The Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, said Nigeria Need Problem Solvers More then Degrees
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition, Senator Neda Imasuen, on Friday, reinstated the National Assembly’s commitment to improving university funding and safeguarding academic freedom.
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Imasuen stated this at a two-day golden jubilee anniversary of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Benin, where the lawmaker was honoured with the Distinguished Legislative Leadership award.
PUNCH Online reports that university funding and the question of academic freedom have long been central to debates over Nigeria’s higher education system.
Chronic underfunding, inadequate infrastructure, frequent strikes by university unions, and brain drain among lecturers have hampered the sector’s growth for decades.
Successive administrations have promised reforms, but the gap between policy and implementation remains wide.
The National Assembly, particularly through its relevant committees, plays a key role in appropriating funds for federal universities and ensuring accountability in how they are utilised.
Lawmakers have also been instrumental in shaping policies such as the Student Loan Act, which is aimed at expanding access to higher education for financially disadvantaged students.
However, concerns persist over sustainability, funding models, and whether loans alone can solve the sector’s deep-rooted problems.
The senator, who was represented at the event by former Edo State Commissioner for Transport, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, used the occasion to highlight Imasuen’s contribution to education in Edo South senatorial district.
He said, “Our country needs more than degrees—it needs problem solvers, ethical leaders, and courageous citizens. Education is not just about acquiring certificates; it is about building resilience, character, and responsibility.”
Highlighting his contributions to education in Edo South, Omo-ojo disclosed that Imasuen has awarded over 420 scholarships in the past two years, including two students in UNIBEN’s Music and Educational Management departments.
He stated that Imasuen ‘s office had covered Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board fees for more than 500 students, while also introducing vocational training programmes for parents in skills such as modern farming, fashion design, and traditional event services.
Speaking further, Imasuen pledged support for President Bola Tinubu’s Students Loan Act, describing it as a vital step in widening access to higher education.
In addition, he announced plans to train 350 youths in boundary security and committed to rebuilding the Faculty of Arts Lecture Theatre as part of his constituency projects.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Edosa Bright Omoregie, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Victor Ighineweka, described the Faculty as “a beacon of intellectual, cultural and humanistic development” whose alumni have shaped Nigeria’s academic, artistic, and political landscapes.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor Francis Egbokhare addressed the theme “The Place of Humanity in an AI Era.”
He dismissed fears of Artificial Intelligence replacing human potential, stressing instead that the world’s greatest challenges remain humanistic, not scientific.
He argued that issues of values, equity, leadership, and purpose cannot be resolved by technology but by human-centred thinking.