By Omone Emmanuella Samuel
The House of Representatives are set to hold a two-day national forum with a stand to address and provide solutions to the current challenges facing the tertiary education sector in Nigeria.
The forum, organized under the Office of the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, bears the theme ‘Re-imagining Tertiary Education in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Solutions’ and will commence on Tuesday.
In a statement made by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Lanre Lasisi, on Monday in Abuja, it was stated that the forum would kick off on Tuesday and end on Wednesday.
Some dignitaries expected to be in attendance include President Muhammadu Buhari, Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Minister of Works and Housing; Babatunde Raji Fashola, pro-chancellor and vice chancellors from different universities, noteworthy academicians and educators among others.
Mr Lanre further said that forum talks would centre on topics such as ‘Identifying and Implementing Pragmatic Approaches to Funding Public Tertiary Education in Nigeria,’ Considering Practical Options for a National Education Loan System for Students and ‘Avenues and Options for Transformative Public-Private Partnerships and Collaborations in Tertiary Education.’
Other topics include ‘Modernizing the Accreditation, Classification and Certification of Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Colleges of Education to Encourage Enrollment, Improve Training Outcomes and Enhance Employability,’ ‘Reforming Methods of Sanction, Investigation and Punishment to Prevent Academic Corruption as well as end Sexual Coercion and Harassment in Tertiary Institutions.