The Federal Government of Nigeria has urged the Committee of Vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities to implement the 60/40 admission ratio policy in favour of science and engineering courses.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who made the call when he received the Secretary-General, Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Yakubu A. Ochefu, in his office in Abuja Thursday, said giving admission to more science and engineering students would stimulate innovation and economic growth for the nation.
- Indigenous education fast disappearing
- Citizen Science: A powerful education and biodiversity conservation tool
He said the ministry, in collaboration with universities, would continue to lead the way in ensuring that the Nigerian economy is transformed to a knowledge and innovation-driven one.
While saying universities are critical in the journey of Nigeria’s future, he emphasized the need for Nigeria to embrace technology in view of its rising population.
Dr. Onu, who also offered to assist Nigerian universities in protecting their intellectual properties through patents, added that inventors and innovators maybe discouraged if their intellectual outputs were not protected.
He said: “Intellectual property must be protected because intellectual theft discourages innovation.”
Earlier, the Secretary-General, Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities said that the committee would work closely with MDA’s to proffer solutions to local and international challenges.
He further said the committee had designed a strategy to checkmate plagiarism and intellectual theft in the universities.
