Universities must impact society rather than society impacting universities, says UI VC

Oru Leonard 

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, has stated that universities must impact society rather than society impacting universities.

He said universities must remain the incubators of ideas and policies that would help grow as well as improve society.

He spoke at the closing ceremony of the 5 – day Workshop for management staff of the Registry, Bursary, Internal Audit, and ITeMS organised by the MacArthur Grants Liaison Office, and the University of Ibadan and facilitated by Digital Bridge Institute.

Prof Adebowale said that for the University of Ibadan to continue to be relevant and fulfil its Vision of meeting societal needs, the University needed to develop a system that will enable it to respond to change quickly.

He said the workshop was one of those strategies for empowering the workforce to respond to change , adding that the management staff are expected to further disseminate the training received to their subordinates.

The Vice-Chancellor said universities are expected to engender development, saying that a society does not grow beyond its universities.

Professor Adebowale noted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) was gradually changing the world but cautioned that such must be regulated to prevent abuse and misuse.

He appreciated the organisers of the workshop and assured that the University would always try its best to remain relevant.

Certificates of participation were later presented to the participants.

(UI Media)