Nigerian varsities urged to embrace innovation, resilience
By Tajudeen Babamale
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR, and Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, have called on Nigerian universities to embrace innovation, resilience, strategic thinking and stronger community engagement to enhance their contributions to national development.
The two leaders made the call last Monday (August 17, 2026) in different goodwill messages delivered at a dinner organised by Governor AbdulRazaq for members of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Ilorin, ahead of the 37th Annual General Assembly Conference of the group hosted by the University of Ilorin.
Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, President Tinubu commended the University of Ilorin for hosting the gathering, noting its commitment to scholarship and national development.
He also praised the CVCNU for choosing Kwara State as the venue, describing the choice as fitting, given the state’s growing reputation as a centre of learning and innovation.
The President described Vice Chancellors as custodians of knowledge, shapers of characters and architects of the future, stressing that their responsibilities go beyond university administration.
He noted that expectations from students, industries and communities had increased significantly, with students demanding relevant education that could lead to employment and solutions, industries requiring research that addresses real-world challenges, and communities expecting universities to contribute to their wellbeing and development.
According to him, these demands require universities to rethink their approaches to teaching, research and partnerships, saying that the traditional ivory-tower model could no longer adequately meet the demands of the 21st century.
He, therefore, urged educational institutions to become more entrepreneurial, technology-driven and deeply connected to their host communities, while challenging the Vice Chancellors to use the Conference to develop concrete ideas capable of making Nigerian universities more productive, inclusive and impactful.
Similarly, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in a goodwill message delivered by the Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, called on universities to embrace resilience, innovation and strategic thinking as tools for strengthening their systems and processes and contributing more effectively to national development.
The Governor said that Kwara State was particularly honoured to host the Conference at the University of Ilorin, describing the University as an institution that had recorded significant growth in academic standing and contribution to national development through its sustained commitment to scholarship, service to society and academic excellence.
Mallam AbdulRazaq described the Conference theme, “Building Resilient Universities for Nigeria,” as timely, stressing that resilience goes beyond enduring challenges to include the ability to adapt, innovate, maintain academic standards and create environments where staff and students can thrive.
He urged universities to make resilience a deliberate strategy for strengthening their systems and processes, noting that strategic thinking, creativity and professional expertise were essential for building stronger institutions.
The Governor also called on universities to deepen their engagement with their host communities through research, innovation, expertise and partnerships. He said their education remained a foremost priority of his administration, adding that the state had continued to strengthen curriculum development, technology-enabled learning, merit-based appointments and programme accreditation, while working to sustain stable academic calendars.
Mallam AbdulRazaq, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparent reforms, quality education and sustainable development, while welcoming the Vice Chancellors and other participants to the “State of Harmony” and wishing them fruitful deliberations and a successful Conference.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, appreciated Governor AbdulRazaq for his continued support for education and the development of the University of Ilorin. He specifically acknowledged the Governor’s recent intervention on the road leading to the University, describing it as a demonstration of his Administration’s responsiveness to the needs of the institution.
Prof. Egbewole assured the visiting Vice Chancellors that Kwara State remained a state of harmony, safety and hospitality, promising that the University of Ilorin would provide them with a memorable experience during their stay.
The Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Muhammad-Lawal Olalekan Olohungbebe, also welcomed the Vice Chancellors to Ilorin, describing the hosting of the 37th meeting of the CVCNU by the University of Ilorin as a great honour for the state.
Dr Olohungbebe highlighted the important role of the CVCNU in Nigeria’s higher education landscape, describing it as a platform through which University leaders exchange ideas, share experiences and collectively shape the future of the university system. He noted that while the following day would be devoted to the formal business of the Conference, the dinner provided an opportunity for the Vice Chancellors to relax, interact, renew friendships and strengthen professional bonds across Nigeria’s university community.
