President Bola Ahmad Tinubu has said that his administration would continue to support education because of his strong belief that Nigeria’s survival can only be assured by the quality of human capital development.
President Tinubu disclosed this at the 38th convocation ceremony of the Bayero University Kano (BUK), on Saturday in Kano.
The President who was represented by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Muhammad, explained that the present administration accord top priority to education and human capital development.
He said the Federal Government has taken steps to provide power to Universities with compressed natural gas through the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Gas.
“We have been directed to work out this facility so that universities could have a continuous uninterrupted supply of power for their research and general services”
“Why supporting all aspects of education, this administration will focus on skill, technology, and vocational education as core drivers of an educational system that will prepare graduates for employment and employer of labor.”
“For this purpose, FG is building 24 skill and vocational hubs in polytechnics as well as entrepreneurship centers in our universities. We are also reviving 970 Tsangaya centers for integrated learning and development of Almagiria in the country.”
President Tinubu added that the Federal Government is also building 91 vocational schools in secondary schools across the country to ensure that all levels of education enjoy the impact of the policy.
” We are set to inaugurate Private Sector Innovation Enterprise Centre across the country to deliver on the skill acquisition program of the government.”
“Our universities are centers of learning that need to upscale and adjust to the modern day world by repositioning themselves as a citadel of education that will bring about development.”
“As a government, we are also determined in our effort to continue to support the upgrade of infrastructure, teaching materials, and research equipment in our universities, which the need assessment of Nigeria’s public universities is addressing.”
He pointed out that, apart from his administration’s commitment to ensure the reinvigoration of quality of university education and uplifting the tertiary institutions from the IPPS platform of research,” the increase of allocation to the educational sector in our preparation for the year 2024 and the operationalization of the student’s loan scheme in the year 2024 among others.” President Tinubu stated.
“The Federal Executive Council recently approved the guidelines for good governance and adherence to financial regulations, hence IPPS. Universities are strongly advised to heed those guidelines as serious consequences will apply to any breach.”
He urged all Nigerian Universities to define their roles and carve out a niche for themselves by designing programs that will assist the government in poverty reduction, creating employment opportunities, health promotion, and application of new technologies in the advancement of knowledge and prosperity among others.
He said all these would help a long way in protecting the environment, promoting sustainable development as well as sustaining democracy and good governance. Without missing out on the quest towards the attainment of global sustainable development goals.
“The Universities are strongly advised or encouraged to run industries to develop their research output into products for our community. Community engagements should be at the forefront of the activities to make universities relevant.”
“On its part, the government has taken steps to provide power to universities through compressed natural gas. To this effect, the Ministry of Education together with the Ministry of Gas have been directed to work out this facility so that universities could have a continuous uninterrupted supply of power for their research and general services.”
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Prof. Adamu Sagir Abbas, has appealed to the Federal Government to fence the new campus of the University, as the University community has been facing enormous security challenges, owing to the porous nature of the entrance and exit points.
However, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jubrin, and the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina were conferred with honorary Doctorate degrees, during the convocation ceremony.
Among dignitaries who graced the occasion include Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Kano state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf; Jigawa state Governor, Mallam Umar Namadi; Zamfara state Governor, Dauda Lawal; the Emirs Kano, Bichi, Karaye, Gaya, and Rano, among others.
Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano.
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