Prof. Andrew Haruna, former Vice President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, has been appointed as the new Secretary General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.
The accomplished scholar and administrator assumed duties after his predecessor, Yakubu Ochefu, handed over to him in Abuja.
In his inaugural address at the handing over on Monday, Haruna pledged to build on his predecessor’s progress and advance the committee’s goals.
He said: “I am here to build on the foundations laid by my predecessors, not to undo their achievements.
“Leadership, especially in our community and country, should be about collective progress, not personal accolades.
“This position is a temporary assignment within academia, not an end point in my academic career.
“I am committed to maintaining integrity and honesty and will not compromise on these principles.”
In his valedictory speech, Ochefu noted several milestones achieved within the university system during his tenure, while acknowledging the challenges posed by external factors.
He said: “Looking back on the past five years, I am proud of the transformative changes we’ve implemented.
“Our advocacy efforts led to a nearly 300 percent increase in TETFund’s investment in university information technology infrastructure, an essential step toward modernising higher education in the face of global challenges.”
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Addressing the recurring strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ochefu emphasised the need for the government to address the trust deficit, which he identified as a root cause of these strikes.
He added: “For over 40 years, strikes have persisted due to the lack of agreement between the institutions’ owners and their operators.
“The government must honour its commitments to provide basic services that the union has consistently demanded.”
He urged the government to create an environment conducive to university growth and to avoid policies detrimental to the sector’s development.
Ochefu also encouraged the new Secretary General to ensure the successful launch of CVCNU’s training institute and to work toward expanding the digital environment within the Nigerian University System.
He said: “My vision for the future of Nigerian universities is grounded in technology-driven innovation, forward-thinking leadership, and preparing graduates for the global marketplace.
“The CVC training institute will be pivotal to this vision, equipping future leaders to tackle complex challenges and reshape higher education.”
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