“Conversely, universities that are well-funded, ethically governed, globally connected, and firmly linked to industry evolve into engines of innovation, civic renewal, and economic competitiveness”
By Mark Orgu, News/Comments
A foremost human Rights Activist and constitutional lawyer, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), has delivered the 21st Convocation lecture of the Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Edo State, during the week, titled, “The University as a catalyst for Societal Development”, reiterating the duties of Academic Institutions, while emphasizing however, that, Universities are not mere centres for jamboree but for transformation and innovations.
“Universities are not merely centres of instruction; they are engines of transformation, positioned at the crossroads of knowledge, innovation, and culture. They train human capital, generate research, and shape socio-economic development while nurturing civic values and democratic engagement. In societies facing instability, poverty, and inequality, universities become crucibles of critical thought and reform, producing graduates who are not only employable but also socially responsible.”
“Across history, universities have stood as catalysts for change: they incubated the Renaissance, propelled scientific revolutions, and today power the digital age. Beyond technology, they mould character, refine values, and produce leaders capable of service and sacrifice. In this sense, the health of a nation is mirrored in the vitality of its universities. Where universities thrive, society flourishes with innovation and progress; where they falter, society stagnates in ignorance and decay.
“Yet, this catalytic potential is constrained by underfunding, weak autonomy, and poor industry linkages, especially in developing contexts. To unlock their promise, universities must be repositioned through sustained investment, stronger governance, and robust partnerships with government, industry, and civil society. Ultimately, the university is not an enclave but the beating heart of national destiny: the conscience, compass, and catalyst of societal advancement.”
While highlighting challenges facing its existence such as underfunding and infrastructural decay, brain drain of academics, curriculum irrelevance, politicization, corruption, and strikes, poor Research–industry linkages weak university autonomy among others. He therefore recommended that only adequate funding and resource allocation, university–industry–government synergy (triple helix model), can remedy the situation, even as he reemphasised on research commercialization, curriculum reform: innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, ethics, international collaboration and global competitiveness, revival of mentorship, discipline, and value-driven leadership.
The legal luminary who in his conclusion said, there is hope if the needful is done:
“The university, when rightly positioned, is more than an academic enclave; it is the multiplier of societal progress and the heartbeat of national destiny. It preserves, expands, and transmits knowledge across generations, drives innovation through research, and cultivates civic values that sustain social cohesion. Far beyond being a training ground for professionals, it is a crucible of leadership, a forum for debate, and a repository of cultural identity. Universities mirror society’s realities while simultaneously shaping its future.”
“No nation can rise above the strength of its universities. Thriving institutions fuel creativity, employment, and progress; weak ones breed ignorance, stagnation, and despair, underfunding, politicization, or reducing them to degree mills undermines national development and mortgages the future. Conversely, universities that are well-funded, ethically governed, globally connected, and firmly linked to industry evolve into engines of innovation, civic renewal, and economic competitiveness.
For Africa—and Nigeria in particular—the stakes are even higher. To break cycles of dependency and underdevelopment, universities must be reclaimed and repositioned as true engines of transformation. This requires systemic reforms, consistent investment, and a cultural revaluation of higher education. Strong universities not only produce employable graduates but also generate solutions to national challenges, foster inclusive societies, and uphold the intellectual sovereignty of the continent.”
The truth is simple yet profound: a society’s development is mirrored in the vitality of its universities. To strengthen them is to secure the future, invest in human capital, and expand the horizons of possibility. To neglect them is to doom tomorrow to mediocrity and decline. For Nigeria and Africa, genuine transformation rests on a clear imperative: universities must remain at the centre—resourced, reformed, and revered as the catalysts of societal development.
Archbishop Benson Idahosa’s Vision Has Crystalised
Prof. Ozekhome praised the University for sustaining the legacy of the immortal prophet Benson Idahosa:
“The birth of Benson Idahosa University was not the invention of man’s ambition, but the unfolding of a divine prophecy. Its story does not begin with classrooms and faculties, but with a voice. It was a voice that broke forth in 1978, addressing one man, the late Archbishop Benson Andrew Idahosa.
In that year, when universities in Nigeria were the exclusive preserve of federal and state governments courtesy of Decree No. 33, the Lord God Almighty spoke what seemed unthinkable: “You shall raise a University for the glory of My Majesty.” To the Archbishop, it was clear—this was not a dream within human reach. This was a feat so staggering that only God could perform it, and only faith could hold it.
The Archbishop understood that obedience must precede fulfillment. Thus, he began where the Lord directed. Out of the divine seed came the Word of Faith Group of Schools. It was an educational vision that grew into a shining model for future generations, proof that God’s word does not fall to the ground. Yet, this was only the beginning, a foreshadowing of something greater.
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