Archbishop Sam Amaga, Founder and Chancellor of Salem University, Lokoja, has called on government and private stakeholders to significantly increase investment in Nigerian universities to enable them function as true engines of national development. He made the appeal over the weekend during the institution’s 7th Convocation Ceremony held in Lokoja.
Archbishop Amaga said universities should not operate merely as “certificate-producing factories,” but as hubs of innovation, research and transformational leadership. He urged federal and state governments to prioritise funding for research, innovation and capacity building, stressing that higher institutions must be empowered to play a central role in nation-building.
According to him, Salem University has put in place systems designed to produce “change agents and global leaders” capable of rebuilding nations and fully exploring their potential.
“We have a divine mandate to raise change agents and recreate people who will rebuild nations by challenging the status quo and pushing new frontiers of development and civilization,” he said.
He added that the graduates have been trained in knowledge, discipline and godliness, noting that their exposure within the university environment has adequately prepared them to confront future challenges.
“We do not consider them ordinary graduates but change agents—empowered and endowed to transform their spheres of influence,” he stated.
Archbishop Amaga encouraged the graduands to uphold their values despite societal pressures, urging them to rely on their faith and training as they begin the next phase of their lives.
Earlier in his address, the Vice-Chancellor of Salem University, Professor Alewo Johnson Akubo, described the institution’s growth as remarkable, noting that it has transformed from a mere dream into a flourishing citadel of learning. He highlighted major infrastructural improvements, including upgrades to academic facilities to enhance teaching and learning.
Professor Akubo announced that the university recently secured approval to commence the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme, and has begun admission into the course.
“The new college houses the Departments of Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Human Anatomy and Physiology, all equipped with modern laboratories that meet global standards,” he said.
He also confirmed that the university has received full approval to run its postgraduate programmes, including Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s and PhD degrees in Biochemistry, Mass Communication, Law, International Relations and other disciplines.
In his remarks, Kogi State Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo commended the management of Salem University for promoting discipline and delivering quality education across various fields. Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, the governor expressed the state government’s commitment to partnering with the institution, particularly in using education as a strategic tool to combat banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.
The convocation ceremony drew stakeholders from the academic community, government and religious institutions, who all echoed the need for stronger investment in tertiary education to support national development.
