Nigeria’s survival anchors on quality of human development — Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the 38th convocation at Bayero University Kano (BUK) on Saturday, emphasised his administration’s commitment to supporting education. He asserted that the country’s survival hinges on the quality of human capital development.

Tinubu added that, while supporting all facets of education, his administration will specifically focus on skill, technology, and vocational education as fundamental pillars of the educational system. This approach aims to prepare graduates for both employment and entrepreneurship.

Speaking on behalf of the President at the BUK convocation, the Minister of Education, Alhaji Thair Mamman, stated, “For this purpose, the federal government is building 24 skill and vocational hubs in polytechnics, as well as entrepreneurship centers in our universities.”

Tinubu emphasized the need for universities to adapt to the modern world by repositioning themselves as centers of education that drive development. The government is determined to continue supporting the upgrade of infrastructure, research equipment, and teaching materials in universities, aligning with the needs assessed by Nigerians.

As part of the administration’s commitment, tertiary institutions were removed from the IPPS platform, an increase in the allocation to the educational sector for 2024, and the operationalization of the student loan scheme, among other initiatives.

The government is also reviving 970 Shanghai centers for integrated learning and developing Almagiria across the country. Additionally, 91 vocational schools are under construction in secondary schools nationwide to ensure that all levels of education benefit from these policies.

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The establishment of Private Sector Innovation Enterprise Centers across the country is set to deliver on the government’s skill acquisition program. The Federal Executive Council’s recent approval of guidelines for good governance emphasizes adherence to financial regulations, with serious consequences for any breach.

Universities are urged to define their roles, design programs that contribute to poverty reduction, create employment opportunities, promote health, apply new technologies, protect the environment, sustain democracy, and uphold good governance, aligning with global sustainable development goals.

The Vice-Chancellor of BUK, Professor Sagir Abbas, requested federal assistance in providing a perimeter fence around the institution to address security concerns. Despite challenges, he highlighted the institution’s achievements, including being ranked the 5th best university in Nigeria and emphasized ongoing efforts to improve global visibility through research and collaboration.

The convocation ceremony awarded degrees, diplomas, and honorary degrees to deserving individuals, including the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina.