The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Sonny Echono, on Saturday urged both federal and state governments to grant full autonomy to universities.

 Mr Echono made the call during a convocation lecture titled, ‘University Autonomy and the Challenge of Quality Tertiary Education in Nigeria,’ held at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.

 He stated that universities, as ivory towers, have three core mandates: teaching, research, and community service. These roles require a level of independence to function effectively.

The TETFUND executive secretary argued that to carry out their functions, both federal and state-owned universities must be granted full autonomy, allowing them greater operational freedom.

Mr Echono explained that university autonomy and academic freedom were separate but fundamental aspects of university operations, crucial for maintaining quality education and fostering academic growth.

 He highlighted that the government’s current policy on university autonomy does not fully guarantee freedom, as it retains ultimate control through university governing councils.

 Mr Echono urged the Federal Government to grant universities more autonomy to enhance infrastructure and foster collaboration with industries, alumni, and other educational institutions.

He emphasised that autonomy enables universities to build stronger networks, improve infrastructure, and collaborate globally to exchange ideas, experiences, and best practices in education.

 He stated, “University autonomy also provides opportunities for global collaboration, allowing universities to share ideas, research, and effective teaching methods, benefiting the learning process.’’

Mr Echono added that university autonomy would lead to enhanced operational efficiency and improved performance, ultimately fostering the development of quality education for national growth.

 In response, the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, commended the guest speaker at the university’s 9th convocation ceremony.

Mr Fasina expressed gratitude to TETFUND for its continued support in promoting the university’s development, despite economic challenges.

 He assured university stakeholders of his administration’s commitment to improving and promoting quality education at the institution.

(NAN)