The Association of Bursars of Nigerian Universities (ABNU) has hinted that several of its members have been to Ghana to evaluate the university revenue generation system.
This , according to the association was done to improve support for Nigerian academic institutions in the face of decreasing statutory allocation.
This was revealed by the Association’s National Chairman, Dr. Victor Imagbe, on Monday in Abuja at the Association’s ongoing Annual Conference and Award.
Imagbe, who is also the Bursar at the University of Benin, stated that the Association had initiated active orientation for its members on how to get intervention money through TETFUND, in addition to searching for ways to enhance school revenue creation.
He noted that, as administrators of the university system, bursars have used their skills to maintain industrial harmony and a calm environment by routinely meeting with all unions.
According to him, the award granted by his Association to both the Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, and the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, was meant to both recognize and motivate others.
He said, ” We have sent delegation to Ghana to understudy the revenue generation in their Universities system. We need to collaborate to ensure that we have a world class Universities. We have also been collaborating with universities outside the country.
” The conference will give all the bursars to understand how to access funds available at TETFUND and the reports they are supposed to be monitoring and proper management of the intervention of the funds that TETFUND is managing.
” Bursars have always been having meetings to address some of the issues within the University system. Apart from funding which is a major challenge in the system. We want to look at how you can generate funds , attract investment and intervention funding to Universities.
” We have encountered our members that they should be able to attract funding. Almost all the Bursars are already becoming academicians, most of them have become Ph.D holders and they know the importance of education.
” As managers of the Universities we are also ensuring a peaceful environment, and that is why we always have meetings with all the unions in the school to give them adequate information, so that they will not hold government to ransom”, Imagbe added.