The Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Chapter, holds her First Education Summit tomorrow. According a release signed by the CONUA Chairperson, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu the Summit holds at the Oduduwa Hall of the institution by 10am.
The maiden Summit, with the theme: EMPLACING NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY MOULD: RETHINKING UNIONISM AND THE ROLE OF ACADEMICS, is coming at the time the government groans under the burden of providing quality tertiary education. Even the liberalization of the provision of tertiary education through the complementary efforts of privately-owned universities, has left much to be desired. Usually, when lecturers in public universities in downtool, they continue their teaching and other academic activities in private universities. Rather than improving the quality of tertiary education, the incessant industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), have inadvertently profited owners of private universities, thereby worsening conditions in the public universities.
The 1st CONUA’s Educational Summit, is meant to brainstorm on the alternatives to industrial actions as well as how academics could be constructively involved in the repositioning of Nigerian universities. The keynote speaker, Professor E. B. Sonaiya is expected to stimulate discussions on the Summit’s theme with support of panelists such as Professors O. O. Soriyan, U. C. Ukeje, I. K. Ijaduola, K. Taiwo and A. O. Ogunyemi.
Apart from the students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who are currently being taught by teeming lecturers who are CONUA members, participants at the Summit are expected from sister universities nationwide.
Olabisi Ayodele reporting