The Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, has said that the University is committed to producing multi-skilled and globally competitive graduates equipped to thrive in an increasingly dynamic and multidisciplinary labour market.
Adeniyi stated this on Monday when he received the leadership of Education Correspondents of Nigeria (ECAN) on a courtesy visit, noting that the university, located in Abuja, was deliberately strengthening research, innovation, international collaborations and practical skills development as part of efforts to redefine tertiary education and prepare graduates for the future of work.
He stressed that the changing nature of the global economy required graduates to possess skills beyond their primary areas of study, noting that employers increasingly valued individuals who could combine expertise across different fields.
‘The world has become so transdisciplinary that when people are multi-skilled, they are at a better advantage than the one whose skill is solo,’ he said.
According to him, Baze University is developing programmes and partnerships designed to equip students with entrepreneurial and other practical skills that would enable them to become self-reliant, create employment and contribute to innovation.
He cited the university’s participation in the World Bank-supported IDEAS programme as part of its efforts to strengthen practical skills acquisition, noting that the initiative had provided training aimed at enhancing the capacity of young Nigerians for self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
Adeniyi said the university was not interested in producing graduates who would merely obtain certificates and search for jobs, but individuals capable of creating opportunities and contributing meaningfully to economic development.
The Vice-Chancellor also identified research as a critical pillar of the university’s development strategy, stressing that institutions of higher learning must continually generate new knowledge if they are to remain relevant.
‘Research is the hallmark of development because the essence of research is to provide insights, new perspectives and new dimensions away from the things that we have been doing,’ he said.
He explained that the university was building a research-oriented culture through strategic partnerships, collaborations and the recruitment of academics with strong research backgrounds.
Adeniyi further disclosed that Baze University was planning to introduce external academic examiners from outside Nigeria to periodically review the work of its faculties and make recommendations on how to improve academic standards.
He said the initiative would complement the oversight functions of regulatory bodies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Vice-Chancellor said the university was also strengthening its international outlook through the recruitment of scholars from different parts of the world and collaborations with institutions and stakeholders across Africa, disclosing that students at the university were drawn from Nigeria and other African countries, particularly the West African subregion.
Adeniyi said the university’s long-term ambition was to build an institution capable of competing with leading universities globally, stressing that achieving such a vision required sustained investment, patience and deliberate planning.
He said Baze University would continue to invest in its academic environment, research capacity, human capital and international partnerships in pursuit of the vision.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor has called for greater government support for private universities, arguing that they contribute significantly to the development of Nigeria’s human capital.
He said private universities should not be viewed merely as profit-making institutions, noting that the cost of recruiting qualified personnel, providing infrastructure, maintaining facilities, paying utilities and complying with regulatory requirements was enormous.
‘Anybody who thinks it is a profit-making organisation is just making a mistake. Look at what it entails to hire staff, buy facilities, provide utilities and execute huge capital-intensive projects. It is difficult,’ he said.
According to him, graduates of private universities ultimately join the same workforce as their counterparts from public institutions and contribute to the Nigerian economy.
He, therefore, urged the government to recognise the role of private universities in complementing public institutions in expanding access to quality higher education and developing the skilled workforce required for national development.