NUC Assessment Team Commends TASFUED’s Entrepreneurship Initiative

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has commenced a resource assessment exercise at Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED), Ijagun, to evaluate the adequacy of the University’s academic resources, facilities and institutional processes against established standards for quality assurance and effective delivery of academic programmes.

The exercise brings together representatives of the NUC and academic experts from universities across the country. It is also aimed at providing an objective assessment of the University’s capacity to deliver quality academic programmes and identifying areas requiring further improvement.

During the exercise, the assessment team commended TASFUED’s emphasis on entrepreneurship and practical skills development.

Welcoming the assessment team, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Oladipo, MNPA, CMCPN, MCAN, FIELPN, said the University was pleased to receive the team and remained committed to objective assessment as a means of strengthening its academic and institutional standards.

Professor Oladipo explained that TASFUED’s academic philosophy was anchored on producing graduates with strong disciplinary knowledge and professional competencies. He noted that the University’s dual-competency approach was designed to equip students with subject-matter expertise and the ability to apply their knowledge effectively.

He also highlighted the University’s dual-certification initiative, through which students acquire entrepreneurial and vocational skills alongside their academic qualifications.

According to him, the initiative exposes students to practical skills in areas including agriculture, garment making, shoe production and technology-driven crafts, with the broader objective of preparing graduates for self-employment and entrepreneurship.

The Vice-Chancellor further disclosed that the University was strengthening its incubation and entrepreneurship initiatives to enable students with viable business ideas to develop and commercialise them.

He said the initiatives formed part of the University’s broader strategic vision of producing graduates who could contribute meaningfully to national development while remaining competitive in a changing global economy.

Responding on behalf of the assessment team, one of the team leaders commended the University for its hospitality and described TASFUED as the premier university of education in Nigeria.

The team leader, Professor Charles Uchenna Uwakwe, disclosed that the NUC resource assessment process was guided by the principles of fairness, objectivity and professionalism.

He stressed that the exercise was intended to provide an external perspective on the University’s capacity and support its institutional efforts towards strengthening quality.

Professor Uwakwe particularly appreciated the University’s emphasis on entrepreneurship and the additional skills acquired by its students, describing the initiative as a positive approach to preparing graduates for the realities of the contemporary economy.

He explained that resource assessment provides an external perspective on an institution’s preparedness and capacity, noting that it enables the University to identify areas of strength as well as aspects requiring further attention.

He therefore urged the University to regard observations arising from the exercise as constructive feedback that could assist the Management in further improving its institutional resources and academic standards.

The resource assessment exercise covers programmes including:

• Business Administration

• Artificial Intelligence

• Statistics

• Communication and Language Arts

• Psychology

• Sustainable Land Management

• Primary and Special Education

• Peace and Conflict Resolution

• History and Diplomatic Studies

• Local Government and Development Studies

• Cyber Security

The assessment team comprises academics and NUC representatives drawn from institutions including the University of Ibadan, Ibadan; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Nasarawa State University, Keffi; University of Calabar; University of Uyo; University of Lagos; National Open University of Nigeria; and the National Universities Commission.

The Management reaffirmed its readiness to cooperate fully with the assessment team, expressing confidence that the exercise would contribute to the University’s continuous improvement and pursuit of academic excellence.