Researchers across educational institutions have been urged to find timely scientific solutions to the challenges of higher education in the country.
The President, of Higher Education Research and Policy Network (HERPNET), Professor Benedict Emunemu gave the charge at the opening ceremony of the 16th Regional conference of the body held at Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.
The conference, which had its theme: “Transforming African Higher Education System in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals; Financing Education at the Frontiers” drew researchers across educational institutions in the country.
According to Professor Emunemu,
HERPNET is a Non – non-governmental organisation committed to finding scientific solutions to various problems facing higher education in Nigeria, in particular and Africa, in general.
He said further that the Network is dedicated to creating, harvesting, preserving, propagating and promoting scientific knowledge that would help in transforming institutions of higher education in Africa into internationally recognized ones in a knowledge-based society.
According to Professor Emunemu: ” The theme of the conference was chosen after due consideration by the Conference Organizing Committee against the background of the immense challenges being faced by the Higher Education System in Nigeria and Africa, as a continent.
He stated that “it is against this background to transform African Higher Education Systems that informed the Steering Committee of HERPNET to organize this academic discourse where scholars from across Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world would converge both physically or virtually to present their research findings on best practices in the transformation process”.
The researcher expressed confidence that the keynote speakers at the conference would bring their vast experience to bear on the proceedings of the conference so that the various sub-themes would be examined critically, to proffer workable solutions to the transformation of African Higher Education Systems.
The Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Professor Edward Olanipekun welcomed the participants to the university and expressed confidence that they should be able to proffer solutions to major challenges confronting Higher Education Systems at the end of the conference.
Professor Olanipekun noted that it was appalling that no government in Nigeria had ever set aside 10% of its budget to the education sector, despite the minimum benchmark of 26% recommended by UNESCO.
Vice-Chancellor, while acknowledging the various interventions of TETFUND in higher institutions in Nigeria, advised the organization (HERPNET), to collaborate with the Trust Fund for the sponsorship of its activities.
