Buhari Tasks Nigerian Universities On Global Expectations
By Chika Mefor-Nwachukwu
President Muhammadu Buhari has tasked universities in Nigeria to reassess themselves in the light of national and global expectations.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant, Media and Public Affairs to Minister of State for Education, Kelechi Mejuobi stated that Buhari stated this during the 7th Convocation Ceremony of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, (FUOYE ) Ekiti State.
The president who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Rt Hon Goodluck Nanah Opiah during the event, said that since independence in 1960, Nigeria has been trying to make the big leap from being classified as developing to join the elite group of the developed countries of the world.
For this to happen, Buhari noted that academic establishments generally and Federal University, Oye Ekiti in particular are expected to take the lead in proffering workable solutions to these challenges.
The President, who is the Visitor to the institution, used the opportunity to disclose that his administration has done its best within the limits of available resources to better the position of the country in the comity of nations.
He went further to request that all hands be on deck to save Nigeria from the myriads of socio-economic and political challenges that beset it.
Narrating his administration’s efforts in funding the education sector, Buhari stated that it is an impossibility to channel all the available funds in the country to the education sector, but the sector has been adequately funded.
While congratulating the graduands and asking them to employ the academic and moral discipline instilled into them to overcome all challenges, the President asked them to be good ambassadors of the institution.
“Beyond this ambassadorial duty, I challenge you to become problem solvers and not problem adders. The essence of a university education is not just about self development but also to equip you to be able to contribute your quota to national development. Shun the easy but criminal way to wealth. Remember that short-cuts will always cut you short. As you move to the next phase of life, I wish you the best,” he said.
