the government’s effort to strengthen governance in federal educational institutions and reposition the sector for excellence.