AfriPulse
VC Baze Professor Abiodun Adeniyi and Education Minister Tunji Alausa
Minister of Education Hails Baze University, Urges Reinvention in Era of Stable Public Universities
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has described Baze University as one of the best private universities in Nigeria, with immense potential to soar to even greater heights in the years ahead.
The Minister made the remarks at a surprise reception organised in honour of the new Vice Chancellor of Baze University, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, at the upscale Vannilla Restaurant, Maitama, shortly after the delivery of the University’s Seventh Inaugural Lecture. While commending the institution for its impressive growth, academic excellence and contribution to higher education in Nigeria .
H e , however, cautioned that the changing dynamics of the nation’s tertiary education landscape require private universities to be more innovative and forward-looking than ever before.
According to him, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fast stabilising the public university system. Academic calendars are becoming more predictable , and industrial disputes are being addressed with greater urgency. The instability that once characterised public universities gave private institutions a competitive advantage, as parents and guardians sought certainty and uninterrupted academic programmes for their children. Universities such as Baze benefited from this reality.”
The Minister noted that as public universities continue to regain stability, private universities must begin to compete on new grounds beyond calendar reliability.
“The challenge before Professor Adeniyi and his team is therefore not merely to sustain the success that Baze University has already attained, but to reimagine and reinvent the institution for a new era. The future belongs to universities that are agile, innovative, globally connected and relentlessly committed to excellence.”
He urged the new Vice Chancellor to build on the strong foundation already laid by the university founder , Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, and previous administrators by deepening academic quality, strengthening research culture and expanding the institution’s international outlook.
“You must ensure that Baze becomes known not only for graduating students on time, but also for producing graduates who are globally competitive, technologically proficient, entrepreneurial and equipped to solve real societal problems. Parents today are looking beyond certificates. They are looking for value. They want institutions that can guarantee employability, character, innovation and leadership.”
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The Minister encouraged the university to invest heavily in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, renewable energy, biotechnology and the creative economy, noting that these sectors will shape the future of work and national development. He also challenged the institution to strengthen its partnerships with industry and the private sector.
“The university of the future cannot operate in isolation. Strong collaborations with business, government and international partners will provide students with practical experience, expose academics to contemporary challenges and create opportunities for impactful research. Baze must become a hub where knowledge meets innovation and where ideas are transformed into solutions.”
Dr Alausa further stressed the need for increased investment in research and postgraduate education. “Universities earn enduring reputations not only through teaching but through the generation of new knowledge. Baze must aspire to become a research-driven institution whose scholars contribute meaningfully to national discourse and global scholarship.”
Turning to the University’s Seventh Inaugural Lecture, the Minister described the event as a testament to the institution’s growing intellectual maturity and commitment to scholarship.
“Inaugural lectures occupy a special place in the life of every great university. They provide an opportunity for distinguished scholars to present the essence of their life’s work, share new perspectives and contribute to the advancement of knowledge. The fact that Baze University has successfully hosted seven inaugural lectures demonstrates that it is steadily building a vibrant intellectual tradition.”
He congratulated the lecturer for enriching public understanding through rigorous scholarship and noted that universities must continue to serve as centres of critical thinking, evidence-based policy formulation and enlightened public debate.
Addressing members of the university community, the Minister said that leadership transitions present opportunities for renewal and growth. “Professor Adeniyi assumes office at a moment of great promise. He brings intellectual depth, administrative experience and a clear understanding of the evolving role of universities in society. I have every confidence that under his leadership, Baze University will scale new heights and consolidate its position among Africa’s leading private universities.”
He concluded by urging the management, staff, students and stakeholders of the institution to rally behind the new Vice Chancellor. “The responsibility of building a great university does not rest on one individual. It is a collective undertaking. With unity of purpose, a commitment to excellence and a shared vision for the future, Baze University can become a model institution not only for Nigeria but for the African continent.”
The Minister therefore congratulated Professor Abiodun Adeniyi on his appointment and commended Baze University for sustaining a culture of academic excellence, innovation and intellectual engagement, expressing confidence that the institution’s best years still lie ahead. END
Source: PrNigeria | Read the Full Story…
