The Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota in Ogun State, Dr Bishop David Oyedepo, has advised universities in Nigeria to invest more in research to proffer solutions to numerous challenges confronting the country.

Oyedepo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ota, Ogun.

He said that universities should be solution centres, with life-applicable solution outputs that would solve problems in Nigeria and other nations of Africa.

The chancellor said that it was time for universities to arise and begin to wage intellectual wars against social vices with all zeal and zest.

Oyedepo said that the country needs to begin to see the dividends of university education.

“No institution loses value until it stops solving problems.

“Also, the relevance of any university is in the problem it solves,” he said.

Oyedepo said that the ability of universities to make huge investment in research would help to solve the country’s challenges and proffer solutions to myriads of global problems.

Peter Obi Fulfills Pledge, Donates Bus, N5m to Kogi Nursing College

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, returned to Grimard College of Nursing Sciences in Anyigba, Kogi State, on Tuesday to fulfill a promise made during a previous visit.

Obi had earlier donated ₦10 million to the college to support learning and pledged to assist further in meeting their urgent needs for accreditation.

During his visit three months ago, the Proprietor and Rector informed him that the school’s immediate need was a 32-seater coaster bus for students’ clinical experience trips.

After discussions with Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Adaji, Obi was told that a fairly used bus costing between ₦20 million and ₦30 million would be sufficient, as the price of a new bus had risen above ₦100 million.

True to his word, Obi returned to the college to present a fairly used bus within the specified range, aiding the students’ clinical assignments.

He also donated an additional ₦5 million to cover the cost of the bus’s registration, insurance, and other expenses for a year.

Obi expressed his gratitude to the institution’s leadership for their warm reception and commended their efforts in advancing education and healthcare.

He reassured them of his continued support, emphasizing his commitment to building a better Nigeria.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on indefinite strike over failure of the Federal Government to honour the 2009 aggrement reached with it.

Prof. Timothy Namo, the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator of the union said this during a news conference on Friday in Jos.

Namo said that the union after its National Executive Council (NEC) held between Aug. 17 and Aug. 18, issued a 21-day ultimatum.

“As we speak, government has not honoured any of the agreements or address our concerns.

“At the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum, we again issued another 14-day ultimatum that commenced from Sept. 23.

“So, we want Nigerians to blame the federal government if ASUU decide to down tools and shut down public universities,” he said.

Namo highlighted the lingering issues to include, non conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement, non release of the three-and-half month salaries of academic staff, unpaid salaries of all academic staff on adjunct appointment and outstanding third-party deductions.

Other lingering issues he said were, poor funding for the revitalisation of public universities, none payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) as captured in the 2023 budget, proliferation of universities, non implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, among others.