37 varsities to benefit from FG’s rural electrification programme

To ensure universities provide high level manpower to drive socioeconomic development, the Federal Government has launched an electrification project targeted at producing 89.6 megawatts of grid power to 37 federal universities and seven teaching hospitals across Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari stated this during the maiden convocation ceremony of the Federal University Otuoke, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State at the weekend.

Represented by the deputy executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr. Ramon Yusuf Suleiman, President Buhari said the Energizing Education Programme, which is under the Federal Government Rural Electrification Programme, would benefit 129,000 students, 32,000 staff and power 2,850 street lights when completed.

He said the Federal Government had inaugurated two of these projects, one at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University and another 7.1 solar hybrid project at Bayero Federal University.

He said the projects would provide stable power supply to universities, improve sufficiency, productivity and ensure 24 hours functionality of research in technological laboratories in tertiary institutions.

Also speaking, the vice chancellor of the institution, Professor Seth Accra-Jaja, disclosed that a total of 1,121 students graduated, and that from this number, 72 bagged first class honors degree, while 462 others graduated with the second class honors (upper division).

While congratulating the graduands, Professor Jaja admonished them to learn how to be innovative and live independent life while pursuing various entrepreneurial opportunities. He also commended the Federal Government for its efforts at delivering quality tertiary education to the teeming youths of the country.

He announced that the NUC had approved additional 16 programmes for the institution, thereby bringing the total number of programmes offered by the school to 28.

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“It is worthy to recall that between the 2011/2012 and 2015/2016 academic sessions, the university ran 12 academic programmes. This situation limited the number of prospective students offered admission into the university.

“On assumption of duty as vice chancellor in 2016, the first major challenge I faced was how to bridge this need gap. This challenge was overcome when the NUC, after due resource verification exercise, graciously approved 16 additional programmes, bringing the total number of programmes in the university to 28.

“This singular achievement helped to minimize our challenge of meeting the university’s social responsibility of granting admission to deserving Nigerian youths; especially those programmes that were not having full accreditation status before my assumption of duty now have full accreditation.

“Apart from enthroning academic discipline, our university has excelled in several research breakthroughs as also contained in our university compendium.”

While delivering her address, the pro-chancellor of the institution, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, urged the graduands to always contribute their little to community service, saying that is the only way society can develop.

“You should see yourselves as new human beings that are ready to begin a new chapter of their lives. You should find a way to distribute wealth and be good keepers of your brothers and sisters.