By Abubakar Baba Ahmad.
Academic staff in Nigerian universities have been advised to incorporate commercial activities into their academic work, particularly in research, scholarship and projects, to enhance financial stability and boost productivity.
An academic and financial expert with Ahmadu Bello University, ABU Zaria Professor Sulaiman Abdullahi Karwai, gave the advice while presenting a paper at a public lecture organised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Sa’adu Zungur University chapter in Bauchi.
Professor Karwai said academics could become entrepreneurs by translating their knowledge into commercial products and services, especially through book publishing initiatives such as the TETFund Book Publishing Grant.
“An academic entrepreneur is a lecturer who translates knowledge into commercial product and service. Lecturers especially in the north are lazy, I want to call in you to start publishing books in order to earn money particularly the Publishers Allowance under the TETFund Book Publishing Grant”, Karwai calls.
He also called for the establishment of cooperative societies to empower lecturers through investments in land acquisition, savings schemes, soft loans and dividend-sharing from commercial ventures.
In another paper titled“Attaining Financial Stability: Lessons for Academic Staff of Nigerian Universities,”Dr Abubakar Usman of Gombe State University urged academics to acquire knowledge of the financial market for investment in sukuk, stocks and commodity exchange, either individually or collectively.
“I want to appeal to academic Staff to save, invest, support/jelp others in order to have financial stability and comfort. Acquaint yourself with the financial market, invest in sukuk as well as stock and exchange markets”, Dr Abubakar Usman advises.
The Vice Chancellor of Sa’adu Zungur University, Professor Fatima Tahir, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to providing a conducive working environment and called for renewed dedication to values, standards and shared responsibility within the university system.
“SAZU is proud to be among the universities in the country to implement the new agreement signed in between the federal government and ASUU, I therefore call on all oud staff particularly Academics to reciprocate this goodwill by doubling their efforts in the discharge of their professional responsibilities”.
“Sometimes it is easier to say we are fighting for our welfare, rights but how much rights of the system do we give as we fight for our rights? Let us ensure we are giving the system its due right so that when we lie on our beds, we say Yes today I have justified my earnings”, the SAZU VC appeals.
In their separate remarks, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Professor Christopher Piwuna, identified insecurity and poor remuneration as major challenges limiting lecturers’ participation in commercial activities, and urged the union chapters to ensure accountability in university administration, while the Chairperson ASUU SAZU Comrade Awwal Hussain, thanked all stakeholders for their support.