THE Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has called for improved remuneration for academics, stressing that it is unfair that Professors in the country don't earn up to N1 million in a month in salaries and allowances.
Olanipekun, who spoke during the launch of Prof. Peter Olufemi Adeniyi's autobiography, Lifted, and Foundation, which was held at the Tayo Aderinokun Auditorium, UNILAG, recently, said he had already tabled the matter before the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities.
He noted that the country should get its politics right and start appreciating academics who nurture its children to greatness.
"We are getting our politics wrong in this country. We just have to get our politics right. It is said that we should give to Caesar what is due to Caesar. We must give to the academics what is due to them; and rightly too. I am not here to do any preaching but we are a society that has conscience. As a senior citizen of this country, I am saying that our nation should not oppress scholars. We must reconsider our attitude to academics," he said.
Olanipekun noted that Adeniyi had done well for himself and society, praying that God would continue to honour and uplift him.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Ayodele Francis Ogunye, who described the event as a celebration of Adeniyi's remarkable life and achievements, added that the launch of a foundation is a testament to his desire to impact lives through education.
He urged Nigerians to support the foundation in achieving its objectives and delivering its initiatives.
In her remarks, the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), Prof. Ayodele Victoria Atsenuwa and Prof. Bolanle Olufunmilayo Oboh respectively, expressed the belief that Lifted will be very critical in building leadership not just for those in academia but also for everyone.
"Since as human beings we never stop learning, we expect that even the oldest of us here today will take one lesson to live with," she said.
GUARDIAN
