The Federal Government on Monday, inaugurated the Governing Council of the newly established Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO) and that of 12 other federal universities as parts of its effort to improve the nation’s university system.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu who inaugurated the council members in Abuja, urged them to come up with ideas that will shore up the internally generated revenue of the universities.

He said: “The major critical areas of challenge is inadequate funding as well as judicious use of available resources, so let me advise you to come up with new creative ways to improve funding in your institutions”.

“You will have to block the loopholes where the IGR slides away. I urge you to also comply and respect the rule of the Federal Character Commission in the appointment of your officers.”

He disclosed that visitation panels will be touring the universities in the next few weeks, calling on the new council members to effectively cooperate with the panel so as to lay a good foundation.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Rasheed Abubakar said the inauguration of the council members marks the beginning of a new phase in the introduction of first 13 specialised universities.

He said all the specialised universities came about with the vision to empower specialised higher education in the sector to address the needs of the Nigerian society.

Responding, the representative of the newly appointed chairmen, Prof Funmilayo Monguno, while pledging the best of services from the council members also called for cooperation from the Minister and NUC specifically in the provision of useful information.

Among the universities whose Governing Councils were inaugurated is the newly established Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo, Benue State, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.

Others are: Federal University, Lokoja; Federal University, Lafia; Federal University, Kashere; Federal University, Wukari; Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State; Federal University, Jigawa; Ndufo Alike University, Ebonyi State; Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State; Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State; Federal University, Birnin-Kebbi; Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State and Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State.