PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has pleaded with the Academic Staff Union of University to suspend its ongoing industrial action strike for the benefit of the overall National interest.
The Nigeria President made the appeal in Ebonyi State on Tuesday 18 December 2018, during the 3rd convocation ceremony and conferment of Honorary Degrees to the institution Chancellor His Royal Majesty Oba Michael Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo CFR and Professor Ihechukwu Chiedozie Madubuike at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Nfufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI).
According to the President who emphasised that the federal government appreciate the importance of education in its match to economic prosperity assured Nigerians that he will continue to do the needful with the country resources.
Presenting his address, the Vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Chinedu Nwajiuba, remind the state government of the matter of landowners who live within the campus that frequently destroy some of the schools’ properties, thus hampering the development of the University.
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” Our faculty of Agriculture has suffered frequent and wanton destruction of its crops on farms used for teaching and research. The contractors working on roads and buildings have also faced resistance,” he stated.
He then pleaded to the state government that this responsibility of resetting the residents be discharged with dispatch.
Prof Nwajiuba further encourages all and sundry to contribute to the development of the university maintaining that the federal government cannot develop the institutions alone.
Advising the graduates, Prof Nwajiuba urged the students to be different, resist the temptation of being counted among those whose only interest is in what the country will do for them and never figuring out that they can take a bold step to be of help of this country.
However, the Chancellor of the institution HRM Oba Michael Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo commended the school management for their auspicious improvement in developmental projects within the school including the massive construction. He then urged the graduates to be worthy ambassadors of the alma mater.
Commending President Buhari, for all his efforts geared towards re-positioning the education sector specifically, and his passionate efforts geared towards ridding the country of insecurity and corruption, reposition the economy. The chancellor urged Nigerians to give president Buhari government the full support in their drive to return the country on the path of sustainable economic progress.
He then appeals to the federal and state government to quickly intervene in the challenges faced by the university.
Meanwhile, in pursuit of the academic growth, the state Governor Engr. David Nweze Umahi donates the sum of fourty Million Naira (#40.000.000.00) to the school management in joining the federal government to achieve efficiency in promoting education in the country.
Also the university Chancellor HRM Oba Michael Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo CFR donated the sum of five million nairas while Professor Ihechukwu Chidiozie Madubuike donated the sum of four million nairas to the school.
Recall that out of the three Hundred and fifty-five students graduated, fifteen bag First Class Honour, one hundred and eighty-eight (188) came out with second class upper credits, one Hundred and fourty five (145) made second class lower and seven(7) came out with third class.
In her vote of thanks, the best graduating student with GP 4.81 Miss Esther Nnenna Chukwuekezie thanked God for his protection throughout their stays in school and charged her colleagues to improve more as they embark on their future endeavour.
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