The Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Ayatse, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise the development of indigenous aerospace technology as part of a robust national strategy to curb banditry and insurgency.
Prof. Ayatse made the call on Saturday during the 51st convocation ceremony of UNIBEN at the Akin Deko Auditorium in Edo State where he warned that the rise in violent attacks across the country was inflicting “grievous consequences on the people’s psyche and well-being.”
He said: “Government should consider the need to develop an indigenous aerospace technology as one of the ways to tackle incessant banditry and cases of insurgency in parts of the Country.”
According to the paramount ruler, escalating fear associated with road travel due to insecurity demanded urgent and innovative solutions.
The Tor Tiv also appealed to the Federal Government to stabilise the tertiary education sector, calling for the resolution of issues that triggered the recent two-week ASUU strike.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to adopt a long-term mechanism for staff welfare, adding: “The President should consider directing on the approach of tying the salaries of staff in tertiary education to the national inflation rate so that, on an annual basis, salaries of staff are automatically adjusted in line with inflation.”
He noted that the administration had made significant progress through interventions such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), with “over 800,000 beneficiaries so far,” as well as improved funding and infrastructure support from TETFUND. He, however, stressed that more investment was needed to reduce brain drain and enhance the quality of teaching and research.
Prof. Ayatse welcomed the seven-year moratorium on establishing new tertiary institutions, describing it as a pragmatic step that would help government strengthen existing universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
He said concentrating resources on current institutions would improve facilities and produce “higher quality graduates.”
The monarch commended UNIBEN’s recent federal approvals for expanded medical programmes, new and renovated hostels, hybrid solar mini-grid electricity, and the construction of a new Senate Building.
He also celebrated the university’s designation as the Centre of Excellence in Sports for the South-South region.
He hailed the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, SAN, for what he described as purposeful leadership, noting the recruitment of about 500 new staff and the implementation of a five-point development agenda.
Prof. Ayatse congratulated the graduands and urged them to become “deserving ambassadors of the great University of Benin” while contributing meaningfully to society.
Amazing