Ilorin — The Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, has canvassed for the collaboration of African Universities, Research institutes as well as the industries for better development of the continent.

Professor Oloyede, who stated this at the opening ceremony of the African University Day celebrations held at the University of Ilorin Conference Hall, also noted that it is only through such collaboration that the necessary ingredients required for the development of the continent could be realised .

Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Service, of the University, Professor Albert Olayemi, the Vice-Chancellor said the African University Day is celebrated on 12th November of every year, stressing that the universities are expected to impart knowledge for development in our countries.

He said the essence of the celebration is to create the awareness on the need of the universities and other related units to come together to assist each other for better development

He said today in Africa, universities produce graduates who are supposed to constitute the man power for the industries but that the only issue is that the graduates lack the required skills to operate .

He said based on this gap, the industries have created their own research units to be able to help themselves.

He said the focus of this year's celebrations is to find a way of providing linkages between the universities, industries and research institutes for speedy development .