Cynthia Ezegwu
The immediate past President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Ekanem Braide, has called on universities across Nigeria to prioritise addressing the unique challenges facing their host communities through research and community-driven initiatives.
Braide, who is also the Pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Lafia, Nasarawa State, made the call on Friday while delivering the 20th Convocation Lecture of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State.
In her lecture titled “The Nigerian University in the 21st Century: Engine of Knowledge, Driver of Development,” she expressed concern over the poor utilisation of research outcomes in the country and urged stronger collaboration among academia, government, and industry to bridge the gap between research and development.
“Universities should upscale community service. There must be a positive impact of the presence of a university in its host community. If a university exists in a location and that location remains unchanged, then the university has not fulfilled its mandate,” she said.
Braide noted that meaningful community engagement enhances university rankings, fosters social and economic development, and builds leadership qualities among students and staff.
She also stressed the importance of aligning university activities with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adding that “education powers all the SDGs. If education is gotten right, poverty will be reduced and development accelerated. But if neglected, it will be motion without movement.”
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University, Prof. Jonathan Babalola, described Braide’s lecture as timely, noting that it underscores the need for universities to drive innovation and proffer sustainable solutions to national challenges.
Highlighting activities for the 20th Convocation, Babalola announced that 1,064 students would graduate across various disciplines. Of these, 143 earned First Class Honours, 394 Second Class (Upper Division), 221 Second Class (Lower Division), 69 Third Class, and five Pass.
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In the College of Health Sciences, 66 students will be conferred with the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB;BS) degree, while 30 Physiotherapy and Nursing Science students earned Distinction, 80 obtained Credit, and three received Pass.
He added that 18 graduates earned Postgraduate Diplomas, 26 obtained Master’s degrees, and nine were awarded Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.
Babalola also revealed that for the sixth consecutive year, Bowen University scholars featured among the Top 2% of Scientists in the World, as compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier, with 13 faculty members ranked among Nigeria’s Top 500 Authors between 2021 and 2025.
The convocation, he added, will also mark the end of tenure for key university officers, including the Registrar, Mr. Babatunde Adeona; University Librarian, Dr. Aderonke Otunla; and Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Gideon Akanbi.