Vice Chancellor of Samuel Adegboyega University (SAU), Ogwa, Edo State, Prof. Babatunde Idowu, has said that stakeholders in and outside the institution are committed to improved research for academic excellence.
Addressing journalists during his unveiling as the third substantive VC of the institution, Idowu counted the institution’s Centre for Research and Development of Esanland (CERDEL) among many research centres geared towards promoting Esan culture and language.
According him, CERDEL has recorded progress since its establishment in 2016.
He added that the centre would commence annual lecture series in honour of Prof. Julius Okojie, the former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), a staunch supporter of the Centre.
“The Centre will also organise a summer programme between August and September this year for sons and daughters of Esanland. The essence is to create a platform for robust interaction that will advance Esan culture. This will play a key role in addressing the fears in some quarters that Esan language may go into extinction. The Onogie of Ogwa has been very supportive in this direction,” Idowu said.
On staff and students’ development, the don said both academic and non-academic staff would be sent for trainings to boost research activities of the university, adding that more social activities would equally be encouraged to strike a balance between students’ academics and social lives.