Ex Chancellor Urges Varsities To Address Host Community Issues

Former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Ekenem Braided, has called on universities nationwide to prioritize addressing the specific challenges confronting their host communities.

Braide, who is also the Pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Lafia, Nasarawa State, made the call on Friday while delivering the 20th Convocation Lecture of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State.

In her lecture titled “The Nigerian University in the 21st Century: Engine of Knowledge, Driver of Development,” Braide lamented the inadequate uptake of research outcomes in Nigeria and called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to bridge the gap between research and societal needs.

Universities should upscale community service. Generally, there must be a positive impact of the presence of a university in its host community.

She said:

“If a university exists in a location and that location remains unchanged, then the university has not fulfilled its mandate. A university should solve some of the cross-cutting problems of its host community.” 

Braide noted that effective community engagement not only enhances university rankings but also reduces conflicts, addresses economic and social needs, builds leadership qualities in staff and students, and fosters sustainable development.

She further stressed that for universities to truly fulfill their mandates of teaching, learning, research, and community service, they must align their strategies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

She added:

“Education powers all the SDGs. If education is gotten right, poverty will be reduced and development accelerated. But if neglected, it will be motion without movement, going from where we were to where we were.” 

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University, Prof. Jonathan Babalola, described the lecture as timely, given the growing need for universities to drive innovation, nurture creative minds, and provide sustainable solutions to societal challenges.

He praised Braide as a “trailblazing academic leader and accomplished scholar” whose contributions to science, education, and leadership reflect the ideals upheld by Bowen University.

Highlighting activities lined up for the convocation ceremony, Babalola said 1,064 students across various disciplines at undergraduate and postgraduate levels would graduate.

Of these, 143 earned First Class Honours, 394 Second Class (Upper Division), 221 Second Class (Lower Division), 69 Third Class, and five Pass.

In professional programs such as Physiotherapy and Nursing Science, 30 students bagged Distinction, 80 earned Credit, and three obtained Pass.

He added that 66 students from the College of Health Sciences would receive the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree, while 18 graduates earned Postgraduate Diplomas, 26 obtained Master’s degrees, and nine earned Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degrees.

Babalola also announced that for the “sixth consecutive year, Bowen University scholars featured among the Top 2% of Scientists in the World, as compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier.”

Additionally, 13 Bowen faculty members were ranked among the Top 500 Authors in Nigeria between 2021 and 2025 by SCOPUS/SCiVal for research impact and scholarly output.

He praised the staff for their commitment and highlighted that the upcoming convocation would also signify the end of tenure for key officials. Registrar Babatunde Adenoma, University Librarian Dr. Aderonke Otunla, and Chaplain Rev. Dr. Gideon Akanbi.