Immediate past Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and a former Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulrahman Oba, have called for a better approach to resources management in the nation’s  university sub-sector.

They spoke to journalists in Ilorin on Monday on the sideline of a reception for Oloyede, by the Committee of Friends, Ilorin Emirate Extraction.

Oloyede, who was the immediate-past UNILORIN VC, said with commitment and being innovative, a lot can be achieved for the country.

He added that Nigeria was blessed with abundant human and material resources to move it forward, particularly in the education sector.

“I do not share the belief that our systems are not working and cannot work. I believe that with some efforts, we can make things work, particularly the higher education  sector. The primary strategy is commitment on the part of the leadership and transparency.  With the little resources we have, we could go a long way if we manage them very well,” Oloyede said.

Oba, lauding the achievements of Oloyede, said the feats were a lesson for future VCs, academics or any other person involved in the Nigerian education system.

He stated that while there should be more funding far the education sector, it was essential to ensure appropriateness in the deployment of the funds.

Oba stated that the government had, over the years made huge funds available for research in the university system.

He, however, said that some funds were not well utilised, adding that academics should do more to justify the huge resources available for research.

Oba, who is currently the Chairman, Federal Character Commission, noted that research was the basics or foundation of education and development.

He noted that to have a knowledge-based economy, there must be massive investment in research.

He noted, “The strategies for improving university education begin from funding. Not just enough funding but appropriateness of funding, appropriateness of the deployment of the funds that are available.  In recent times, there is a  lot of money in the university education sector in Nigeria. Funds that are available are being inappropriately utilised.

“We need to first of all do a home work and re-thinking of the university life itself, the university procedures for teaching, learning and the production of the manpower future of our country.”