Don’t mismanage funds, say Abiodun, Awujale to university governing councils, others.

The Dapo Abiodun-led administration in Ogun State has warned the Governing Councils of tertiary institutions owned by the state to avoid actions that could jeopardize the solvency of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education under their supervision.

Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology in Ogun, stated that instead of mismanaging funds and other resources, members of the governing councils are expected to save money and generate revenue for their respective institutions.

Arigbabu issued the warning at the start of a two-day workshop Thursday at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

The workshop, hosted by OOU’s Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Institute for Governance Studies, was titled “Governing Councils of Higher Educational Institutions: Concept, Roles, Relevance, and Expectations.”

According to Oba Adetona, Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, an effective governing council could improve the fortunes of tertiary education, and the education sector would play its required role in developing the country if its challenges were addressed.

The Education Commissioner stated in his keynote address that governing councils are primarily established to reposition tertiary institutions in order to achieve their core mandates.

Arigbabu warned that conflicts or unhealthy rivalry between governing councils and managements of tertiary institutions should be avoided if everyone is aware of his responsibilities, obligations, and limitations.

He believes that when Governing Councils and managements work together, tertiary institutions will grow rapidly.

“Governing Councils are supposed to be blessings for institutions, not curses,” Arigbabu said, emphasizing the importance of the councils being troubleshooters rather than troublemakers.

“Governing bodies are entrusted with public and private funds, and they must adhere to the highest standards of corporate governance.”

“This includes demonstrating integrity and objectivity in the conduct of their business, and following a policy of openness and transparency in the dissemination of their decisions wherever possible,” he advised.

The monarch described governing councils as key actors in the governance of tertiary education while delivering his goodwill message.

The Awujale expressed concern that Nigerian higher education is in crisis due to a variety of factors and reasons.

He noted that Ogun is one of the states in Nigeria with the most tertiary institutions, each with their own set of challenges in tertiary education, and that “thus, this workshop is very timely.”

Earlier, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, Vice-Chancellor of OOU, stated that the workshop was organized to further sensitize participants about their roles as the apex body in the management of tertiary education in the State.

According to him, tertiary education management in a globalised and ever-changing world is not static but very dynamic, and that regardless of an individual’s stock of knowledge, tertiary institution managers must always attune themselves to current realities through regular training and retraining.