The Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, David Oyedepo, has urged the Federal Government to reposition universities to provide intellectual solutions to issues of concern to government, commerce and industry.
Oyedepo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ota, Ogun.
Oyedepo emphasised that Nigerian universities should serve as transformative hubs for reprogramming the intellectual landscape of young minds to foster a productive and value-added life.
He envisioned institutions that function like engineering workshops, where students’ potential is harnessed and refined through innovative programs, equipping them to drive societal progress and economic growth.
He noted that it was time to reconstruct the intellectual armoury and take up intellectual arms that would turn educational institutions in Nigeria into solutions centres.
Oyedepo advised the Federal Government to make concerted efforts to develop education modules to address current challenges in the country.
“What is the value of formal education and chains of degrees that proffer no solutions to numerous challenges confronting the country?
“Our universities should become like engineering workshops where we programme and deprogramme the intellectual system of young people for productive and value-adding life.
“It is time for the universities to be repositioned to provide intellectual solutions to issues of concern to government, commerce and industry,” he said.
The chancellor emphasised that Nigeria must harness the power of its education institutions to tackle pressing national challenges like unemployment and insecurity.