President Mohammadu Buhari has charged fresh graduates in the country to exploit its assistance in self-employment programmes.
The president who was represented by the minister of state for education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, stated this last week Friday at the 13th Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s convocation ceremony held in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
Anwukah, while congratulating the graduands promised that the federal government would remain undaunted in tackling youth unemployment through different empowerment programmes.
The empowerment programmes he listed as: N-power, Bank of Industry Youth Entrepreneur Support (YES), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Bank of Industry (BOI) programmes, Trade Mini, among others.
Professor Anwukah said that due to increase in youth’s unemployment, the federal government had increased its assistance through the rural electrification programme and siting of power plants in universities communities.
While speaking on funding of education, Anwukah said government had used Tertiary Education Trust Fund and SEEDS to fund infrastructure development in higher institutions.
The event featured award of higher degrees and honorary doctorate to three prominent Nigerians, namely: Ambassador Babagana Kingibe who bagged a doctorate in Politics and Strategy, Obi of Onitsha Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe who was honoured with a Doctor of Science and Sir Emeka Offor Doctor of Entrepreneurship.