Universities set to add value to national development

Dr Oghenekaro Ogbinaka, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos Chapter, on Wednesday said that the universities were set to take their rightful position in national development.

Ogbinaka spoke in an interview in Lagos as life gradually returned to the campus following the end of the ASUU strike.

The ASUU had on Tuesday announced the suspension of the strike which started on July 1 and kept varsity students in public universities at home. Ogbinaka said that the promises the Federal Government had made showed that it was willing to turn around the fortunes of the country’s universities for the good of the people. “I want to say that we are collectively happy as a people to see this struggle this far. “Of course it came with some pains but I want to say that so far we give thanks to God.

“We are aware that we have lost some time in the academic calendar but we can assure you that we will do all within our ability to make up for the lost time,” he said.

Dr Samuel Ugo, Senior Lecturer, Political Science Department in the institution, called on his colleagues to show more enthusiasm in the discharge of their duties.

He said that the government had committed itself during its negotiation with ASUU and he was optimistic that with such commitment, the lot of public universities would improve.

The university campus was livelier on Wednesday and some business operators were seen cleaning and preparing their shops in readiness for resumption in January.

Mrs Funmilayo Ogundare, a shop owner on campus said she was glad when she heard that the ASUU strike had been called off.

She said that during the strike, she was practically out of business and had to close her shop temporarily. Mr Daniel Uyi, a cab operator on the campus, also said that the strike affected his business and prayed that such an occurrence would not happen again.

He commended the Federal Government and ASUU for showing understanding in resolving the issues, noting that Nigeria was set to witness a new dawn in the education sector.

The number of students coming into the university had also increased.

The visibly elated students were seen in tiny groups reliving their experiences during the strike.