By Felix Khanoba
Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu has officially taken the helm as the 9th Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), succeeding Chris Maiyaki.
The handover ceremony took place on Monday at the NUC headquarters in Abuja, marking the beginning of Ribadu’s tenure.
During his inaugural address, Ribadu outlined his vision for the commission, emphasizing staff welfare, academic stability, and transformative initiatives aimed at improving Nigeria’s university education sector.
“In the coming weeks and months, I will be working closely with the management team to develop a comprehensive strategy for the commission,” Ribadu said.
He emphasized the challenge of limited access to higher education, with only about 500,000 students admitted annually from the 2 million who take the JAMB UTME.
Ribadu proposed expanding university infrastructure, promoting e-learning, and enhancing private education opportunities to address the gap.
On funding, Ribadu stressed the importance of securing both internal and external support. “We will work towards improved funding for university education,” he stated, adding that a comprehensive needs assessment is necessary to guide resource allocation. He also pledged to strengthen partnerships with international organizations and donor agencies to maximize funding opportunities.
Ribadu announced plans to digitize the NUC’s operations to enhance transparency and efficiency. “We will work towards digitalizing the activities of the commission for easy operations, transparency, accessibility, and ease of doing business,” he explained. This includes streamlining approval processes and establishing clear timelines for various activities.
He also promised to prioritize quality assurance in academic programs, fostering innovation and research excellence, and stabilizing academic calendars to align with global standards. “We will ensure that regular audits and assessments of academic programs become more robust, transparent, and in tandem with global best practices,” Ribadu said.
Additionally, he emphasized the need for legislative reform within the NUC, signaling an intent to review and update the commission’s governing laws to enhance its regulatory functions.
Outgone acting Executive Secretary Chris Maiyaki, who passed the baton to Ribadu, expressed confidence in the new leadership, calling it a significant step toward innovation within the commission.
“The NUC needs to review its extant laws to achieve its objectives,” Maiyaki said.
