BY DAYO JOHNSON
AKURE —  THE  Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, AVCNU, weekend, said there was need to put unionism in the right perspective to be responsive and responsible to nation building.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of their 28th annual conference at the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA.

Over 60 Vice Chancellors and 70 other officers attended the conference with the theme, ‘The Nigerian University System and the Challenges and Prospects of Globalisation.’

They equally lamented that proliferation of universities without increased funding posed challenges to the  public universities.

Part of the communique read: “There is a need to seek innovative and workable solutions to instability in the university occasioned by student and staff union issues.

“Funding  from the private sector is inadequate because Nigerians do not know how to give to worthy causes.

“Philanthropy should be encouraged in order to have more advancement in university system while differentiating between genuine advancement and ‘Cash and Carry Advancements’ which compromise our integrity.

“Teaching/learning and research take place in resource‑poor contexts, therefore making it near impossible for Nigerian universities to measure up in an increasingly competitive global knowledge economy.”

“ The availability of infrastructure such as energy and telecommunication is a critical need in Nigerian universities.

“Universities therefore need to seek innovative sources of financing education, outside government and private proprietor funding, such as student loans and scholarships, and private sector contributions.@

The Vice Chancellors said  Curriculum review in universities should be regular and industry driven.

According to them the “Vice‑Chancellors as Chief Executive Officers should ensure the enforcement of desirable codes of conduct, including Dress Code.

and working experience in the university system and not only on political consideration.