President Bola Tinubu has called on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other academic unions to collaborate with the government in revitalizing Nigeria’s economy.

Speaking at the University of Ibadan’s (UI) 76th Founders’ Day, Tinubu, represented by Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmed, emphasized that a collapsed economy benefits no one.

He urged university unions to recognize the competing financial demands across sectors and to work with the government to create a sustainable funding plan for the university system based on local needs and global best practices.

“A collapsed economy will not be in anybody’s interest. Unions should partner the government to arrive at a funding blueprint for the university system that considers local peculiarities and modern realities,” Tinubu said.

At the event, UI conferred Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees on 485 students and awarded honorary doctorates to four prominent Nigerians, including former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Oluwafemi Bamiro.

The Pro-Chancellor, Adebisi Akande, represented by Nelson Alakpa, highlighted the gap between Nigerian universities and the agricultural sector, advocating for farming villages to bridge the divide.

Sultan of Sokoto and Chancellor of UI, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, urged increased funding for tertiary education to address systemic challenges, while UI Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kayode Adebowale appealed for special financial support to revitalize the institution as Nigeria’s oldest university.