Prof. Ayobami Salami, the Vice Chancellor of Technical University, Ibadan, on Monday said the institution was established to address the employability gaps among Nigerian youths through entrepreneurial orientation.
Salami said this in Ibadan at the ongoing 2018 Press Week organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State Chapter.
The theme of the week is: “Promoting Professionalism and Good Governance.”
Salami said the country was currently facing myriads of challenges, among which was youth unemployment.
He said: “The problem of youth unemployment is multi-faceted, while the combined admission capacity of the Nigerian university system, public and private, is barely 40 per cent of qualified and eligible candidates.
“The few that are able to gain admission and pass out from the system have been found unemployable for lack of entrepreneurial attitudes as well as employability-related hard and soft skills.
“This university was conceived to provide functional and skill-oriented education to bridge the widening gap between graduates from tertiary institutions and the needs of the society.”
He said a major factor responsible for the declining quality of education was the dwindling resources available to educational institutions, adding it was a reason for the fees being charged.
Salami said the institution also established a basket of scholarship options currently over N1 billion to be accessed by brilliant and indigent students from public schools.
“The endowment comes from both the public and private sectors to support indigent but brilliant students unable to afford the sort of qualitative education offered by the university,” he said.
Salami, who allayed fear of possible politicisation of the scholarship scheme, said the institution was public-owned and much committed to merit.
He commended the media for its numerous contributions to national development and the institution, calling on them to be more vibrant and focused on setting the right agenda for development
He said: “You will all agree with me that, with the deluge of developmental challenges confronting the nation today, the media occupies a strategic position in helping the nation negotiate a better deal.
“The Czech playwright, Tom Stoppard, was absolutely correct when he averred that ‘if your aim is to change the world, journalism is a more immediate short-term weapon.’”
Salami also described the theme of the press week as very apt, adding it could not have come at a better time.
The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, commended the vice chancellor for shedding light on the peculiarities of the university.
Balogun also commended the chapel for choosing the theme of the Week, saying it was apt in view of current developments in the polity.
Ola Ajayi, the Chairman of the chapel, commended the guests for gracing the occasion, promising that members would ensure professional reportage of events in the state.