Don advises governments on ensuring safer campuses

ILLORIN (Sundiata Scholar) – A Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ilorin, John Olorunmaiye, on Monday urged government at all levels to ensure safety on the nation’s campuses.

Olorunmaiye, while speaking during the 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Kwara Branch of Nigerian Association of Mechanical Engineering in Ilorin, said this would help to encourage quality learning.

The don explained that it was only when the campuses were free of all sorts of organised crime that students would be encouraged to concentrate on learning

.reports that the theme of the event was “Outcome-Based Education in Engineering: Strategies for Successful Adoption”.

Olorunmaiye observed that if outcome-based education was well implemented, every student would turn out to be a successful learner.

He lamented the fact that the country has challenges of inadequate number or quality of academic and non-teaching staff in many universities.

The don explained that there was an excessive number of students in some universities, especially public universities, with lack of modern equipment in the laboratories a feature.

“There is poor attention to or the abandonment of laboratories to technicians and technologists by lecturers in some universities, weak or poor industrial training programmes and poorly motivated staff among others,” he said.

Olorunmaiye, who is a former Dean of Engineering and Technology, also declared that the implementation of the Students Loans Scheme by President Bola Tinubu was highly commendable.

He claimed it was on record that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed over N1.1 billion in tuition fees for about 20,000 students in various public tertiary institutions.

“The NELFUND loan should also be extended to postgraduate students in Engineering programmes, as this will enable more students to be trained.”

Olorunmaiye further said any student who graduated from the field of Engineering must have the ability to apply the knowledge of Mathematics, natural science, computing and Engineering specialisation.

”He or she must be able to develop solutions to complex Engineering problems,” he said.

In his valedictory speech, the outgoing Branch Chairman, Suleiman Yahaya of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ilorin, appreciated members for their support.

He recalled that the task of leading the Branch was not easy as it involved a lot of sacrifice.

Yahaya said the support received yielded tremendous achievements, which include fostering and enhancing collaboration with different institutions, among others.

“I urge everyone to support the new administration to achieve more results,” he said.(NAN)