Universities Should Provide Solution to Challenges Confronting the Nation

The Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Mrs. Nancy Thompson, has said the problems of the nation must be solved by our universities and not depend on the outside world for solutions.

“Our universities should be at the forefront of solving our numerous challenges and not remain in their Ivory Towers. What we do should affect our people, we need not depend on outside world, when we do that we are selling our sovereignty”.

The Chairman of Council made these remarks when she interacted with members of faculty of the School of Physical Sciences as part of her working visit to the University.

Welcoming her, Dean of the School, Prof. David Essumang, said he was elated to have the Council chair visit them to learn at first hand both the successes and challenges of the School.

Prof. Essumang, noted that, various departments of the School were trying with the little resources available to make giant strides in their respective fields and, therefore, called on the University to provide them with the needed support by way of funding to achieve more results.

He appealed to GETFund to complete the Science Annex project to enable the school expand by way of setting up more laboratories.

Heads of Department in the School took turns to make presentations of the overview of activities and programmes of their respective departments.

Mrs. Thompson said: “we need joint effort to find solution to our problems, we can make it happen because we have the key and the brains to do so. Let us come together and with a little push we will be there”.

Mrs. Thompson told her audience that “if you are expecting me to bring you solutions or expecting solutions from me, you are making a mistake, I’m adding on to your problems”.

The Council chair said the time has come for the University to assert itself and not play second fiddle to any other, adding “you are as good as the others if not the best”. The University according to her must have immediate impact on its immediate neighbours and the country at large.

“I think there is the need to find means of solving challenges, we are sitting on gold mine and doing all sorts of researches that could bring in funds to run the university”.

“UCC we are good and can do it, why do we sit in our poverty and moan? I want to go with a plan of action to move forward”.

She urged them to work hard and get more Internally generated Funds (IGF) and not wait for the paltry 15% government subvention for operations.